Kudos
On The Move
In Memoriam
– Charles “Fred” Berkemer
– Ruth Burns
– Wanda Goodall Dalke
– David George Sanborn
– Russell Aaron Sarver
– Edison K. Yoder
Kudos
Roger Peugh, professor of world missions at Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind., has received the McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award, named in honor of Grace’s founding president, Dr. Alva J. McClain, is presented to a faculty member who is an outstanding example of teaching excellence. Dr. Peugh joined the Grace faculty in 1989 after serving for 20 years as a missionary in Germany with Grace Brethren International Missions.
Cindy Bushen has been recognized for ten years of faithful ministry as bookkeeper and customer service representative at the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation, Winona Lake, Ind.
Kim Reiff has been named chair of the Department of Art at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind. A trained graphic designer, she holds a masters of business administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and will complete a master’s degree in Fine Arts at Azusa Pacific University in July. She has spent nearly 20 years in the orthopaedic industry in graphic design and marketing communication.
Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind., recently announced the recipients of its annual awards: Darren D. Kloepper (M.Div. 09), The Alva J. McClain Award in Systematic Theology; Dwight A. Shaver (M.A. 09), The John J. Davis Award in Old Testament; Kevin R. Becker (M.Div. 09), The Homer A. Kent Jr. Award in New Testament; Armando Lucio, The Russell D. Barnard Award in World Missions; Timothy R. Clothier (M.A. 09), Award in Expository Preaching; and Peter W. Gross (M.Div. 09), Faculty Award.
The faculty and staff of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind., have announced scholarship recipients during the Glimpse of Grace, held on March 27. They include: Trustee Scholarship Awards ($2,000): Adam Boylan (Fort Wayne, Ind.), and Suzanne Burden (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Faculty Scholarship Awards ($1,000), Nikki Hills (Elkhart, Ind.), Lane Sander (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Michael Wienhorst (Warsaw, Ind.); Achievement Scholarship Awards ($500): Joe Carter (Kokomo, Ind.), Jason Conrad (Warsaw, Ind.), Jeremy Maurer (Etna Green, Ind.), Andy Overy (Auburn, Ind.), and Dean Rodkey (Kokomo, Ind.).
To be eligible for the scholarships, prospective students submitted a 500-word essay, Why I Have Decided to Attend Seminary, and were interviewed by faculty members during the day. Students were evaluated on ministry potential and experience, spiritual life, and academic achievement.
On The Move
Brant Leidy is the pastor of children and parents at Community Grace Brethren Church (Jeff Peeler, lead pastor), Everett, Pa. He previously served as children’s/Christian education pastor at the Martinsburg (Pa.) Grace Brethren Church.
Four men have been examined for their credentials as elders in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and unanimously recommended to their local congregations. Those recommended for ordination include: Marty Ertel, East Side Grace Brethren Church (Chip Heim, pastor), Blacklick, Ohio; Keith Minier, Grace Fellowship of Pickerington, Ohio; and Larry Totzke, Capital City Grace Brethren Church, Columbus, Ohio. Drew Waggoner, Grace Fellowship of Pickerington, Ohio (Keith Minier, pastor), was recommended for licensure
Jonathan Herron, who has been working at planting the Catalyst church in Kent, Ohio, the past four years, is stepping back from that position. According to a posting on his blog, Catalyst will now come under the umbrella of Pastor Jason Haymaker and the Macedonia church as it considers its next steps.
In Memoriam
Charles “Fred” Berkemer
Charles “Fred” Berkemer, Whittier, Calif., died February 2, 2009. He was born December 22, 1919, in Nebraska. His mother died a few weeks after his birth, and he was relocated to Long Beach, Calif., where he was raised by an aunt and uncle.
Berkemer attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, graduating in 1938. He married Margaret Sullans on May 29, 1941. Fred and Margaret had two daughters: Sharon (1946, now deceased) and Karen (1961). Fred joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, and served on the USS Indiana during World War II.
