Darrell Elsea - 6/11/25

June 11, 2025

We gather today to mourn the death of Darrell Elsea, but even as we do so, we want to celebrate his life. Darrell was a man who was full of life and activity, and we should celebrate that fact, even as we mourn his loss.

In the Bible, Jesus said these words,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3, NLT)

It is this hope which tempers our grief today. We know that Darrell’s life on this earth has ended, but through Jesus, we also know that is not the end of the story. Jesus promised eternal life for all who seek Him. It is my hope that Darrell Elsea had such a faith, and so today we do not mourn as those without hope—we mourn knowing that through Jesus, there is life even beyond the grave.

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, we come today with heavy hearts as we think about the death of Darrell Elsea. There is an emptiness we feel that is difficult to describe. But Lord, today we pray that you would grant us the comfort and strength that can be found only in you. Surround these family and friends your with your love and peace, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Darrell Royce Elsea was born April 12, 1941 in St. Louis, MO to Richard and Lavon Elsea. He and his family later moved to Vicksburg, MS.

When he was a senior in high school, Darrell joined the US Army Reserve. At the time this required several years of attending weekly meetings. It was different than it is today. He was also required to do several months of active duty at Ft. Belvoir in Virginia.

He met Carol while in Washington, DC on Thanksgiving Day in 1959. They were married on June 30th, 1960 in Biggsville, then moved to Vicksburg, MS. Carol went to work at the Army Corps of Engineers in the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), and the following year, Darrell joined her. He joined WES in 1961 as a Civil Engineering Technician. He spent much of his career working on, testing, and evaluating pavement at airports. The job required a great deal of travel around the country, so Darrell got to see lots of different places through the years. In his later years, he transferred to doing computer work, and retired as a computer specialist in December 1995.

Darrell was good at most anything mechanical and had several interests he pursued. He was a Ham Radio operator (N5AXQ), he enjoyed woodworking, computers, and old tractors, including loving to attend the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant.

When he returned to Illinois in 1997, he stayed busy. He and Carol built their house, which was often an adventure, but became their home. He loved the small town community, and served as an election judge for many years, as well as serving as a Biggsville Township Trustee. He was active in the Union Church of La Harpe as well.

He loved to laugh and just enjoyed the blessings of life.

Darrell’s health faced a sudden decline and he passed away on April 5, 2025.

I think all of us realize that death is a part of life. Whether we want to admit it or not, death is inescapable. Every one of us will one day come face to face with our own mortality. Most of the time, we feel like we can push that fact out of our minds, and just keep ourselves busy, forgetting that our time on this earth is slowly ticking away.

But as we stand in a cemetery, that truth is difficult to escape. And maybe it isn’t something we should try to escape. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, one said these words,

2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, NLT)

Much of our world today is aimed at distracting us from the things that truly matter. And let’s be honest, sometimes the things that are most important are somewhat uncomfortable to think about. But that was Solomon’s point. Funerals have a funny way of bringing what is most important into sharp focus. When we face death head-on, we are reminded of what really matters and what does not.

We learn that the trappings of this life ultimately do not last. The amusements the world tells us are so important will not survive. Ultimately, the wealth and the diversions we tend to chase after will be rendered worthless.

Instead, we are reminded of the things that last and matter. The relationships you build, the way you serve others, the legacy you have left. These are things that will continue, even after you have gone.

Probably the most important thing death reminds us of, however, is the question of what happens next? Is this life all there is? Many people tell you that you live, you die, and that’s it. Is that really true? Does life really have no meaning?

As I read to you earlier, Jesus tells us that is not the case. He said that He has provided life beyond the grave for everyone who believes in and follows Him. Sometimes people dismiss this as mere sentimentality or superstition, but Jesus demonstrated that He genuinely had power over life and death when He died and rose again!

Others will tell you that Jesus is real, but that everyone goes to heaven when they die (unless they’re really bad). But that’s not what Jesus said. Notice that Jesus said there was a way to heaven. In John 14:6, he explained what that was.

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NLT)

He says that Heaven is real, but there is only one way—and that is through Him. Jesus promised that everyone who lives and believes in Him will have eternal life with Him in Heaven. But He reminds us that this is something we must each decide for ourselves. Ultimately, we must decide whether we stand with Jesus or not. There is really no middle ground.

I believe Darrell Elsea had trusted in Christ, recognizing that Jesus was his only hope for forgiveness and eternal life. Darrell understood that he could not be good enough to earn Heaven (because none of us are) and trusted and followed Jesus with His life.

It is my hope that today, you will carefully question where you stand with the Lord. As Solomon said, it is in these times of grief and mourning that we are forced to deal with the difficult, but important questions of life. My prayer is that you will not waste that opportunity today.

But I also pray that you would find comfort in the reality that there is life beyond the grave. For the follower of Jesus, death is not the end of the story, but rather the end of this chapter. And so for the person who has trusted in Christ, today we do not say goodbye to Darrell Elsea, but merely “see you later.” That does not mean we will not still feel the pain of loss. We will. But we do not mourn today for Darrell’s loss—because he has lost nothing and gained everything. We mourn for our loss—but we do so with the hope and confidence that through Jesus, the story isn’t over.

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of Darrell Elsea. Thank you for his humor, his spirit, and his skill. Thank you for the impact he made on so many around him. Lord, we are also grateful for Jesus, and the hope and forgiveness He offers to us. We are grateful today for His sacrifice, which allows us to stand at the grave of someone we love and still have hope—knowing the end of this life is not the end of the story. Comfort these friends and family as they grieve. May they find the hope and peace that you alone can give. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.