Denna Balmer Funeral

Good afternoon. On behalf of Deanna’s family, thank you for being here today to celebrate the beautiful life and legacy of Deanna Balmer. A women who left us far too soon but who leaves us with a lasting legacy of love. Today as we remember and we grieve, we are reminded of this picture of heaven that is painted in revelation....

Rev

The New International Version Chapter 21

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Pray

Deanna Lynne Balmer, 59, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on October 23, 2021 surrounded by her family who she loved and she was loved by.

She was born on June 8, 1962, the daughter of John Hendricks and the late, Billie (Kimble) Hendricks.

She grew up in a big blended as one of 10 child in a blended family.

She was born in Oklahoma but lived most all of her life here in Kokomo.

She went to Hayworth High School and graduated in 1982.

She loved to go roller skating.

While working at the Breakfast House, Deanna met Jimmy. The two were married in 1985 and shortly after moved to Puerto Rico while Jimmy was in the Navy and they lived there for four years.

While their marriage did not last as they had hoped, Deanna and Jimmy had a great seven years together and built a beautiful family together.

They would stay friends and a great co-parents together.

Deanna loved being a mom. Her kids David, Kari, Tina, and Nicole were her pride and joy.

She loved spending time with them and making memories with them. She was a fun mom.

She was kind of the neighborhood mom growing up. She would always have ice cream on hand to share with the kids and their friends. And she always made extra food knowing the inevitably one of the kids would end up bringing a friend and she would never turn them away.

I was also told she was the carpool mom and with her sweet station wagon she was always hauling her kids and their friends places.

She was always willing taxi, when David used to work at KFC she would always pick him up even when it was late.

That was part of who she was though, caring and thoughtful…willing to go the extra mile both literally and metaphorically. Especially with her kids. She loved them with all she had, always trying to make them feel special and loved and inviting them into her life.

The girls shared that they have fond memories of when they were their teen years getting to go to work with mom sometimes for 3rd shift at the village pantry, which was fun and full of lots of laughs.

The girls also spoke fondly of how much she loved taking them to mother daughter banquets.

Deanna loved holidays. She loved celebrating them and dressing according to them. With halloween being this weekend the girls joked about how every year mom made them be witches.

But it seems Christmas was her favorite. She loved the music, the movies, wearing christmas sweater, and spoiling her family. I am told too that she was a master shopper who would also some how get out of wrapping any of the presents.

She was notorious for going a bit overboard with buying and spoiling her kids and grandkids. But she always was good about being fair about what she got for them.

Few things in this world brought her more joy in this life than her grandchildren. She loved spending time with them whenever she could. Whether it was swimming with them, going to a fair, going to an activity or program of theirs, or anything else that involved them, she was all in.

She was just a fun grandma who will be missed, little Jeremiah was extra said to hear the news about his grandma because that meant she would be bringing him muffins and donuts and more.

Nathan, Mckayla, Zackary, Michael, Jeremiah, Dustin, Warren, little David, and Coleson. Your grandma loved you so much and was so proud of each of you.

Deanna loved to work because she loved making connections with people. She worked many places but most recently McDonalds…she really loved going in because of the kind customers and the great co-workers.

In 2011 Deanna suffered a stroke that was very scary and serious but she was a fighter and while she would deal with lingering effects from it, it never held her back from living life to the fullest and being there for her family.

Not incredibly long after this she would met her long term boyfriend Clint and the two would share lots of love and memories together. Clint said one of the ways she was always loving him was she would make him coffee every morning.

Deanna was describe by more than one family member as the glue to the family. One memory that was shared was her fondness for both going to fairs, although she wasn’t a big ride rider she loved watching the kids and the grandkids go. She also loved music and going to concerts! A big highlight for the family in recent years was going to the indiana state fair and seeing the beach boys in concert.

she loved her Pepsi and Reese cups. I see she even has a Pepsi with her now.

Deanna was kind and generous. She would give freely to those she loved and often even those who she didn’t always care for, thats just who she was.

So many people have been blessed her and her spirit...

Having been her pastor I have witnessed first hand her love for others and her generosity.

We would now like to give time for anyone who wants to share a memory or say something about Deanna

Part of today is allowing ourselves to be honest with God about grief, frustrations, and even anger. the really great news is that He is not afraid of the feelings we have. In fact in the midst of our pain He gives us the gift of His presence and understanding.

PSalm

The New International Version Psalm 34

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Matthew

The New International Version Chapter 5

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

I believe that with my whole heart. That will grief will be a journey. One we wouldn't choose and will not like, we can take comfort in the fact that you don’t face it alone.

Philippians

The New International Version Chapter 4

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I believe that is one of the greatest desires God has for you today, that you would find peace. That you would find peace in this world and that you would be with Him in the next.

Romans

The New International Version Chapter 8

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s love will always be chasing us and there for us. Every single one of us.

John

The New International Version Chapter 14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4

Again this is for all people. This is a generous love.

One of Deanna’s favorite verses was this...

John 3:16-17

The New International Version Chapter 3

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Again Jesus came into this world to save you and me, So we could have a better present and an ultimate future with Him, like Deanna.

John

The New International Version Chapter 14

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

God desires that all his children would come home....that they would trust in him

John

The New International Version Chapter 11

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

No matter who you are and where you come from you are invited to experience this new life in Jesus.

Today I take comfort and hav joy thinking about how Deanna is with little day in heaven…she has been made new…free of pain, suffering, and worry.

She is whole. As we close today I want to read this famous prayer that was a favorite of hers and then lead us in a finally prayer as well.

Prayer for Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside cquiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the cpaths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, 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 have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will bdwell in the house of the LORD forever.

PSALM 24

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two

I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.

Whoever has faith in me shall have life,

even though he die.

And everyone who has life,

and has committed himself to me in faith,

shall not die for ever.

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives

and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.

After my awaking, he will raise me up;

and in my body I shall see God.

I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him

who is my friend and not a stranger.

For none of us has life in himself,

and none becomes his own master when he dies.

For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,

and if we die, we die in the Lord.

So, then, whether we live or die,

we are the Lord’s possession.

Happy from now on

are those who die in the Lord!

So it is, says the Spirit,

for they rest from their labors.

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 (The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two)

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Deanna. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Deanna Balmer, well done good and faithful servant.