Donald Brummitt - 3/3/25

March 3rd, 2025

We gather today to mourn and remember the life of Don Brummitt. Though we mourn his death, we also want to celebrate his life. Despite the many challenges Don faced throughout his life, he consistently endeavored to live it to the fullest. He found joy in most every circumstance, and his joy should bring us comfort even as we mourn today.

As I thought about how to memorialize Don’s life I thought of this passage from the book of Phlippians,

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13, NLT)

Despite Don’s many health issues over the years, he rarely let that rob him of the joy of life. Don had learned the secret of being joyful in every situation—he knew that the Lord was with him and that the Lord loved him. That reality enabled joy, even in the midst of trying times. Today, as we face our own grief and pain, I would remind you that our strength is found in the joy of the Lord.

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, today we mourn the loss of Don Brummitt. But we also recognize that while we are experiencing the pain of loss, Don has lost nothing. Today he has been delivered from his pain and suffering and is together with his Lord. Help us today as we remember and celebrate his life, and also as we mourn his death. Grant us your strength, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Donald R. Brummitt was born on June 11, 1946 in Greeley, CO to Alva Ray and Marjorie Louise Brummitt. He graduated from Trinity College in Deerfield, IL. On May 24, 1975, he married Phyllis J. Bachman in Chicago, IL. This year would have marked their 50th anniversary. He was a safety trainer at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, retiring in 2005. He enjoyed music immensely, particularly choral music. He also enjoyed traveling and reading. He was a dedicated member of the Union Church of La Harpe, IL and served as a choir director and minister of music at several churches in the area. He will forever be remembered for his hearty laugh, his sense of humor, and above all, his faith and trust in Christ.

Don passed away at 3:45 PM on Monday, February 24, 2025 at the age of 78.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Brummitt of Fort Madison, IA; 1 son, Eric Brummitt of Chicago, IL; 3 daughters: Jennifer and Glen Flanagan of Beach Park, IL, Andrea and Philip Ross of Fall River, MA, and Melodie and Chad Winders of Cincinnati, OH; 4 grandchildren, Jordan and her husband Sam, Joshua and his wife Margaret, Matthew, and Micah; and 2 great-grandchildren, Elsie and Addie. He is also survived by 2 sisters, Sharon and Rod Moore of Jonesville, MI and Melinda Wayland of Bettendorf, IA and 1 brother, David and Laura Brummitt of Bettendorf, IA; along with many beloved cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles.

JENNIFER EULOGY

As we have mentioned, Don Brummitt was a man full of life. He was someone who did not know a stranger. Everywhere he went, he seemed to find connections with people or run into people he knew. If he didn’t know you, you could bet that was only going to be temporary. Don was someone who loved to meet and talk to people.

For many years, Don did the majority of the grocery shopping. He enjoyed it, and saw it as something he could do to serve his wife. Phyllis often had to laugh, however, that if she asked him to pick something specific up from the store, it might take Don an hour or more. When Don would walk back in the door, she would ask him, “So, who did you run into?” He would invariably have caught up with someone and spent time talking with them in the aisle, checkout line, or parking lot.

When they were younger, the kids liked when they got to go shopping with their dad because they knew he was usually a pushover. While Mom might not let them get candy (or something like that), Dad usually would if they asked nicely. We suspect this may have been because Don wanted candy as well! On one occasion, Melodie remembered that she and her dad stopped to get some chicken strips on their way home one night without telling Phyllis. When they arrived home, they discovered dinner ready for them. Neither had the heart to admit that they’d spoiled their dinner, so they both ate again, even though neither was very hungry anymore! I’m told that Don was raised to be a member of the “clean plate club”, so he finished his dinner as well!

I do know, however, that for most of his life Don’s plate did not usually include vegetables. Eric said he didn’t seem to remember his dad eating vegetables until his 70’s. I know this was true because one time when I mentioned not liking to eat fruits and vegetables, Don said, “Rick, take it from me, don’t set such a terrible example for your kids like I did!”

One thing Don did like, however, was dessert. It usually didn’t matter what the dessert was, Don was enthusiastic about it. A birthday tradition was for him to have a fresh strawberry pie on his birthday. It’s funny because the family now has a multitude of photos of Don with strawberry pie!

I also knew of Don’s love for real Chicago-style pizza, specifically Lou Malnati’s. Any time I talked about having that pizza, Don’s eyes would light up, and he’d always remark how much he loved Lou’s.

Most people who knew Don remember his loud and boisterous laugh when something really tickled him—and fortunately for us, there was a lot that tickled him! He had a wonderful sense of humor. Having Don in the congregation was great because he caught the majority of our jokes, and his laugh let others know it was ok to laugh as well! I think that boisterous and enthusiastic laugh was a symptom of the joy Don had within him.

