Longtime Grace Brethren pastor and church planter Tom Inman, pictured here with his wife Geneva in a photo taken in May of 2007, has gone to be with the Lord. Geneva said that after a long time of weakness, Tom died unexpectedly. He had gone into the hospital for a routine procedure and while he was there, his blood pressure kept going down and then he died. Tom & Geneva were planning on flying to their daughter’s house in Indianapolis for Christmas. Here is an obituary prepared by the family:
Frank Thomas “Tom” Inman
Tom will be spending his first Christmas with Jesus this year. He was born at home in Beaver City, Nebraska to Nelle & Harry Inman on August 3, 1924 and departed for his heavenly home on December 20, 2007.
He graduated from Beaver City High School and Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas where he met the love of his life, Geneva Pearl Heinrichs. They were married on August 19, 1950.
In 1953 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grace Seminary.
They moved to Denver, CO where he was the pastor of Denver Grace Brethren Church from 1954 – 1970. In August 1970 they moved with their children to Colorado Springs, where he started a new church, Colorado Springs Grace Brethren. He served there until his retirement in 1994.
After his retirement he continued to serve the church in many areas including helping with the children’s ministry. Tom served on the Board of Grace College & Seminary for 30 years. In addition, he was a substitute teacher for 50 years.
Tom’s passion in life was to lead people to Christ, to shepherd them & encourage them to also serve the Lord.
He used his artistic talents in numerous capacities including sermons with “Chalk Talks”, creative décor for the church sanctuary, oil paintings and in his later years spent many hours designing & creating hand stitched personalized gifts & cards. He will be greatly missed by the many whose lives he has touched.
Tom is survived by his wife, Geneva, his brother Harold, daughters Patty (Kit) Cushenbery, Lyn Nelle (James) Mustard, Laurel (Michael) Fassold and his son Bryce (Lu Ann) Inman, as well as his seven grandchildren, two of whom are married, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 4 PM Sunday, December 23 at Colorado Springs Grace Brethren Church, 2975 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, where Robert Schaffer is pastor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Colorado Springs Grace Brethren Church and designated for the Tom Inman Memorial Fund.