Messages From Alumni
John Surma's Funeral Service
24/08/08 13:13
Dear
Agape Force Alum's,
Just thought we would update you on John's service. From the very beginning we felt the love and support of everyone present. Kathie, John III, Nina and Kaleb were there to greet everyone as they entered into the service. As we said our goodbyes to John we were all very moved. Hope Community Church opened their doors for the service. Jackie and Brian Lother are the pastors. Gordie Peterson welcomed everybody. Jerry Fryer spoke and honored John and shared some funny stories and brought laughter which was good.. John III, Nina, and Kaleb all spoke of the fatherhood of John, what he meant to them and what a great dad he was to each as well as his honor and love for Kathie. Steve Harrison remembered of the time a intruder came into the house in Los Banos and John tackled him and held him down until the police came. He was then called the Christian bouncer of the AF. Steve gave an anointed message concluding with a pray that all were blessed and moved by. Needless to say we are very saddened of the loss of our dear friend John. We were all reminded of the blessing John's life was to so many and of our own lives and mortality.
.
Many friendships from the Agape Force and from Columbia Heights were renewed.
Included in the group was:
Doug & Jeannie McGill
Steve & Martha Harrison
Jerry & Trisha Fryer
Terry Johnson Rueck
Joey & Jesse Hinrichs
John Boyce
Mike Boyce
Jim Sicillous (sp)
Kim Hinrichs
My husband Art, an honorary member as he has heard all of the stories countless times.
and many others. I apologize for leaving any names off .
If you would like to view and write something in the guest book I have included the following:
With much love and sorrow,
Patty Syverson Libby
Just thought we would update you on John's service. From the very beginning we felt the love and support of everyone present. Kathie, John III, Nina and Kaleb were there to greet everyone as they entered into the service. As we said our goodbyes to John we were all very moved. Hope Community Church opened their doors for the service. Jackie and Brian Lother are the pastors. Gordie Peterson welcomed everybody. Jerry Fryer spoke and honored John and shared some funny stories and brought laughter which was good.. John III, Nina, and Kaleb all spoke of the fatherhood of John, what he meant to them and what a great dad he was to each as well as his honor and love for Kathie. Steve Harrison remembered of the time a intruder came into the house in Los Banos and John tackled him and held him down until the police came. He was then called the Christian bouncer of the AF. Steve gave an anointed message concluding with a pray that all were blessed and moved by. Needless to say we are very saddened of the loss of our dear friend John. We were all reminded of the blessing John's life was to so many and of our own lives and mortality.
.
Many friendships from the Agape Force and from Columbia Heights were renewed.
Included in the group was:
Doug & Jeannie McGill
Steve & Martha Harrison
Jerry & Trisha Fryer
Terry Johnson Rueck
Joey & Jesse Hinrichs
John Boyce
Mike Boyce
Jim Sicillous (sp)
Kim Hinrichs
My husband Art, an honorary member as he has heard all of the stories countless times.
and many others. I apologize for leaving any names off .
If you would like to view and write something in the guest book I have included the following:
With much love and sorrow,
Patty Syverson Libby
From Steve Harrison Re: Jeff Paul's Service
10/08/07 13:50
I
felt (Jeff Paul's) funeral was a touching and fitting
tribute of a true servant of God. Many came from
different walks of life but all seemed to be
impressed with the legacy Jeff
left.
Beginning with the hymn, A Mighty Fortress, I sensed a building of God's affirming presence. There were some very touching family messages that were read. Later, a board member of Jeff's book ministry shared. He spoke in a heartfelt, intelligent manner. His interweaving of the Gospel was anointed. It seemed all left feeling closer to God.
I had an opportunity to see several former members of the Agape Force including Jim and Cindy Kuiper, Doug and Jeanne McGill, Heidi Aubuchon, Kathy Surma, Patty Libby, Barb Kiffe and Sonny Jaynes.
God bless!
Steve
Beginning with the hymn, A Mighty Fortress, I sensed a building of God's affirming presence. There were some very touching family messages that were read. Later, a board member of Jeff's book ministry shared. He spoke in a heartfelt, intelligent manner. His interweaving of the Gospel was anointed. It seemed all left feeling closer to God.
I had an opportunity to see several former members of the Agape Force including Jim and Cindy Kuiper, Doug and Jeanne McGill, Heidi Aubuchon, Kathy Surma, Patty Libby, Barb Kiffe and Sonny Jaynes.
God bless!
Steve
Message From Nancy Paul July 20th
10/08/07 13:48
Hi Friends
and Family:
I just dropped my mom off at the airport to fly home to Edmonton. It was great to have her here for the last week annd I will miss her. My neice, Kristen, flew back on Tuesday ( thanks for coming!) and Donna will be with us until next Wednesday. Then I will see if I'm really up to this single parenting.
Jeff's visitation and funeral were very well attended. The funeral service was wonderful, honoring of Jeff and of the Lord. Joe and Shirley Duray flew down from Alaska and Joe gave the main message/eulogy. People commented on the great job you did Joe and it meant a lot to have you both there. Our pastor, Jim Winter, also did a great job reading some of Jeff's favorite scriptures and making comments. Thanks also to the various family members that wrote great letters about Jeff for the pastor to read. Thanks also to Russ, Sandy, Karen, and Penny for their roles.
My mom and neice were so happy to see how many wonderful friends we have that have been and continue to be so supportive of us. We are blessed in that way.
