Jim Woodside - 9/5/18
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR JAMES WOODSIDE
9518
We gather this afternoon to mourn the loss and remember, celebrate, and give thanks for the life of James (Jim) Woodside.
As we do so, we turn to the Lord and His Word for comfort. In 1 Corinthians 15, we read that our confidence of life beyond the grave is tied to the resurrection of Jesus.
in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (20-22)
It was Jesus who promised us,
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There 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? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3)
This is our reason for hope. These are the truths that mitigate our sadness. Please pray with me.
Lord, we come to you today with hearts full of gratitude and hearts aching with sorrow at the death of Jim Woodside. We know he was ready. We were not. But we know there would have never been a time when we would have been ready. Help us as we pause and reflect today. Help us to remember Jim with the same kind of grace and affection he showed to others. Draw us closer to You we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
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Jim Woodside was born on July 26, 1931 in Burnside, IL, the son of Lloyd James and Dorothy Turner Woodside. Jim was a graduate of the LaHarpe High School. While in High School he dated Deloris Burford briefly. She actuallty asked him out for a Backwards Day (where girls get to ask out boys) once and he seemed to miss the whole hint that she was interested.
On September 2, 1951 Jim married Correna Vradenburg. They were married for better than 30 years and they had a son (Lee) and two daughters (Kay and Denise) Jim cared for his wife as she died of cancer on February 6, 1982.
Some time later Jim came into the restaurant in La Harpe and saw Deloris (who had also lost her husband). They talked, met for coffee, and before long love grew surprising both of them. On April 10, 1984 I had the privilege of joining them as husband and wife. They have been married for 34 years and served as an example of what marriage could and should be.
Jim is survived by his wife, Deloris,one son Lee (Ginger) Woodside of Tennessee, IL, two daughters, Kay (Michael) Aldridge of Mackinaw, IL and Denise Woodside of Carthage, IL.one step-son, Stephen (Linda) Comstock, of LaHarpe andone step-daughter, Julie (Rich) Gacke of Davenport, IA,one granddaughter, Michaell (Matt) Zimmerman,six step-grandchildren, Marinda (Terry) Lund, Kyle Gacke, Brian Gacke, Adam (Ashley) Gacke, John Aldridge and Tony Comstock,three great-grandchildren, Ryann, Charlie and Jack Zimmerman andtwo step-great-grandchildren, Bo and Scarlett Gacke.
Jim was preceded in death by his first wife,two grandchildren, Sherry Woodside and Steven Aldridge andthree brothers, Gary, Jerome and Wayne Woodside
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I invite Deloris' brother Dan to share a few words and he will be followed by Grand-daughter Michaell.
Jim was a farmboy at heart. He enjoyed raising cattle and he named each one of them treating them like pets. If I have the story right, he had one cow, Little Minnie who "helped" Jim with the other cows. One time, one of his cows had a calf in winter when it was extremely cold. Jim didn't think the animal could survive so he brought the calf home and took care of it in the basement until the winter had passed. Rosebud was always near Jim always nudging him. Jim also loved dogs.
He liked to tell the story of the time he took the kids (with Denise being less than 2 years old) out onto the roof of the house. He called for his wife. When she looked up and saw her children standing on the roof she was NOT happy! When asked how long before she talked to Jim again, the answer was, "Oh, it was a while!"
Lee said he always enjoyed going out with his dad to chop wood to heat the house. It was always a good time and great conversation. Lee remembers being spanked one time by Jim. His dad told him that the spanking was going to hurt him as much as it hurt Lee. To this day, Lee does not believe that was true!
Jim like to tease people. I guess when he and his brother were young They would torment their mom. When people say, "that's not nice!" He responds with, "O, she loved it!" His timing was good. He could deadpan something at just the right time and it would crack everyone up.
Jim worked hard to provide for his kids He gave up nice things for himself, so he could give nice things to others.
Jim Woodside was not a flashy guy. He worked hard and was a kind, decent, and well-loved man. He was an excellent mechanic. He had worked at Deere and Harvester. It was not unusual for Jim to get a call from a farmer at night. He would tell Jim what was happening and Jim would ask him what kind of sound it was making. He would often repeat the sound. With that information he could diagnose the problem and if possible he would tell the farmer how to fix the tractor and save lots of money. Eventually, He and Gale Powelson owned and operated La Harpe Tractor Repair. He also taught Tractor Repair at Carl Sandburg's Fountain Green school. Jim was always willing to help a friend or neighbor with a mechanical issue. He was sharp! People would call him to check machinery or ask how to do something. He was always willing to share what he knew.
Deloris reports that she and Jim never had a fight. They regularly said to each other, "I'm glad I've got you." And Jim would often say, "Do you want to know a secret? I love you! "It is rare for people to have two good relationships in their life but that is what happened to Jim and Deloris. They have seen each other through some tough times these last several years but they always kept going because they had each other.
I saw Jim most frequently at the Post Office. He always had a smile and we always stopped to visit. He usually felt good after his coffee and spending many hours examining city "news" at the Country Cafe. The group of guys who daily solved the world's problem and also shoveled a good bit a manure became a group of trusted companions. He loved all the staff that worked at the restaurant. It was like a second home . . . a chance to get out and tell his stories.
Jim loved his truck which was his pride and joy. He also loved the riding lawn mower that Deloris purchased for him this year. She said the lawn was mowed more often this last year than the three previous years combined!
