Category: Obituaries

How to share a loss with the Michigan Conference.

Death notices will be sent on behalf of the Michigan Conference by the Communications Staff via e-blast for active and retired clergy, clergy spouses, clergy dependents and members to the annual conference when requested. Recipients are local churches and anyone who has subscribed to the death notice/prayer request database. Anyone can join this database at http://eepurl.com/dcxvn5

Announcements include:

Clergy, including part-time and full-time local pastors.
Retired clergy as defined above.
Spouses and surviving spouses of active and retired clergy.
Dependent children of clergy [this includes stepchildren] still living in the parsonage.
Diaconal ministers.
Lay members of the previous annual conference.
Laypersons of the conference support staff and ministry team, past or present.
Missionaries related to the conference.

When death of a person in one of the above categories is known:

The person reporting the death should provide the information to the district office where the deceased resided or attended a local church if known or provide the information to the to the conference office
Information must include
- the name of the individual
- date of death
- relationship to the conference/clergy member
- history when available
- visitation and funeral information
- where condolences can be sent
- photographs are appreciated
Death notices for extended relatives (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) will be sent out as a monthly summary by the Communications Office and may be posted immediately by any individual on the Michigan Conference Facebook group page
We encourage these types of announcements also be sent out by district email when deemed appropriate. Please note, there is a formatted design for these announcements in the MailChimp system that can be adapted and utilized.
Death notices for any immediate or extended family of a staff member will be sent to the All Staff e-blast list and also included in the month summary e-blast sent to the death notice database.

Have more questions?

Please contact Kristen Gillette

Rev. Brian William

Rev. Brian William We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Rev. Brian William, who died on April 16, 2019 at the age of 43. Brian was the senior pastor at West Bloomfield UMC. Brian is survived by his wife, Rev. Monica William (Northville UMC) and his 3 children Haven, Miriam and Danielle. … Continue Reading Rev. Brian William

Rev. Gregroy R. Wolfe and Rev. Brian William

Rev. Gregroy R. Wolfe and Rev. Brian William The Michigan Conference mourns the deaths of two of our pastors. Rev. Gregory R. Wolfe, age 71, retired pastor serving Napolean UMC, passed away on Sunday, April 14th. Rev. Brian William, pastor of West Bloomfield UMC, passed away this morning at the age of 43. Details about services of remembrance will… Continue Reading Rev. Gregroy R. Wolfe and Rev. Brian William

Jon Youqiang Surgeon Rider

Jon Youqiang Surgeon Rider We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Jon Youqiang Surgeon Rider, 24 yrs old, of Glendale Colorado who passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Jon is survived by his mother, Rev. Melodye Surgeon (John) VanOudheusden, pastor at Evart and Sears United Methodist Churches and father Aster Ray Rider Jr. of… Continue Reading Jon Youqiang Surgeon Rider

Chloe Ostema

Chloe Ostema The Michigan Conference mourns the sudden passing of Chloe Ostema, 22, of an accidental death in Kalamazoo, MI, Wednesday, March 20. She is the daughter of Pastor Dale and Debbie Ostema. The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 12:00PM at Traverse City Central Church, 222 Cass St, Traverse City, MI 49684. … Continue Reading Chloe Ostema

Kenneth Halter

Kenneth Halter We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Kenneth Halter, former Detroit Conference Lay Leader, who died on March 25, 2019 at the age of 88. Kenneth was a member of Grand Blanc Methodist Church where he served as a lay preacher. He also was Detroit Conference Lay Leader, involved in the Flint and… Continue Reading Kenneth Halter

Mark Edward Spaw

Rev. Mark Edward Spaw The Michigan Conference mourns the sudden passing of the Rev. Mark Spaw, who died at his home in Farmington on Friday, March 8, 2019. Spaw was ordained an Elder in the Detroit Conference in 1985. He pastored Hartland, Hardy and Trenton: Faith United Methodist churches before serving as the Superintendent of… Continue Reading Mark Edward Spaw

Vickie Joy Wojewski

Vickie Joy Wojewski We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Vickie Joy Wojewski, age 59, who died on February 1, 2019. Vickie is the spouse of local pastor, Rev. Donald Wojewski of Caseville United Methodist Church. Vickie Joy Paxton was born May 24, 1959 in Mt. Clemens, MI. She is the daughter of… Continue Reading Vickie Joy Wojewski

Marvin R. Rosa

Rev. Marvin R. Rosa We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Rev. Marvin R. Rosa, retired West Michigan Conference clergy who died on February 11, 2019. Marvin served his country honorably with the US Army Reserves. On July 27, 1957 he married Annette Haywood, and with her unwavering support, Marvin pursued his calling… Continue Reading Marvin R. Rosa

Ruth P. Hoover

Ruth P. Hoover We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Ruth P. Hoover who died on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the age of 97. She is survived by three sons, Paul of Florida, Jonathan of Jackson and Phillip of Kansas, and one daughter, Deborah of Canton; eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Ruth… Continue Reading Ruth P. Hoover

William H. Pope Jr.

William H. Pope Jr. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Rev. Marva Pope of Wayne-Westland First UMC who lost her husband, William H. Pope Jr. on January 8, 2019. His homecoming service will be held at Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48076 on Saturday, January 19th. Family hour begins… Continue Reading William H. Pope Jr.

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