Life Events
in the Church of God

Shelby Faith, 3724 Laura Ct., House Springs, MO 63059, diagnosed with breast cancer and is scheduled for surgery. Complications of diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

Zaden Raney, Yuma, Ariz., is due to be born on Jan. 15, 2010. His spine is not developing correctly. Doctors are planning surgery immediately after birth.

Willow, great-granddaughter of Herb and Joan Morrow of Prescott, Ark., was born with hydrocephalous and recently underwent a successful surgery. Please continue prayers.

John Sisk passed away Sept. 9, 2009. Doctors could not stop the bleeding after his double-lung transplant. He had suffered with pulmonary hypertension for several years. His father and two of his brothers had died from this disease. A few years ago John's and Brenda's only child, a son, died. A few months ago Brenda died. The Sisk family receives mail at 6620 Lothrop Road, Imlay City, MI 48444.

Leanna Hollon, 20, of Ross Township, Pa., died July 30, 2009, as the result of an automobile accident. She is survived by her parents, Glen and Rebecca Hollon; son, Conner; and fiancé, Kevin Bradley. (See the tribute to Leanna on page 4 of this issue of The Journal.)

Nelson Doucet died Aug. 27, 2009. Mr. Doucet is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 51 years, Jenora; a son, Scott; a daughter, Saundra (Doucet) Hadley; and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother Dennis.

Nelson was originally a Cajun from Louisiana. He worked many years for the church in Pasadena before retiring to Indiana. His love for God, family and friends was of the utmost. Because his friends and family are all over the United States and the world, an online memorial has been set up at www.nelsondoucet.com. Cards may be sent to Jenora Doucet, 8701 Lower Mount Vernon Rd., Mount Vernon, IN 47620.

Bill Albright, Ava, Mo., cancer.

Karen Alexander, sister of Wade Hamil, more cancer found.

Kris Bond, 13, Lindale, Texas, viral meningitis, encephalitis and a herpes infection in brain. Released from Children's hospital to therapy in Waco. Improving slowly.

Robert "Robbie" David Whitesell, 63, of Mustang, Okla., died July 14, 2009, in an aircraft accident in Wasilla, Alaska. Robbie was born May 11, 1946, in Wichita, Kan., to Robert and Alta (Rogers) Whitesell and grew up with his three siblings on their family farm in Clearwater, Kan. Each summer, as a teenager, Robbie worked on his father's custom-combining crew, cutting wheat from Texas to South Dakota. From 1969 to 1972 Robbie served in the U.S. Army, two years as a personnel clerk in the Vietnam War. Robbie used his GI Bill benefits to earn his private pilot's license and begin his lifelong career in aviation. Robbie worked as a flight instructor and charter pilot at various Fixed Base Operations until he was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1987 as principal operations inspector in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 1990 Robbie transferred to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City as a General Aviation instructor. For the past four years Robbie had worked in the Light Sport Aviation branch of the FAA certifying pilots and designated pilot examiners. Robbie also spent the last six years meticulously constructing his own aircraft, the RV-7. Robbie had three passions in life: his rewarding 22-year career with the FAA; his exhilarating determination to pursue his own aviation achievements; and, most of all, his deep love for his family and friends.

Robbie is survived by his two children, Dara Whitesell of Atlanta, Ga., and Carson Whitesell of Mustang, Okla.; two sisters, Judy Bauer of Waco, Texas, and Peggy Liljestrand of Wichita, Kan.; one brother, John Whitesell of Anchorage, Alaska; and nieces and nephews.

Emma Kantak, 87, was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Detroit, Mich. She left us on July 12, 2009, at her home in Prescott, Ariz., after a truly God-blessed marriage of 68 years.

Emma is survived by her husband, Bob, a retired Detroit firefighter; her daughters, Carol, Jackie and Roberta; her son, Tim; and a loving brother, Bruce; plus five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She became known to many in the area as Bob's "Hungarian Queen." As a dedicated housewife, homemaker and devoted wife and mother, she was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Emma and Bob were loyal Sabbath keepers and were members of the Christian Biblical Church of God for 26 years. Bob remarked, "It was God's plan for my sweetheart to move on and I'm looking forward to joining her soon in the first resurrection, thus our separation is very temporary." Memorial donations in Emma's name may be made to Granite Mountain Hospice, 3107 Clearwater Dr., Prescott, AZ 86305.