ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagements
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Matthew and Anne (Dungan) Lucas of the Jacksonville, Florida, congregation are very happy to announce the birth of their first child, Molly Rose Lucas. Molly Rose was born on July 20, 2007, weighing 8 pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Molly Rose is the first grandchild of Jack and Nancy Lucas of Jacksonville and the eighth grandchild of Marcia and the late Eddie Dungan of the Laurel, Mississippi, congregation. The blessing of Molly Rose has brought much love and joy to all.

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Brian and Amanda Goethals of the Tacoma, Washington, congregation, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Thomas Wayne Goethals. Thomas was born Aug. 9, 2007, weighing in at 9 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 21 inches in length. He is the fourth grandchild for David and Patty Goethals and the 15th grandchild for Jim and Lucy Werst.

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Maurits and Julie de Jong from the Tonbridge (Paddock Wood), United Kingdom, congregation are happy to announce the birth of their firstborn daughter, Grace Kristel de Jong. Grace was born on Nov. 3, 2007. Grace was born very quickly and weighed 3.4 kilograms. We are very thankful for good health and realize we have been greatly blessed.

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Jim and Almeda (Bauman) Lucas of Barrie, Ontario, are thrilled to announce the arrival of their second child. Daniel Jacob was born Jan. 11, 2007, weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce. Happy grandparents are Garry and Emmie Lucas (of Barrie) and Angus and Adeline Bauman (of Guelph, Ontario). Big brother Evan is thrilled with his new playmate. We thank God for our two very special blessings.

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Engagements

Dave and Karen Fergen of Wellington, Kansas, and Mark and Colleen Winner, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, along with Debra Rogers of Louisville, Kentucky, are delighted to announce the engagement of their children, Melissa Kaye Fergen and Vincent Rogers Winner.

Vince will graduate from Vanderbilt University this spring with a degree in economics and history, and a minor in finance. Melissa is a junior at the University of Kansas majoring in psychology. They are planning a May 2008 wedding, after which they will reside in Lawrence, Kansas, and attend the Kansas City congregation.

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Weddings

Mavis Jolin and Harold Stevens were married Dec. 1. The ceremony was performed at Livonia, Michigan, by Keith Haab, an elder in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they are both members. They will reside in Livonia.

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Anniversaries

On Feb. 4, 2007, Mike and Helen Hunicke celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They were baptized together in 1968 on Pentecost by Selmer Hegvold.

Mike and Helen attended church in Alaska from 1968 to 1986 and then moved to southern Oregon where they attend to this day in the Medford congregation. The Hunickes have raised seven children together!

They both help out with United Youth Camp every year in the Northwest. Mike is passionate about archery, and his award-winning skills provide the Church camp with the blessing of an ultra-qualified instructor for archery. Helen is a talented artist, and her warm, patient and outgoing personality make her artistic skill a beautiful contribution to the arts and crafts program of United Youth Camps. There is a love and warmth in the air around them and their light shines brilliantly in the Church and in the world.

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Obituaries

Robert L. "Bob" Galbreath, 73, of Uhrichsville, Ohio, died April 26, 2007, following a long battle with cancer. Known affectionately in his community as "Gilly," he was born on Jan. 18, 1934, in Uhrichsville where he lived and worked his entire life. Bob attended church in the Cambridge, Ohio, congregation where he enjoyed the fellowship of many wonderful friends who filled his life.

He was a favorite face in many local establishments as he made his morning coffee rounds since retirement. His good cheer certainly shined as a bright light of God's way to many. He also enjoyed music and sports, and especially loved working on his house. Bob annually organized a group of brethren to attend a barbershop music festival in the area. His happy smile and warm greetings will be missed every Sabbath until the first resurrection.

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Ewalt B. Schmidt, born Nov. 21, 1921, died Nov. 2, 2007. He was baptized in 1966 and attended the Church of God in Victoria, Texas. Ewalt was married to Iva Mae Schmidt for 30 years. They enjoyed a quiet life on their property outside Victoria after Ewalt retired from farming. Church members remember Ewalt as a quiet, dedicated man. Mae knew him as "a very gentle, kind person…with an even more wonderful person inside." He is survived by Mae and her children, Bob Castleberry and Betty Skaggs.

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Geraldine (Geri) Brennecke, 78, of Millersville, Missouri, died Oct. 6, 2007, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson, Missouri.

She was born June 1, 1929, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the daughter of John and Jeannette Kuehn. Geri and Howard Brennecke were married March 11, 1948.

She worked at the former Jackson International Shoe Company. She and her husband were baptized on July 24, 1963. She was a charter member of the Cape Girardeau Church of God.

She especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual.

Survivors include a son, Roger (Stacy) Brennecke of Kansas City, Missouri; three daughters, Brenda (Larry) Wilcox of Springfield, Missouri, Rhonda (Clint) Hornbuckle of Fulton, Missouri, and Anita (Kevin) Vanover of Sikeston, Missouri. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, a great-grandson and five step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Brenda Gillam; four brothers; and three sisters.

Geri Brennecke had been in failing health for a number of years. How good it is to know that at her next moment of consciousness she will be surrounded by the beauty, wonder and good health of the world tomorrow.

The funeral service was conducted Oct. 9, 2007, with Neal Kinsey and Carl Hoffman officiating.

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Drexel Hughes Crook, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Sept. 20, 2007. He was baptized in 1983 and attended the Poplar Bluff congregation until ill health made him a shut-in a few years ago.

He was retired from the timber industry as well as the welding industry. He enjoyed spending time with his family, being outdoors and hunting and fishing. As a welder, he also enjoyed creating things.

He was born July 29, 1921, in Ripley County, Missouri, and on Sept. 26, 1939, he married Dellie Luann Elliott of Butler County, Missouri. She survives and they were just shy of 68 years of marriage.

Other survivors include four sons: Charles Crook and wife Margaret, Don Crook and wife Brenda, Fred Crook and wife Karen, Eddie Crook and wife Charlene; one daughter-in-law, Janice Crook; one son-in-law, Jerry Hudson; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Three brothers and three sisters also survive him. Preceding him in death were a daughter, Marie Hudson, and a son, Willard Harvey Crook.

Mrs. Crook, along with son and daughter-in-law Ed and Charlene, are members attending the Poplar Bluff congregation. Mr. Crook was faithful to his calling, and we look forward to seeing him at the resurrection.

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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.