Memories

208 WEST MICHIGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2012

X. MEMOIRS

A. Associates Members 1. Active None 2. Retired HAROLD R. SIMON, SR. Born June 29, 1929. Died July 30, 2011. Served: Ludington Bethany; Mendon; Middleville/Freeport; Pine River

Parish; Reading; Retired 1955. Harold served in the United States Navy during the Korean War from

1951-1955. He was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1981. Harold enjoyed hunting, fishing and liked playing golf.

B. Provisional Members 1. Active None 2. Retired None

C. Members in Full Connection 1. Active None 2. Retired BIRT BEERS Born February 7, 1931. Died May 27, 2012. Served: Mancelona/Alba 1956; Transferred to Southern California-Arizona

Conf. 1957; Transferred from Southern California-Arizona Conf., Alden/Kewadin/Kewadin Indian Mission 1958; Albion (Assoc.) 1961; Quincy/Fisher Hill 1963; Otsego 1967; Breckenridge/Wheeler 1972; Breckenridge 1976; Montague 1977; Muskegon: Crestwood 1983; Stockbridge 1990; Harbor Springs/Alanson May 15, 1993; Retired 1995

JOHN L. FRANCIS Born February 27,1927. Died February 20, 2012. Served: White Cloud; Sanford; Ithaca; Battle Creek: Chapel Hill; Eaton Rap-

ids; Hillsdale; Albion District Superintendent; Holland; Conference Council Director; Retired 1989.

John was a graduate of Greenville College and attended Asbury Theo-logical Seminary. A former trustee of Albion College, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1971 by the college. His par-ents Blanche and William both served as Methodist pastors in the Detroit Conference.

JOHN S. MYETTE Born July 16, 1925. Died May 5, 2012. Served: Jonesvi||e; Lawrence; Breckenridge; Grand Rapids: St. Paul’s; Mus-

kegon Crestwood; Lansing Asbury; Rockford; Leland/Keswick; Newaygo; Retired 1988; then Served South Wyomlng.

John was a selfless man who was devoted to helping others, ministering Where most needed, visiting people in their homes, hospitals, nursing fa-cilities, jails and prisons. He was district youth director, registrar, coun-selor and dean for many years at youth camps. He was on the Confer-ence Board of Evangelism; taught in District Christian Workers School;

2012 MEMOIRS 209

served on the District Committee on Building and Church Location, and Evangelism Committee. John was an alcoholic rehabilitation counselor and affiliated with correctional facility counseling programs. John was always attentive to family, from playing and attending sports and school activities to making his wife’s breakfast every morning.

D. Deacons in Full Connection 1. Active None 2. Retired None

E. Local Pastors 1. Active None 2. Retired LEWIS ARTHUR “BUD” BUCHNER Born July 3, 1945. Died May 21, 2012. Served: Freesoil/Fountain (pulpit supply), Kingsley, Grant, Ravenna, Pot-

ter Park, Lansing Street Ministry - The Harvest House, Emmanuel (Traverse City), Oakwood (Kalamazoo), Oshtemo, Convis Union (Battle Creek), and Shelby, retiring in 2007.

DORIS L. LYON Born August 12, 1930. Died July 11, 2011. Served: Pleasant Valley. Doris was very community and civic minded her whole life. She spent

most of her adult life as a member of the Gordonville United Methodist. While she was there, she directed the choir ans was active with the United Methodist Women and the annual conference At the young age of, 65 she was called to the pastoral ministry, and became the pastor of Pleasant Valley UMC for 12 years, until the church was closed and merged with St. Louis United Methodist Church. The children and restaurant wait staff of many local Midland restaurants knew her very well as the lady who passed out hats/mitten ornaments at Christmas and chicks at Easter (all knitted by Doris herself). She was also a member of the Eastern Star and Rebekah’s organizations

F. Clergy in good standing from another domonination. None

G. Other Clergy BERNARD FETTY

Born October 9, 1917. Died January 30, 2011 Served: Lakeview; Riverdale; Elwell; Scottville.

