ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagements
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Bahram and Bonnie Jahangiri announce with joy the birth of their beautiful son, Malek Kianoush Jahangiri, who entered this world on June 23, 2006. Malek weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Malek's arrival was long awaited and greatly anticipated by big sister Natalia, 6, whose tender love and affection is received and returned by an adoring Malek. Proud grandparents are Les French and Linda French of the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington, area. The Jahangiris are members of the Williamsburg, Virginia, congregation.

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Dave and Erin Werner of the Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation would like to announce the birth of their third child, Alexander Dean, born on April 25, 2006. Alex weighed 10 pounds 3 ounces and was 22½ inches long. Alex is very welcomed by his big brother, Ethan, and big sister, Jenna, and both sets of grandparents, Harvey and Teresa Werner of the Portland, Oregon, congregation and Kenneth and Darlene Shoemaker of the Portsmouth, Ohio, congregation. Everyone loves the newest addition to the family!

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Engagements

Charlene Langner and John Williams of Port Richey, Florida, are pleased to announce their engagement to be married. Charlene is the daughter of Mrs. Renell Book of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the late Donald Langner. John is the son of John and Jan Williams of the Houston North congregation. Charlene and John are members of the St. Petersburg, Florida, congregation. The couple became engaged on Oct. 8, 2006, during the Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City Beach, and are planning a March 11, 2007, wedding in Tampa, Florida.

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Weddings

Eric and Jeannie Evans of Atlanta, Georgia, are happy to announce the marriage of their son, Jonathan David to Latasha Pilgrim on Sept. 12, 2006. The ceremony took place in Hoschton, Georgia, and was performed by the father of the groom, Eric Evans.

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Matthew and Diana Zollner of the Fairview Heights, Illinois, congregation are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Michelle Ann to Jonathan Curtis Brunick, son of Edward and Claudia Brunick of the Watertown, South Dakota, congregation. The wedding, officiated by Michelle's father, took place on June 18, 2006, in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Jonathan and Michelle now reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where Michelle works as an engineer for Northrop Grumman and Jonathan is a second year law student at Regent University.

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Gabriel Colbeth and Megan Miller were united in marriage in Estes Park, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2006. Gabe is the son of Betsy Colbeth and the late Ron Colbeth, members of the United Church of God, Loveland, Colorado, congregation. Megan is the daughter of Paul and Nancy Miller of Madrid, Iowa. The couple is residing in Denver, Colorado, where Gabe is an agent for Met Life and Megan is a school psychologist at a Denver middle school.

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Anniversaries

Gary and Rose Groh of Austin, Minnesota, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 11, 2006. Members of the Austin area congregation presented the Grohs with a cake after the Sabbath service, and Rose brought her wedding photo album to share with the brethren.

They were united in marriage on Nov. 11, 1956. Their union was blessed with four children. Wendy, their only daughter, was born Sept. 8, 1958. She was followed by three boys: Wayde, born Nov. 17, 1960; Troy , born Feb. 27, 1962; and Chad , born April 8, 1973. Grohs are the loving grandparents of Aunica, born Oct. 2, 2003, and Ethan, born Nov. 2, 2005.

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Groh own a family construction business. Working with their sons they have restored historically significant buildings in Austin, a town of 20,000 people in southeast Minnesota. They make their home in one of 27 apartments in Austin's Lincoln school building. The building was originally constructed in 1909. It was closed by the Austin school district in 1977, when it was going to be torn down, but Gary purchased it. He and his sons completely restored it, mostly by hand.

Mr. and Mrs. Groh are faithful servants in God's Church. They are a wonderful example of God's plan for marriage and family. The Grohs commitment to God's way of life, their family, the brethren and each other is reflected in their work ethic, warm smiles and sincere concern for others.

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Obituaries

Jesus "Facho" Bonifacio Nunez, 23, of Zion, Illinois, formerly of Chicago, died Sept. 16, 2006, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jesus was born on July 12, 1983, in Chicago, and was a 2001 graduate of Zion-Benton Township High School. He brought sunshine into peoples' lives and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his mother, Sonia Barthel of Kenosha, Wisconsin; brother, Martin Nunez of DeKalb, Illinois; sisters, Ellie Nunez of Decatur, Illinois, and Vivian and Isabel Nunez, both of Kenosha. Also surviving are his grandmother, Rosa Quinones of Puerto Rico; and dear friend, Melissa Roberts of Zion.

A funeral service was held Sept. 19, with Michael Hanisko, pastor of the Minneapolis, Minnesota, congregation, officiating.

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Albert L. Wyrouck, 91, died at his home in Oldtown, Idaho, on Sept. 1, 2006, of aortic stenosis. He was a member of God's Church since being baptized by Roger Foster in the early 1980s. He is survived by one brother, Samuel Wyrouck; four nieces and four nephews. He was born at Lewistown, Montana. In his younger years he worked on hay ranches. Later he had his own woods operation, cutting cedar poles and fence posts. He retired from the sawmill at Oldtown at age 61 on Social Security disability. His funeral service was in Newport, Washington, Sept. 5. Mark Mickelson, pastor of the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene congregation, officiated.