Fred and Margaret began attending a Baptist church because they needed a pastor to perform funerals for Margaret’s parents. Fred and Margaret both received Jesus Christ as Savior as a result of this church’s ministry.
As time passed, Fred sensed God calling him into the ministry. He attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA) and worked at a dairy to support his family, graduating in 1959. During their BIOLA days Fred and Margaret attended the North Long Beach Brethren Church. Fred’s first pastorate was Berean Baptist Church in Los Olives, California, in 1960. In 1966 they moved to South Pasadena, where Fred became pastor of the Grace Brethren Church.
In the spring of 1970 Fred sensed God was directing him to a new ministry, and he became manager of the Berean Christian Store in Sacramento, Calif. Margaret was director of the Sunday School department and they worshiped at the Grace Brethren Church of Sacramento where Richard Cron was pastor.
The store did well and Fred was asked to move to Whittier, Calif., in 1974 to manage a larger store. Fred and Margaret’s desire was to serve the church in whatever capacity was needed, including Sunday School curriculum, VBS curriculum, communion needs, or helping a believer find just the right Bible or book. They attended Community Grace Brethren Church and Creek Park Brethren Church during their work with Berean.
Fred retired from the Whittier Berean Christian Store in 1987. In retirement, he became the chaplain of the USS Indiana reunion committee. He was an elder in their church. He and Margaret traveled, visiting their grandchildren in Georgia and making international trips to Jordan and England.
He was known for his content spirit in his later years. Even though his mind was slipping, his prayers connected him and others with his Lord.
Ruth Burns
Ruth Burns, 84, of 261 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana, died May 21, 2009.
She was born February 24, 1925, in Philadelphia, Pa., to William J. Dietz and Elizabeth A. (Bubeck) Dietz. On March 31, 1945, she was married to Ralph Samuel Burns, who survives.
A resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana, for the past 39 years, she was a homemaker, and a member of Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church. She served at her husband’s side as a pastor’s wife for 40 years in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Indiana.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 64 years, Ralph S. Burns (Winona Lake, Ind.); son: Ronald David (and wife, Krista) Burns, Warsaw, Ind.; daughter: Rebecca (and husband, Daniel) Gehrke, Warsaw, Ind.; nine grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and one brother.
Wanda Goodall Dalke
Wanda Goodall Dalke, Whittier, Calif., died April 10 (Good Friday), following a stroke. She was 82. She had been a member of Community Grace Brethren Church in west Whittier for nearly 50 years.
She and her husband, Cornelius (Corky) Dalke, who she wed in 1950, graduated from Columbia International University intent on becoming missionaries in Argentina. Before they embarked, they learned that Mrs. Dalke had neurofibromatosis, a rare lifelong condition that was to eventually include their two sons.
Her husband died Sept. 3, 1982.
One of her best friends at church was Caroline Peak.
She said, “I had a great deal of respect for Wanda, especially in spiritual matters. She was very well versed in the Bible.”
The Dalkes’ youngest son, Curley, died of a brain tumor in 2007 at the age of 53. He had been a missionary to Jewish students on the Fullerton College campus. Her other son, Daniel, 57, survives and is a driver for an auto auction. She also has a surviving uncle, Wynn Jenison, 94, of Seal Beach.
David George Sanborn
David George Sanborn, 81, a member of the Winona Lake (Ind.) Grace Brethren Church and father of Grace College music professor Tim Sanborn, died April 14, 2009.
He was born April 17, 1927, in Ferndale, Mich. to Glen M. and Mary E. (Steere) Sanborn. On August 21, 1954, in Ypsilanti, Mich., he married Cynthia Joan Stralnic, who survives.
Sanborn dedicated his life to the influence of young people in numerous ways including teaching music in the public schools for nearly 40 years. He taught at Chelsea High School, Chelsea, Mich., and at Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Mich. He also taught preschool music for various Montessori schools near Detroit following his retirement.