CAROL C. FETTY Born December 23, 1922. Died September 6, 2011. Served: Brethren; Coral, Amble; Riverdale; Scottville; Retired 1995.

FRANK S. FRICK Born April 2, 1938. Died June 19, 2011 Served: Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College; Retired 2001.

H. Missionaries None


I. Missionaries Spouses None

J. Deaconesses None

K. Certified Candidate for Ordination None

L. Clergy Spouses

JULIE BEACH — Wife of Stephen Beach September 7, 1938 – November 29, 2011

GLADYS BEADLE — Widow of Arthur Beadle January 5, 1925 – February 7, 2011

ROBERT BERNTSEN — Husband of Gayle Berntsen October 12, 1927 – April 3, 2012

JAMES BLAKEY — Husband of Dorothy Blakey December 8, 1930 – March 28, 2012

ARRA BUNCE — Widow of Ross H. Bunce September 9, 1921 – December 4, 2011

GLADYS CHURCH — Widow of Lewis Church August 11, 1919 – March 27, 2012

RUTH DEKEMA — Widow of Lawrence Dekema January 22, 1916 – September 3, 2011

EDNA MEY EVERSOLE — Widow of John Eversole 1914 – June 6, 2011

ELBERT ROBINSON — Husband of Beatrice Robinson February 3, 1917 – July 15, 2011

DELORES SIMON — Widow of Harold Simon January 11, 1928 – February 5, 2012

GAYNELL STRADER — Widow of Curtis Strader June 17, 1925 – September 15, 2011

M. Child of the Parsonage

ERIKA BLOOMFIELD Child of Emilie and Walt Forward March 13, 1978 – September 10, 2011

TARA PARKER Child of Eugene and Tamara Moore May 28, 1963 – January 7, 2012

2012 MEMOIRS 211

N. Diaconal Ministers

None

O. Diaconal Ministers’ Spouses

None

P. Lay Persons (Professionally Related to the Conference)

DORIS BRINK April 13, 1925 – November 8, 2011

GLADYS EBELS March 27, 1922 – January 24, 2012

MARION JOAN MURPHY February 10, 1935 – January 14, 2012

BERNARD SHASHAGUAY November 20, 1921 – December 20, 2011


XI. ROLL OF THE DEAD

For Roll of Deceased prior to July 20, 1938, consult Minutes of 1938 and before For Roll of Deceased prior to June 12, 1967, consult Minutes of 1967 and before For Roll of Deceased prior to April 7, 1977, consult Minutes of 1977 and before For Roll of Deceased prior to June 2, 1986, consult Minutes of 1986 and before For Roll of Deceased prior to July 1, 1994, consult Minutes of 1994 and before For Roll of Deceased proir to July 1, 2005, consult Minutes of 2005 and before

Entered Joined Reg. West Mich.Name Date of Death Place of Death Age Ministry Conference

