Reverend Gerald B. Polman of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at 7:20 a.m. at Grace Village Health Care at the age of 89.
He was born on February 22, 1922, in Los Angeles, California, to Leo Polman and Leila Christine (Neher) Polman. Gerald was married in Dayton, Ohio, on August 22, 1944, to Phyllis Jeanette (Kinsey) Polman, who passed away on January 27, 2008.
Gerald was a graduate of South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then continued his education and graduated from Bob Jones University in 1943. He received his Master of Divinity in 1946 from Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. He served as a student pastor at two churches, Danville, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Ind.
During his 43-year pastoral ministry, Polman served Grace Brethren churches in Meyersdale, Pa.; York, Pa.; Glendale, Calif.; Rialto, Calif.; Englewood, Ohio; and Lansing, Michigan. He retired in 1986, although he continued to travel with his motor home to help churches as an interim pastor.
He was a Grace Brethren pastor, retiring in 1986, and moving to Kosciusko County, Indiana from Lansing, Michigan. Rev. Polman was a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, an active stamp collector at Grace Village Retirement Community, as well as belonging to the National Philatelic Society.
Polman served on the board of the Brethren Missionary Herald Company from 1964 to 1993 and was secretary from 1972 to 1991 and assistant secretary from 1966-1971 and 1992-1993. His father, Leo Polman, led BMH as “secretary of publications” from October 1941 to December 1944.
He will be lovingly remembered by his son: Roy Lee (wife Judy) Polman (Cherry Valley, California); two daughters: Ann (husband Dave) Grant (Gainsville, Florida); Kay (husband Jeff) Bowling of (Cumming, Georgia); and eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind two sisters: Joyce (husband Robert) Griffith and Elaine Brenneman (both of Winona Lake, Indiana). He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife.
Visitation will be Friday, February 10, 2012, from 2 – 5 p.m. with his funeral service to follow at 5 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana. His service will be officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow, and Chaplain Bryan Benjamin.
Entombment will take place at Royal Oak Memorial Gardens in Brookville, Ohio.
Memorial donations in Gerald’s name may be directed to Grace Village Retirement Community, P.O. Box 337, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590.