Of course we are grieving even though we are happy that Jeff''s suffering is over and he is with the Lord he loves so much. Each of the kids is handling it differently. We would appreciate your continued prayers as we work through the grief and as I adjust to being a single parent.
There are many other friends and family to thank and I will be doing that through notes in the next while.
By the way, we should be fine finiancially but there are many decisions and paper work to deal with and I need wisdom in making good decisions.
Love you all,
Nancy
I just dropped my mom off at the airport to fly home to Edmonton. It was great to have her here for the last week annd I will miss her. My neice, Kristen, flew back on Tuesday ( thanks for coming!) and Donna will be with us until next Wednesday. Then I will see if I'm really up to this single parenting.
Jeff's visitation and funeral were very well attended. The funeral service was wonderful, honoring of Jeff and of the Lord. Joe and Shirley Duray flew down from Alaska and Joe gave the main message/eulogy. People commented on the great job you did Joe and it meant a lot to have you both there. Our pastor, Jim Winter, also did a great job reading some of Jeff's favorite scriptures and making comments. Thanks also to the various family members that wrote great letters about Jeff for the pastor to read. Thanks also to Russ, Sandy, Karen, and Penny for their roles.
My mom and neice were so happy to see how many wonderful friends we have that have been and continue to be so supportive of us. We are blessed in that way.
Of course we are grieving even though we are happy that Jeff''s suffering is over and he is with the Lord he loves so much. Each of the kids is handling it differently. We would appreciate your continued prayers as we work through the grief and as I adjust to being a single parent.
There are many other friends and family to thank and I will be doing that through notes in the next while.
By the way, we should be fine finiancially but there are many decisions and paper work to deal with and I need wisdom in making good decisions.
Love you all,
Nancy
From Nancy Paul
23/04/07 15:57
Hi Friends
and Family:
Jeff has been home from the hospital since Tuesday night and he is definitely sleeping better at home. He still has marked fatigue and the back off his calves are stiff. Stairs are hard for him and his balance is a little off. His cognition has been improving in the last few days.
We saw the oncologist yesterday and Jeff is supposed to resume the clinical trial SAHA on Tuesday. He also has his staples removed on Tuesday. He will need weekly blood draws while on the chemo. The rehab doctor wants him to go to speech therapy 3 times a week for awhile so if we do that we will have many meetings to go to. Apparently SAHA is proving to add more months to peoples lives than Temodar which he was on before.
Thnaks again to those of you that have brought meals. They have all been very good and much appreciated.
Please continue with us in prayer.
Love,
nancy
p.s. from dee. you can stay up with Jeff and Nancy through www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeffpaul
Jeff has been home from the hospital since Tuesday night and he is definitely sleeping better at home. He still has marked fatigue and the back off his calves are stiff. Stairs are hard for him and his balance is a little off. His cognition has been improving in the last few days.
We saw the oncologist yesterday and Jeff is supposed to resume the clinical trial SAHA on Tuesday. He also has his staples removed on Tuesday. He will need weekly blood draws while on the chemo. The rehab doctor wants him to go to speech therapy 3 times a week for awhile so if we do that we will have many meetings to go to. Apparently SAHA is proving to add more months to peoples lives than Temodar which he was on before.
Thnaks again to those of you that have brought meals. They have all been very good and much appreciated.
Please continue with us in prayer.
Love,
nancy
p.s. from dee. you can stay up with Jeff and Nancy through www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeffpaul
From Gail Shoemaker
23/04/07 15:51
we arrived in
Houston last wed night. we decided to
come to the burzynski clinic, which I'm so glad we
did. it is an amazing place! because joy, our
daughter, is an RN, she can learn faster the very
involved training which surrounds getting the
medicine through an infusion pump into an IV into me,
so we may be able to go home as early as this weekend.
we met with all the cancer .patients here Monday
night. not one was having any side affects from the
medicine they were getting.
we were able to have a GREAT TIME seeing Louis and
Debbie Solomon last weekend. they are fantastic!
i finally got access to a computer again, so can now
communicate with everyone.
god bless!
Gail
ps. please feel free to post this on the af site if
you want. thanks for your prayers.
come to the burzynski clinic, which I'm so glad we
did. it is an amazing place! because joy, our
daughter, is an RN, she can learn faster the very
involved training which surrounds getting the
medicine through an infusion pump into an IV into me,
so we may be able to go home as early as this weekend.
we met with all the cancer .patients here Monday
night. not one was having any side affects from the
medicine they were getting.
we were able to have a GREAT TIME seeing Louis and
Debbie Solomon last weekend. they are fantastic!
i finally got access to a computer again, so can now
communicate with everyone.
god bless!
Gail
ps. please feel free to post this on the af site if
you want. thanks for your prayers.
From Peggy O'Brien
09/07/06 20:14
I planned on mostly
lurking, but when Mark and Vickie asked who was
listening, I felt compelled to say hello and add at
least a few words... Read
More...
From Jim Coleman
07/07/06 15:58
After my time in AF I
worked as a mechanic, machinist, motel manager,
sales, and now a bus driver... Read
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From Pam McCray Mitchell
04/07/06 16:34
I would like to write
and say I'm out here lurking in the shadows...
Read
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Memories of AF team life - Grace Lane
04/07/06 09:22
Riding shot-gun early
in the morning and being able to see some glorioius
sunrises... Read
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