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Hazel Armstrong Rea died Oct. 8, 2006, at the age of 77. She was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Carroll County, Georgia.

She attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, where she worked on the switchboard as an operator and in the mail room. While at Ambassador College she met and married Dr. Benjamin L. Rea on Sept. 26, 1957. Dr. Rea was to become the head of the Spanish work and founding faculty member of the Bricket Wood, England, branch of Ambassador College.

Mrs. Rea traveled with her husband throughout South America as he developed the Church's Spanish work and moved to England when Dr. Rea became dean of faculty at Ambassador College, Bricket Wood. When Dr. Rea died on Dec. 10, 1965, Mrs. Rea and their only child moved back to the United States where they resided on the Big Sandy, Texas, campus until 1975 when they returned to her home in Georgia.

Mrs. Rea was a warm and loving person with a fine sense of humor as her many friends throughout the years will attest. She maintained contact with people all over the globe who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Rea loved her family and her many cats. She loved God and trusted in the promise of the resurrection. (Revelation 21:4). She remained faithful to the truth no matter what the situation. Hazel Rea remained a fine example to all until her death.

The funeral service was conducted by United Church of God pastor Dale Schurter. Mr. Schurter traveled from Pennsylvania to Georgia to perform the service. He joined his wife, Mona, who had been with Mrs. Rea throughout her last week. The family can never express the gratitude they feel for the support from the Schurters and from all the people who loved Hazel Rea.

She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Doris McCray; her daughter-in-law, LeAnn; and her only son, Raphael, who continues to care for her beloved cats.

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Hale C. Harding, 95, a longtime Spokane, Washington/Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Church member of over 30 years and a deacon in God's Church, died Aug. 2, 2006, at his Hayden, Idaho, home.

Mr. Harding was born to Albert and Ivy Harding in Provo, Utah, on June 8, 1911. As a child he grew up on a farm and learned from his dad about the importance of good, hard work. He liked farming and especially operating and repairing the equipment. This proved to be decisive in the direction he would later take for an occupation.

As a young boy he moved to California where he took on jobs in service stations and a garage. During this time he went to night school to obtain his high school diploma.

Mr. Harding continued to have an interest in farming, which he pursued on and off over the years. At one time he was partner in a 600-acre tomato farm and a lemon orchard.

In 1942 Mr. Harding was drafted and assigned to the Active Air Corps Reserve at Cal Aero Flight Academy as an aircraft mechanic. After discharge from the service, Mr. Harding worked for Ryan Aeronautical and General Dynamics. He worked on several of the missile programs and retired as supervisor over one of the engineering departments.

With Verna, his second wife, who died Jan. 21, 1997, he moved to north Idaho in the early 1960s to retire. Retirement didn't last long when they purchased acreage on Lake Coeur d'Alene and other areas in north Idaho. Mr. Harding was busy developing this property into lots and building his lake home.

Mr. Harding remarried in 1998 and lived there until three years ago when he moved with his new wife, Ruby, to Hayden, Idaho.

Mr. Harding learned about God's truth in the late 1960s and became a member of the Church in 1972. He will always be remembered for his warm smile and handshake when he greeted people. Many times he was there to lend a helping hand to those who needed help in the Church.

Survivors include one son, Hale R. Harding of Citrus Heights, California; several half brothers and sisters in Utah; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his wife of eight years, Ruby.

Mark Mickelson, pastor of the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene congregation, officiated at the memorial service.

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Longtime Oakland, California, member Martha Saito died peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 4 at the age of 93. Oakland elder Mark Rorem conducted a private family service honoring Martha on Nov. 11.

The following Sabbath, Nov. 18, a special memorial was held for her after services, and brethren shared their thoughts and many remembrances of her. It was expressed that Martha was like a "flower," always smiling and always ready and willing to hear your story and pray for you. Her niece, Barbara, who attended both the Sabbath service and the memorial, was quite impressed by the messages and also touched by how much Martha was loved by the brethren.

Martha and George, her husband of nearly 65 years, are of Japanese descent, and lived in California during World War II. She and her husband experienced the difficulties of being sent to an internment camp during this time.

She was an avid gardener and consummate cook, and shared her produce and special dishes with the brethren. She loved serving people, and was a gracious hostess. She also was a woman of great faith who loved God's truth and way of life.

She is survived by George, three children, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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Announcements: Members are welcome to submit announcements of the births, engagements, weddings, significant anniversaries (25, 40, 50, 60, etc.) and obituaries in their families. Please include a self-addressed envelope if you would like photos returned. Most items are 50 to 100 words and should not exceed 250 words. Please e-mail (preferred) or give them to your local pastor to forward to United News.