FUNERAL: Derek Jon Listhartke
Notes
Transcript
CHAPEL
CHAPEL
Pre-Service: Instrumental Music
Seating of the Family/Welcome
Song: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Life History:
Derek Jon Listhartke was born April 6, 1964 in Elgin, Illinois, to his parents, Wayne and Carol. He passed away August 16, 2021 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 57 years, 4 months, and 10 days…after a recent battle with the tragic complications relating to Covid-19.
Growing up in the Listhartke house, Derek was the third of four children, including his siblings: Diane, Derrell, and Darlene. He graduated from Barrington High School (Ill.) and would go on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from UMKC. Derek would invest 25 years of his life working in the food services industry, most recently…and by that I mean the last 15-20 years...he worked for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. He was a hard worker who was dedicated to his employees, bringing the best service to his customers. This kind of loyalty and consideration of others will come up again in just a minute.
In the late 80s, Derek met and married Kelly. Through their life together, God saw fit to bring four sons into Derek’s life—Matthew, Benjamin, Jacob, and Seth. Sadly, they would eventually divorce. In 2008, Derek met and married Imelda, and into their lives God added a fifth son—Joseph—into Derek’s life. Throughout his life, Derek remained diligent in showing all his sons that he valued and loved them. Spending time with family was his greatest joys. He enjoyed what I would call true camping…which involves A TENT! Being outdoors factored frequently into his times of enjoyment—adding hunting and spending time on the farm in Barrington.
As a habitual problem solver, Derek took up—maybe more accuratly ‘dabbled’—in various interests. Music, playing the guitar, was among these. While he may not have arrived at a level of ‘expert’ as a player…this interest fueled his love of music—from attending concerts (like Benjamin’s barber shop quartet performances) to enjoying a wonderful category of music—classic rock (Boston, which is ok…even if they may not compare with Zepplin or The Who!).
Although Derek may have been drawn to the puzzle, the process, or ‘thing’ to learn (wood working, or clock making, etc.)…he was never a ‘fixer of people.’ More than one of his sons have shared with me that they really have gained appreciation for his patience with them, especially when they were learning to drive, as well as the freedom to vent about challenges they were facing without jumping in to tell them ‘THE way’ to handle or deal with it. His family has described him as a simple, or straight-forward’ man who appreciated loyalty…and demonstrated how much he valued this quality in his loyalty expressed to so many others in his life.
I am thankful for the opportunity to also share that Derek believed in and had a relationship with God. In his early years, he was connected to his faith through the Methodist Church. In more recent years, he connected to his faith through the Baptists (a group near and dear to my heart… :-) ).
In so many ways, Derek was greatly loved and will be dearly missed. Derek is preceded in death by his father: Wayne Listhartke. He is survived by his wife: Imelda; his children: Matthew, Benjamin, Jacob, Seth, and Joseph; his mother Carol Listhartke; and his siblings Diane Listhartke, Derrell Listhartke, and Darlene Carpenter.
Song: “It Is Well”
Eulogies: (2-4 people)
Darlene & Seth
Message:
Scripture Reading: Psalm 23 [Seth Listhartke]
A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
As we have gathered here today to honor Derek and remember his life, I hope to encourage all of you in two ways: (1) as we have already done, cherish and share the memories of the times spent together with Derek (yes, the good and the bad, the funny and the sentimental). These memories are a treasure to hold on to.; (2) I want to share with you the importance of this passage we have just heard read from God’s word. For me, what God has said is eternally significant in any one of us finding the assurance, hope, strength, and peace we need…at times like these when we grieve the loss of a loved one, as well as for all the aspects of our lives as we live day-to-day.
Psalm 23 reminds us of two important truths about who God is and what he does for his people (those who trust him as their Savior and Lord = [Psalm 23.1] “The Lord is my shepherd, I have what I need <I shall not want>.”). SIMPLY put, God...
Sustains Us — [Psalm 23.2-3]
Rest (v 2)…Renewal (v 3a)…Direction (v 3b)
Strengthens Us — [Psalm 23.4-6]
Comfort (v 4)…Provision (v 5)…Assurance/Hope (v 6)
I pray that each of you have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior & Lord. I can attest to you today, he is how I have been able to carry on each and every day…and I want you to have this promise…this peace, too.
Song: “His Eye is on the Sparrow”
Prayer
GRAVESIDE
GRAVESIDE
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Prayer