The kids have many fond memories of their dad growing up. He was someone who never sat still very well. He always seemed to have a project going. When they were younger, Don often enlisted the kids to help him with some of these projects. Melodie recalls helping her dad rewire outlets at a young age. Eric was often drafted into repair projects around the house, and because of that he isn’t afraid to tackle projects around his own home today. Don was generally pretty handy, though I’m told plumbing was not his forte. He was always willing to give it a shot, but often ended up breaking down and calling a professional on plumbing jobs.

Even as his health deteriorated, Don wanted to be active. Despite having very little use of his dominant arm, Don continued to mow the lawn and run the weed eater for many years. Some of that was due to his desire to maintain his independence and to pull his weight, and some of it may have been because he didn’t think Phyllis did a very good job at it. Whatever the case was, Don was always active and did not see his physical challenges as excuses to sit idly by.

He and Phyllis traveled a lot over the years. They managed to visit all 48 of the central United States. On one trip, they managed to hit 7 national parks! He and Phyllis loved the Rhine river cruise they were able to take through Europe, and he had many fond memories of that trip. They had hoped to one day take an Alaskan cruise as well, but a variety of circumstances kept that from happening.

Don always placed great value on his family. He adored his children and thought the world of his wife. He loved to visit his own parents as well as Phyllis’ parents. When there was a family reunion, Don wanted to go. He wanted to stay connected to those he loved.

If you knew Don, you also knew he loved music. The kids remarked that no matter what they were doing, Don always seemed to be humming something—and he often wasn’t quiet about it! Eric laughed about being someplace as mundane as JC Penney with his dad walking down the aisle loudly humming some song. He often joked that he had a song for almost any circumstance. It was not uncommon for Don to suddenly break into song. The family cannot recall how many times they heard him sing, “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story. Music was one of the ways Don expressed and experienced joy.

Don loved watching his kids perform in their musical pursuits. After they were done with school, he still loved to watch the All-State choir and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform. I’m told this past year at Christmas he got to watch “Too Hot to Handel”, which sounds like reality TV, but was actually a gospel adaptation of Handel’s Messiah. Don was captivated through the entire performance.

Music was the thing that initially drew he and Phyllis together. They crossed paths at their church in Chicago, where Phyllis played the organ. I’m told that after listening to Phyllis play one day, he remarked that he could fall in love with someone who played like that. And of course, he did. Don didn’t just love Phyllis’ musical abilities, of course, but he was never happier than we he got to hear her play. When he was in the hospital this past year, they were able to go out to the grand piano in the lobby one day, where Phyllis played and Don got to sing along. He turned to Eric during this and told him, “I’ve never loved her more than I do right now.”

Don viewed his musical abilities as a gift he was supposed to share with others. This was the reason he sang and served in so many churches in a musical capacity.

Don’s faith made him a dedicated member of the Union Church for more than 20 years, even though the distance (and the bridge) often made that difficult. Don and my dad had a special connection that started from the first Sunday they attended. Dad mentioned the influence of his choir director from college, Dr. Morris Faugerstrom. Don had also attended Trinity and knew and appreciated “Doc” as well.

Over the years, Don made significant contributions to our church. He served as our worship leader for a period of time. He helped begin our AWANA program for young children. He was our first AWANA Commander and helped the program get off the ground. When we decided to install a multimedia system in the church, Don was instrumental in helping us do the research and formulate a plan.

I remember a time when Don and I were somehow drafted to sing a silly version of The Twelve Days of Christmas for one of our Christmas programs while others acted out each day. I was grateful to have him by my side, because you don’t realize how long that song is until you have to sing it! Don helped us form a choir and led it for a time as well.

Personally, I have a memory of Don that will be forever etched in my memory. Don was part of our Diaconate board at the church and was therefore one of the spiritual leaders. When I went through my divorce, I came to the Diaconate to tell them everything that was going on and to offer to resign. After explaining everything and asking if anyone had any questions, I waited. There was a period of silence, and I wondered if I would still have a job. Don was the one to break the silence. He asked, “Rick, are we loving you enough through this?” That was not the response I was expecting. It changed the course of the meeting. Don understood the importance of grace and was willing to extend it to others. I’m grateful he chose to extend grace to me.

Don’s faith was not something that was mere lip service; it was at the center of all he did. I am grateful for that because of the effect he had on me, but also because of the effect it had on him. I’m grateful because I know Don was able to face everything he did with confidence—knowing that he could do anything because Jesus Christ gave him the strength to do it.

SONG – No More Night – David Phelps

As I have alluded to, though Don loved his family, loved being around people, and loved music, he also loved Jesus. Don’s faith was something that was central to who he was, it wasn’t merely something he did. As a result, Don was able to face whatever came with peace and joy (most of the time).