Gordon Showers October 23, 2005 Grand Rapids, MI 96 1940 1940Ralph P. Witmer January 3, 2006 Concord, MI 94 1934 1941Paul Frederick May 20, 2006 New Baltimore, MI 70 1958 1990Phillip L. Brown May 25, 2006 Columbus, OH 72 1953 1958Marvin Zimmerman August 20, 2006 Mason, MI 87 1960 1958George O. Hartmann August 24, 2006 Portage, MI 81 1954 1950Timothy Boal October 31, 2006 Grand Rapids, MI 59 1985 1978Paul F. Albery November 16, 2006 Chelsea, MI 90 1943 1941Robert H. Jongeward, Sr. Jan. 19, 2007 Deltona, FL 90 1942 1939James W. Burgess March 4, 2007 St. Louis, MI 88 1984 1981William Foldesi April 7, 2007 Mt. Pleasant, MI 55 (LP) (LP)William P. Myers, Jr. April 15, 2007 Battle Creek, MI 61 (OF) (OF)Willard Gilroy April 18, 2007 Battle Creek, MI 77 1960 1954Harold L. Mann May 4, 2007 Grand Rapids, MI 84 1957 1952C. Robert Carson July 17, 2007 Penney Farms, FL 101 1957 1958William A. Blanding II July 29, 2007 Clearwater, FL 101 1925 1925Linda H. Hollies August 18, 2007 Arizona 64 1996 1996James H. Meines November 3, 2007 Wyoming, MI 68 – –George C. Elliott December 21, 2007 Fremont, MI 90 1939 1939Laurence R. Grubaugh Feb. 19, 2008 Hartford, MI 82 1959 1959Theodore F. Cole March 4, 2008 Chesterfield, MO 84 1959 1959Thomas Peters April 23, 2008 Potterville, MI 77 1958 1960Richard A. Tester April 29, 2008 Arizona 69 Walter J. Rothfuss April 30, 2008 Bridgman, MI 72 1961 1962Kenneth W. Karlzen June 14, 2008 – 72 1966 1966H. James Birdsall June 19, 2008 Grand Rapids, MI 95 – –Orin Daniels July 28, 2008 – – – –Leon E. Dayringer August 31, 2008 Apache Junction, AZ 83 1950 1967Ronald M. Fassett November 1, 2008 Grand Rapids, MI 75 1959 1959D. Michael Maurer November 10, 2008 East Jordan, MI 66 (FL) (FL)Sidney A. Short January 16, 2009 Auburn, IN 81 1951 1951John F. Sorensen February 7, 2009 Grand Rapids, MI 85 1962 1962Curtis W. Strader March 11, 2009 St. Petersburg, FL 83 1954 1980Arlo D. Vandlen June 7, 2009 Comstock Park, MI 88 – –Robert Emory Betts August 8, 2009 Eaton Rapids, MI 84 – 1951Jesse Schwoebell August 10, 2009 Plainwell, MI 76 – –Laurence Dekema September 24, 2009 Plainwell, MI 89 – –James L. Breithaupt October 9, 2009 Sears, MI 58 – –Russell M. Garrigus December 16, 2009 Manistee, MI 77 – –Patricia A.Skinner February 16, 2010 Mason, MI 73 – –John Buker March 12, 2010 Pensacola, FL 78 – 1977Lloyd A. Phillips May 1, 2010 Niles, MI 82 – 1951D. Hubert Lowes May 25, 2010 Mattawan, MI 79 – 1963

2012 ROLL OF THE DEAD 213

Entered Joined Reg. West Mich.Name Date of Death Place of Death Age Ministry Conference

Harry R. Johnson June 6, 2010 Santee, CA 68 – 1979Bernard W. Griner 1/2/2010 Interlochen, MI 95 – –R. Paul Doherty 7/26/2010 Rockford, MI 72 – –Howard A. Lyman 10/24/2010 Marshall, MI 90 1945 1945David Yoh 12/8/2010 Holland, MI – 1953 1953Donald D. McLellan 12/12/2010 Harrisville, MI 85 – –Joseph Sprague, Sr. 6/1/2011 Wayland, MI 87 – –Frank S. Frick 6/19/2011 Quincy, MI 73 – –Bernard Fetty 1/30/2012 Scottville, MI 93 – –Doris L. Lyons 7/11/2011 Midland, MI 80 – –Harold R. Simon, Sr. 7/30/2011 Belding, MI 82 – –Carol Fetty (nee Cotton) 9/26/2011 Sccottville, MI 88 – –John L. Francis 2/20/2012 Grand Rapids, MI 84 – –John Myette 5/5/2012 Traverse City, MI 86 – –Lewis Arthur “Bud” Buchner 5/21/2012 Ovid, MI 66 – –Birt Beers 5/27/2012 Grand Haven, MI 82 – –


XII. HISTORICAL SESSIONS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

For information regarding previous sessions of the former Conferences of Evangelical United Brethren Church, refer to the Journal of the 107th Annual Session of the Michigan Conference (EUB) Pages 25 and 26 dated May 20-23, 1968.

