FALL 2024 RETIREE NEWSLETTER

Greetings Missouri Conference Retirees! Keep scrolling to read about what you've been up to this summer. May these stories provide a bright spot in your day and invite you to connect with one another to continue sharing encouragement and hope.

Putting Your House in Order Workshop

Are there things you’d like to get in order that would make your intentions clear for your loved ones if you become incapacitated or after you’re gone? Things like: How to take care of your financial affairs and discern important documents; How to put together a will or trust that reflects your wishes; What you’d like your service of remembrance to include, as well as your burial or cremation wishes; The people, memories and dates that have been significant in your life; And so much more! While these are all important, they can also be emotional and difficult to discuss or discern. But when in order, they are an amazing gift from you to your loved ones.

Join Rev. Laura Murphy from the Missouri United Methodist Foundation for a workshop that lays out how to get your house in order concerning these topics. She will be hosting four more in-person workshops in 2024 and a virtual session in January. Click here to learn more →

Church Triumphant

Clergy and clergy spouses that have gone on to glory:

• Patricia Robertson - 3/22/1927 - 5/20/2024
• Constance Kingore - 11/27/1930 - 6/11/2024
• Rev. Roy Wilson - 3/7/1936 - 6/25/2024
• Dee Bunge - 2/14/1934 - 7/2/2024
• Rev. Jerry Turner - 1/2/1933 - 7/11/2024
• Rev. Larry Hartell - 9/25/1946 - 7/26/2024
• Rev. C. William Chignoli - 9/19/1938 - 8/3/2024
• Azalia Teegarden Gant - 10/28/1928 - 8/4/2024
• Rev. Donald Kuehle - 1/13/1934 - 8/13/2024
• Betty Jo Butler - 3/26/1932 - 8/19/2024
• Scott Hall - 1/20/1949 - 8/30/2024
• Bonnie Gray - 4/23/1937 - 9/5/2024
• Rev. Hal Bassett - 9/15/1934 - 9/7/2024
• Rev. Sue Lambert - 1/15/1944 - 10/2/2024
• Rev. William Minor - 1/6/1947 - 10/4/2024
• Jeannette Clemans - 3/11/1932 - 10/12/2024
• Rev. William Siebert - 8/7/1937 - 10/15/2024
• Rev. Charles Lashley - 12/16/1932 - 10/24/2024
• Jeanne Blakey - 9/26/1951 - 10/27/2024
• Rev. Clinton Wofford - 5/15/1933 - 11/1/2024
• Rev. Connie Bell - 7/17/1946 - 11/8/2024
• Craig Wansing - 2/19/1960 - 11/10/2024
• Rev. Reuben Wilbur - 6/13/1946 - 11/11/2024

Additionally, if you'd like to see the Memorial Service video, honoring those who went on to glory from June 1, 2023-2024, from our 2024 Annual Conference Session, you can view it here.

Gleanings From Around the Conference

Ann Rathert - Cultivating a Garden and Bible Study Almost 11 years out from my accident, my life has taken some turns from what I expected retirement to be.

Elroy and Marilyn Hines - Days of Celebration and of Challenge Submitted by Nancy Hines, on behalf of Elroy and Marilyn Hines The last few years have brought a series of celebrations and challenges for Elroy and Marilyn Hines.

Mary Ann Cieslak - Publishing a Book Besides my 16-day tour cruise to Alaska in July, I have self-published my first book The Castlemouse with KDP. It is a chapter book for ages 8-12 but also is a great read aloud.

Frederick and Laura Ann Zahn - Becoming Great Grandparents and Seeing Friends from Abroad We are celebrating the joy and blessing of becoming great grandparents. Our daughter, Anna, is now a grandmother to Henry Parsons in Appleton City. Is there really any better news than this?

David and Marsha Kerr - Staying Active and Spending Time at CMU This summer we celebrated our 59th wedding anniversary. We cherish the memories and continue to create new ones.

Bishop Fritz Mutti - Inviting Visitors to Lee's Summit I recently moved to an assisted living facility in Lee's Summit. Room 120 has a comfortable living room and a window in the bedroom that lets me look out on a courtyard that has trees.

Ann Mowery - Navigating Illness and Serving in Jackson 2024 has been a year of highs and lows. Navigating holidays without our daughter, and keeping the family connected has been important. We had a granddaughter graduate college and move to Florida.

Larry R. Linville - Attending Church in KC We celebrated our 62nd wedding anniversary on Father's Day. Thelma was able to attend church after missing so many weeks. She continues her struggle four-plus years after her stroke.

Gene Hinrichsen - Pastoring in Iowa I am enjoying living near my grandchildren in Des Moines, Iowa. I am blessed to be able to pastor two awesome churches in southwest Iowa.

Cleo Kottwitz - A Move to Memory Care Our life took a big turn on May 22 when Judy entered the Greenwood Memory Care facility here at Lenoir Woods. I go daily to be with her for lunch and stay until about 3:00 p.m.

Jane Rooney - Making the Move to Columbia After 49 years in Jefferson City where Gene Rooney served First United Methodist Church for 25 years, I’ve have recently moved to Lenoir Woods Retirement Community in Columbia.

Roger Jespersen - On the Go, Grandchildren and Gardening Susan and I are doing well. We celebrated our 33rd anniversary on Oct. 26. Looking forward to more. Looking forward, also, to the birth of our third great-grandchild early next year.

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