Charles Litchfield Graveside Service

Good afternoon. My name is Pastor Dan Norman from Friendship Church here in Mondovi and while I never had the privilege to know Charles personally, his family was an active part of Friendship Church before my time. Even though he had since moved out of the area, when we announced his passing this past Sunday he was remembered fondly.

His father Gordy passed before my time in Mondovi, but I did have the privilege to know his mother Dorothy and I remember her very fondly. In fact, It was my privilege to help the family say goodbye to her in this very place three years ago.

Words of Remembrance

I wanted to begin by sharing with you all some words that are not my own, but came from my correspondence with Dixie Litchfield McGee, Charles long time guardian and friend. She writes...

Ladies, Gentlemen, friends and family,

We gather here to celebrate the life of Charles Litchfield, a man who loved his family, Wisconsin Sports and the simple joys of life.

Charles was a true Wisconsinite, through and through. His heart beat with the rhythm of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers. It was the true passion of a true fan.

One of Charles’ fondest memories is the car rides with his late Dad, Gordy. These drives were about more than just transportation, they created long lasting bonds, sharing stories and building a love that stayed with Charles throughout his life.

And the home-cooked meals of his mother Dorothy were not just dishes she prepared, but a labor of love that filled the house with a sense of warmth and comfort that lingered on with him in these later years.

He also made it his mission to be “in the know” about what was happening in the life of his family members. He would offer a listening ear with a loving heart and occasionally he would offer his “opinion” in response. This could be seen as being “nosy”, but really this was just Charles’ way of expressing his love by keeping updated in the happenings of his families life.

And no matter where he lived, he took up the cause of the local sports team, cheering on the “hometown hero’s” of Richland Center, Menomonie and most recently Spring Valley.

Charles lived his life to the fullest of his capabilities. He loved his family, His sports and the joys of his journey. He may be gone, but his spirit and the memories that we shared with him will live forever.

Thank you Dixie for those kind expressions of love for Charles.

Quote

With his love for Wisconsin Sports, I thought I might add here the words of the great Green Bay Packer Coach, Vince Lombardi who said:

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have” - Vince Lombardi

And it appears from what I hear of Charles life, he did just that.

Words of Commitment

We are gathered here to commit the body to its kindred dust: earth to earth, ashes, to ashes, dust to dust. The spirit we leave with God, knowing that the judge of all the earth will do right.

Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NLT)

10 Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

So since we know that we shall all some day die, let us here consecrate, or set ourselves apart to do with our might, the good that our hands find to do. And may our trust be in Jesus the Christ who said,

John 11:25 (ESV)

25 ...“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

And as we remember Charles, grieve his passing and say good bye, I wanted to share with you all the words of a famous poem by Virgil P. Brock. It was actually turned into a song that was recorded by the likes of Hank Williams, Pat Boone and many others.

And as we stand here late in the afternoon, the words of this poem draw us in to consider what awaits “Beyond the Sunset” of this life. It goes like this:

Beyond the sunset, oh blissful morning,

When with our Saviour heav'n has begun.

Earth's toiling ended oh glorious dawning;

Beyond the sunset, when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather,

No storms will threaten no fears annoy;

Oh day of gladness oh day unending,

Beyond the sunset, eternal joy

Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me

To God the Father, whom I adore;

His glorious presence, His words of welcome,

Will be my portion on that fair shore

Beyond the sunset, o glad reunion,

With our dear loved ones who've gone before;

In that fair homeland we'll know no parting,

Beyond the sunset forever more.

Would you please join me in quiet reflection as I pray:

Prayer

Our father God, here in the presence of death, we know that you are the source of life. That our very breath is a gift from your hands. We thank you for the comfort we receive from your presence and ask that you hear us now as we call upon you for consolation and strength.

As we try to mend the broken threads of our lives we turn to you. May we live each day in the awareness that we two shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death. May our hearts be open to your word and our lives be lived in your service until that day when we step from this life into the life to come.

Through Christ we pray, Amen.