Having come from St. Clair Shores, Mich., to Winona Lake, Ind., in 2003, he belonged to Gideon’s International, Voice of Christian Youth ministry, the Orff-Schulwerk Association, Michigan School Vocal Association, was active in Youth for Christ, taught Sunday School and was in the Civil Air Patrol.
Sanborn played string bass and tuba in the St. Clair Shores Symphony and Ann Arbor Symphony as well as with numerous Detroit area groups. Most recently he participated in the Grace Community Wind Ensemble and volunteered at Jefferson Elementary School, both in Winona Lake. He loved ice cream and dogs. He also enjoyed fishing and camping.
A devoted father and husband, he is survived by his wife, Cynthia Sanborn, Winona Lake; two sons and daughters-in-law: Tim and Ruth Sanborn, Winona Lake, and David and Cathy Sanborn of Keystone Heights, Fla.; two daughters: Nancy Kilpatrick of York, Me. and Beth Sanborn of Plymouth, Mich.; five grandchildren, and one great grandson.
David was preceded in his death by two sisters: Mary Alice Hayes and Betty Higgins.
Russell Aaron Sarver
Grace Brethren pastor Russell Aaron Sarver, 84, of Hastings, Mich., died May 15, 2009. He was born October 1, 1924, near White Cloud, Mich., in Big Prairie Township of Newaygo County. He married Alberta (Gandy) of Battle Creek on Sept. 2, 1945, and they were married for more than 63 years and resided in the Hastings area for the past 45 years.
Russell touched many lives during his lifetime, but was looking forward to seeing his Lord, Jesus Christ. Rus had attended Grace College and Theological Seminary of Winona Lake, Ind., and became a licensed pastor, most recently for the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International.
He had been “faithful until death” through pastoring the Grace Brethren Bible Church of Hastings for many years, serving as chaplain at two local nursing homes, holding Bible studies at the Barry County Jail, continuously witnessing for Christ, being the co-editor of the Solo Sense newsletter, compiling and printing various Christian booklets, selecting Scripture passages to be printed in The Reminder, writing Uncle Aaron articles, and often writing Christian-based letters to the Editor of The Banner.
Most recently, Rus also served on the Hastings Charter Township Board of Review, in addition to being a self-employed licensed carpenter. Earlier in his life, Rus sold real estate and was a one-room school teacher. For a time, he was even the town marshal of Claypool, Ind., and he farmed as well.
During World War II, he enlisted as a Conscientious Objector and served as a milk tester for farmers. As hobbies, Rus loved to restore antique John Deere tractors, and most recently made small crosses as a wood-working project.
Russell is survived by his wife Alberta (Gandy) Sarver and by his eight children and their spouses — Carol (Phillip) Hill of LaGrange, Ind.; Steven (Linda) Sarver of Hastings, Mich.; Bonnie (Richard) Christner of Clarksville, Mich.; Sharon Yoder of Hastings, Mich.; Jerry (Linda) Sarver of Hastings, Mich.; Sandra (Darrel) Hawbaker of Hastings, Mich.; Vickie (Edward) Hoffman of Hastings, Mich.; and David (Dawn) Sarver of Portis, Kan.; 26 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.
Edison K. Yoder
Edison K. Yoder, 100, of Englewood, Ohio, formerly of Pompano, Fla., died April 4, 2009 at Grace Brethren Village. He was born in West Liberty, Ohio on January 29, 1909 to Jonas D. and Ida B. (Weber) Yoder. A tool maker by trade, he was the founder and former owner of Yoder Die Casting, retiring in 1954. Edison was a member of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and was affiliated with the Grace Brethren Church for more than 30 years, serving on the board of the Grace Brethren Home Missions Council from 1958 to 1976 and was also a strong supporter of the Navajo Mission in New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Shirley Ann, and his four brothers, Stanley, Howard, J.B. and Karl. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 76 years, Verda L. (Scheffel) Yoder; two daughters and sons-in-law, Luci and M.C. Jeffries and Linda and Robert Schwenke; two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald F. and Barbara Yoder and Edison K. Yoder, Jr. and fianc