Jim was resilient. If he was going to live, he was determined to be active. He refused to complain and just kept going. He walked up to the Post Office. People kept trying to help him by picking him up. He kept telling them he wanted to walk for the exercise. I guess recently he felt good enough to run through the park. He said he was running one day and two "older women" (I don't know what "older women" meant to Jim) stopped him to ask if there was an emergency.
When Deloris called the dispatcher to get an ambulance for Jim this last time, the dispatcher wanted to assess Jim's awareness. She asked Deloris to ask him if he could say, "The early bird gets the worm!" Jim repeated the words adding, "What the hell that as to do with what is going on, I don't know." The dispatcher knew he was still alert!
Jim loved to read. Mostly he loved to read Westerns. He would have a different book at various places around the house and he would pick up the book when he was there and pick it and continue reading! I have no idea how he kept all the plot lines straight!
The best thing you can say about Jim Woodside was he was a kind, giving, and faithful man, husband and father. We could use many many more people just like him.
SONG "DADDY'S HANDS"
Jesus went to visit some friends who had lost their brother. When he arrived, He said to the sister (Martha), "I am the Resurrection and the Life, He who believes in me will live even though they die." The other sister, Mary, came out to see Jesus. Others also came weeping in their grief. And then we read something unexpected, "A deep anger welled up within Him."
What was it about the situation that made Jesus angry? It was not the grieving people, it was the necessity of death. Jesus was angry because all this heartache and pain is not the way God created things to be. It is a result of the effects of sin. Jesus hated the grief, the sadness, and the separation caused by the decay of death.
The breaking down of our bodies helps wean our hearts from this world and begin longing for what is to come. Death is not the end of life, it is, in many ways, the beginning! I believe Jim Woodside is more alive today than at any other time of his life. He has been set free from his decaying body and now is with Jesus and all who have put their trust in Him.
It is important to hear carefully what Jesus said. He does not say everyone goes to heaven. He said: "everyone who believes in me" will live even though they die. Everyone who looks to Jesus as their rescuer, the One who died to pay the penalty for our sin, will live even though they die. Those people recognize their sinful rebellion and want more from life so they run to Jesus so He can set them free. This isn't about platitudes (like "I believe in God") this is about an active trust in the Lord. I believe Jim did trust the Lord. He was not real verbal about it, but I believe faith was genuine.
This belief doesn't have to be complicated, it just needs to be sincere. The person who doesn't really want a change in the way they live their life, doesn't really believe.
It is fair, appropriate, and even necessary to ask, “What does it mean to put our trust in Him?” First, it means putting our trust in Him rather than ourselves. Most people have the mistaken notion that we “earn” Heaven by living a good life. The problem with that is we define “good” in ways that make us look good. If we measure our lives by God’s standards we come to the conclusion “there is no one who is good . . . not even one.” (Romans 3) So, the first step to putting your trust in Jesus is recognizing that there is nothing you can do to save yourself..
Second it means embracing what He has done for us. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to do for us what we could not and cannot do for ourselves. He came to settle our “sin debt.” Jesus gave His life as a payment for our sin. He came so justice would be done (The crime was paid for)and we could be forgiven. We must believe what he told us.
The third part of believing in Christ is to embrace the reality of His resurrection from the dead. Jesus was tortured and crucified. He was put in a tomb. Three days later He not only came back from the dead . . . He visited with the disciples for another 40 days before ascending to Heaven! Anyone who is willing to take the time and actually look at the evidence for the resurrection will be stunned by the mass of evidence that points to Jesus actually rising from the dead.
There’s a good rule of thumb in life: if you have to choose who to follow with your life . . . follow the guy who rose from the dead!
And that is the fourth step. It is possible to know all these things and still not put our trust in Christ. Putting our trust in Him means embracing Him as our Savior and following Him as our Leader and King. The “unchanged Christian” is a contradiction in terms. A person who continues to live as they always have, has information, but has not put their faith in Christ. They are not real followers otherwise . . . they would be following.
I like the old riddle: three frogs are sitting on a log. Two decide to jump into the water. How many frogs are left on the log? Most people say “1” but the answer is three because deciding to jump and actually jumping are two different things. A person who truly has faith in Christ doesn’t just talk about trusting the Lord. They do it. They jump. They change the direction of their lives.
I believe Jim actually jumped. I believe His faith was genuine. The Bible tells us the fruit of the Spirit (or the evidence of God's presence in our lives is: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I saw that kind of fruit in the life of Jim Woodside!
So here is what we are left with: do you believe the promise of Jesus or don't you? If you do, you face this day with sadness but not despair. This is NOT the end of the story. C.S. Lewis said this life is but the title page of the great story that goes on for ever and is more wonderful than we can imagine.
Today is a day to do two things: First, it is a time to remember and give thanks. Let's reflect on Jim's life and realize how blessed we have been through Him. Tell your stories, laugh at memories. That's what it means to celebrate a life.
Second, it is time to ask ourselves the all-important question: Do I put my trust in Christ? Will you live even though you die. And if you cannot answer "yes" then you would be wise to find out more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Jim Woodside was a special man. We remember Him with gratitude and we look forward, because of Jesus, to seeing him again.
SONG: AMAZING GRACE
Let's pray together,
Father, help us to see beyond what we now see. Right now, we see emptiness and loss. Help us to see beyond the surface to the confidence, hope, and new life that comes from You. Help us to put our trust in the work of Jesus and to follow Him with our lives.
Lord, I pray for this family and these friends. Grant them comfort. Help them to find their strength in you and to draw strength from each other.
Lord, I know Jim is fine. I am confident that you have shown him the impact his life has had. Take care of Him as only you can until that day we see each other once again. I ask this all in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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