As Don’s health continually caused him problems, particularly in recent years, his faith never wavered. He continued to believe that the Lord would give him the strength he needed to keep moving forward. He trusted the Lord’s plan more than he trusted his own understanding.

Even when faced with dying, Don did not fear what would happen. He was not eager to die, as he didn’t want to leave his wife or children, but he also knew what lay ahead for him. He knew that when this life ended, he would have the privilege of living a redeemed life, a life where he would be healed of his many infirmities, a life free from sin, a life that would last forever.

Let me be clear—Don did not believe he was going to spend eternity in heaven because he was an exceptionally good person. Don was a wonderful man, but like every one of us, he had his flaws. Like every one of us, sometimes his selfishness would take over. Like every one of us, he often broke God’s laws. The scriptures tell us that God’s standard for entry to heaven is perfection. For Don, that ship sailed long ago, just as it has for each of us. Fortunately, God has also provided a means for us to be forgiven of our sin.

Listen to what Jesus said to his friend after the death of her brother, Lazarus,

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (John 11:25-26, NLT)

Jesus promised that everyone who believes in Him will live, even though they die. I’m confident that Don Brummitt believed this with his whole heart. As such, I am confident that today he is where he has always longed to be. Today he is at more at home than he has ever been. Today he has been delivered from the body that fought him for so many years. And today he has the opportunity to sing to the savior he has sung about for so many years…face to face!

Today, our grief is not for Don Brummitt, because Don has lost nothing and gained everything. Our grief is for our loss, not his. We grieve because we will no longer get to hear his raucous laughter. We will never get caught in the aisle of a store with him again. We will never have the opportunity to sing or listen to music with him. And we will never get to share another Lou Malnati’s pizza. That grief is real. But we can find comfort in knowing that Don has been delivered from his suffering, and that one day, we can be reunited with him in heaven.

But I would be remiss if I did not point us to the last part of what Jesus said to his friend, Martha. Jesus made a promise to her that everyone who believed in Him would live even though they died, but then he asked her an important question—do you believe this? That is the question each of us must answer for ourselves today. Jesus has promised us forgiveness and new life. Don embraced that promise wholeheartedly. Today, we must each decide for ourselves what we will do with Jesus. Will we embrace Him or will we ignore Him? Will we place our trust in Him, or reject Him?

It is easy to push those questions to the side throughout much of our lives, but when we stand face-to-face with death, it takes on a new significance and importance. Let me encourage you to embrace the Savior that Don loved. I believe He keeps His promises. Don lived his life trusting in that fact.

If Jesus does keep His promises, then those who trust in Him will live, even though they die. It is my hope today that you will find the assurance that Don Brummitt had, and that you too will get to experience to deliverance, renewal, and reunion that can only come through Jesus Christ.

As we conclude, I want to draw some lessons I think we can learn from the life of Don Brummitt.

1. Faith in Jesus is not just about what you do on Sundays, it drives all you do in life—and it enables you to live with joy, no matter the circumstance.

2. Music is a gift from God. We should embrace it and enjoy it fully—even if it’s as mundane as gleefully singing “I Feel Pretty” to embarrass your kids.

3. While some things in life are very serious, there is almost always something to laugh about if you will look carefully. Laugh with gusto, because your laughter might be contagious to others.

4. People matter, so make time for them, talk to them, take an interest in their lives. Don’t be afraid to block an aisle in the store catching up with an old friend.

5. A good mate is hard to find, but when you find someone you love, make every effort to let them know they are a treasure you cherish deeply.

6. Even if you have a good reason to play the victim, it’s probably more productive to work hard and do the best you can. Chances are, others will come to see your spirit and be encouraged and challenged themselves.

7. The world around us is beautiful, so you should make an effort to get out and take joy in seeing all that God has made.

8. The unique gifts you have are given by God, so you should use them to honor Him to the best of your abilities.

9. God’s grace should be contagious. When you understand the wonder of Jesus’ sacrifice for you, it ought to make you soft and forgiving toward others, rather than hard and self-righteous.

10. When you love others well, it will leave a hole when you’re gone. But that hole will be a reminder of the depth of your love and the impact you made.

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of Don Brummitt. We thank you for his infectious spirit and his unquenchable joy. We thank you for the way you guided him through life, and we thank you to for the promise and assurance of eternal life. Lord, today, we ask for your strength and comfort. We pray that you would surround these family and friends with the peace and hope that only you can give. In the times where the loss is especially acute, make them aware of your love and care for them. Carry them in the days, months, and years ahead, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

It seems only fitting that we close today by singing together, and by singing a song that reminds us of the hope found in Jesus Christ alone. Will you stand and sing, “Because He Lives.”