Richard Lawrence Wilkie, 75

Richard Lawrence Wilkie was born on the 14th day of October, in the year of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 1940, in Midland, Michigan, to Harold and Ire ne (Nee Rutowsky) Wilkie. He was born again by water and the Word through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on the 2nd day of November, 1940, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Beaver Township, Michigan, with his grandfather, the Rev. Frederick Rutowsky, as officiant. On the 18th day of June, 1965, Richard was joined in a Christian marriage to Melba Jane Hallow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. This marriage was blessed with three daughters, Kimber, Sheri, and Alicia. Richard attended and was graduated from the following schools; West Bethlehem Lutheran School, Detroit Lutheran High School West, Valparaiso University, Central Michigan University, and completed tohe colloquy program at Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri. He served as a teacher at the following Lutheran schools: St. Paul’s Lutheran Farmington, Michigan; Trinity Lutheran School, Saginaw, Michigan; Immanuel Lutheran School, Lakefield, Minnesota; St. John’s Lutheran School, Maple Grove, Minnesota, for a total of twenty-one years. He served as pastor of the following Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations: Trinity; Sanborn: and Resurrection, Redwood Falls MN; Peace, Fairbault, MN; and St. John’s, Farmers Retreat, IN, for a total of twenty-six years. Follwing his retirement from St. John’s Lutheran CHurch in Farmers Retreat, Indiana, he served several churches in the area that were without a pastor. He also assisted on a weekly basis the Dillsboro Manor Nursing Home with patient visitations. The residents there eagerly anticipated his visits to help them adjust to their living arrangements. Aside from his duties as a pastor, Richard enjoyed fishing, a good game of euchre, civil war history, and sitting by a campfire while camping. Richard departed this life on Monday evening, May 2, 2016 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN, where he had been a patient for several weeks. His soul, now enjoying life in the presence of the Triune God, awaits the resurrection of his body, which will occur when Christ returns at the end of earthly time, to the fully participate in life everlasting. But most important to him, Richard’s family life centered on hsi wife of 50 years (June 18, 1965), Melba (Hollow) Wilkie and their children and grandchildren. Richard was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Melba; daughters Kimber (and husband) Rick Ampt, of Aurora, Sherri Roach, of Dillsboro, and Alicia Wilkie, of Delray Beach, FL; grandchildren; Jeff, Jennifer, Jeremiah, Riley, and Kati; great grandchildren, Anna, and Oliver. His brother, Rev. Wesley (Dot) Wilkie, of Oak Park, IL; other family members, and beloved members of the various congregations and friends and other relatives. “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes, says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Revelation 14:13. A time of visitation fro friends and family will be held Friday, May 6, 2016 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmers Retreat. the funeral service fro Rev. Richard Wilkie will be Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Church, with Reverend Garry Wickert, Reverend Jeff Pflug, Reverend Ed Davis and Reverend Richard Kolaskey officiating. There will be a time of visitation at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church on Saturday. Following the funeral service there will be a dinner at the church for all attending. He will be laid to rest at St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery in Brownstown, IN. For a more lasting tribute the family would prefer memorials to the Aurora Circuit Church Workers Scholarship Fund. Arrangements are entrusted to DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.