For the Listing of previous Sessions of the West Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, please refer to the Journal of the West Michigan Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Pages 240-241, dated June 12-15, 1974. (Note: Session no. 28 in 1996 refers to the 28th session of the United Methodist Church, as formed with the merger of the Methodist and EUB churches in 1968.)

No. Date Began Place Bishop Secretary 133 June 4, 1968 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder H. A. Kirchenbauer134 June 18, 1969 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder H. A. Kirchenbauer135 June 18, 1970 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder H. A. Kirchenbauer136 June 17, 1971 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder H. A. Kirchenbauer137 June 14, 1972 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder L. R. Taylor138 June 13, 1973 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder L. R. Taylor139 June 12, 1974 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder L. R. Taylor140 June 11, 1975 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder L. R. Taylor141 June 9, 1976 Albion, MI Dwight E. Loder L. R. Taylor142 June 2, 1977 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons L. R. Taylor143 June 14, 1978 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons E. K. Eldred144 June 13, 1979 Albion, MI Thomas M. Pryor E. K. Eldred145 June 11, 1980 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons E. K. Eldred146 June 10, 1981 Albion, MI James S. Thomas E. K. Eldred147 June 9, 1982 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons E. K. Eldred148 May 31, 1983 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons Paul E. Patterson149 May 29, 1984 Albion, MI Edsel A. Ammons Paul E. Patterson150 June 11, 1985 Albion, MI Judith Craig Paul E. Patterson151 June 10, 1986 Albion, MI Judith Craig Paul E. Patterson152 June 9, 1987 Albion, MI Judith Craig Paul E. Patterson153 June 14, 1988 Albion, MI Judith Craig Ronald B. Grant154 June 13, 1989 Albion, MI Judith Craig Ronald B. Grant155 June 12, 1990 Albion, MI Judith Craig Ronald B. Grant156 June 11, 1991 Albion, MI Judith Craig Ronald B. Grant157 June 9, 1992 Albion, MI Judith Craig John H. Hice158 June 15, 1993 Albion, MI Donald A. Ott John H. Hice159 June 14, 1994 Albion, MI Donald A. Ott John H. Hice160 June 13, 1995 Albion, MI Donald A. Ott John H. Hice28 June 11, 1996 Albion, MI Donald A. Ott Gail L. Friedrick29 June 10, 1997 Albion, MI Donald A. Ott Gail L. Friedrick30 June 8, 1998 Grand Rapids, MI Donald A. Ott Gail L. Friedrick31 June 2, 1999 Grand Rapids, MI Donald A. Ott William C. Johnson32 June 1, 2000 Grand Rapids, MI Donald A. Ott William C. Johnson33 May 31, 2001 Grand Rapids, MI Linda Lee William C. Johnson34 May 31, 2002 Grand Rapids, MI Linda Lee William C. Johnson35 June 6, 2003 Grand Rapids, MI Linda Lee William C. Johnson36 June 3, 2004 Grand Rapids, MI Linda Lee William C. Johnson37 June 2, 2005 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton Kathryn S. Cadarette38 June 1, 2006 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton Kathryn S. Cadarette39 May 31, 2007 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton Laura B. Clark40 June 5, 2008 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton Laura B. Witkowski41 June 4, 2009 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton Laura B. Witkowski42 June 3, 2010 Grand Rapids. MI Jonathan D. Keaton William W. Chu43 June 1, 2011 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton William W. Chu44 June 6, 2012 Grand Rapids, MI Jonathan D. Keaton William W. Chu

Memories

Documents

Transcript of Memories