Funeral Service For Donnie Williams

Greetings/Prayer: Good afternoon, my name is Chris Cooper and I am the pastor at Community Church in Stevens Point, WI. Let us begin this service with looking to the LORD in PRAYER.

Obituary: I will read Donnie’s obituary and then make a few comments afterwards.

Donald G. Williams, 73, went home to his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. He was born in Milwaukee, WI on September 17, 1951 to Donald Williams and Joan (Martin) Gunderson. Don loved the Lord and was a prayer warrior. His passions were playing his guitar, writing music and drawing.

He is survived by his mother, Joan Gunderson; siblings: Dan (Christine) Williams, Chris (Ken) Koch (Cook), Kathy (Todd) Shelto, Dan Frost, Pam Rusch (Rush), Margaret (Dave) Seidenkranz (side-in-crance), Robert (Brenda) Frost, Patricia (Tom) Sebranek (Sabranik), Rick (Alice) Gunderson, Cindy (Dan) Hurlbut (Hurlbutt), Bruce (Allison) Williams, Mike (Gwen) Williams and Deb (and Amy) Williams; sister-in-law, Chris Williams (spouse of Kit); as well as many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his brothers, Steve and Kit; father, Don Williams; step-father, Kenneth Gunderson and step-mother, Donna Williams.

My friends, this short obituary contains seven observations that are worth noting.

1. By God’s gracious providence Donnie was conceived and given life by God. His conception, death, and every thing in between was ordained by God. (Psalm 139) Donnie, like all of us, was an image bearer of God. (Genesis 1:27) The LORD cares for His whole creation but how much more does God care all men and women who were created in His image. The LORD gives his common grace to everyone, but He gives His special grace to His bride, those who have received His sovereign grace and mercy through repentance and faith in our LORD Jesus Christ. (Matthew 6:25-34) All those who have had this work of grace begun by God will have it brought to completion. (Philippians 1:6)

2. This obituary reminds us that Donnie was surrounded by so many family members and friends who loved him over those seventy-three years. Clearly this obituary gives a very small sampling of the family and friends that must have filled Donnie’s life with much joy and love. Similarly, we also know that Donnie enriched the lives of so many others as well.

3. Isn’t it safe to say that during these seventy-three years Donnie, like all of us, had a variety of experiences: good and bad, highs and the lows, easy and difficult. Solomon reminds us that in life there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven when he says, “There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time to war, and a time for peace.” (3:1-8) In all of these moments the LORD promises to be with His people.

4. During these seventy-three years Donnie was used by God to give evidence of God’s grace in this world. For example, Donnie was blessed by the LORD to be artistic, musical, and creative, among many other things. Some of these gracious virtues (gifts) that were seen in Donnie’s life have been seen and experienced by others. But there are some virtues that are not so easily recognized. For example, we are told that Donnie loved to pray. Consider how God has already answered some of Donnie’s prayers and how there are still many others that God may yet answer when Donnie prayed according to His will in faith. Some things in life that we do will perish, but our prayers will continue before God and He will answer them in His own timing. Another way that the fruit of Donnie’s life may yet be seen is in the seed of the Word of God that he sowed in others lives up until the day that he died. He often talked to me about how he was witnessing to his neighbors and to the hospital staff.

5. We see in this obituary that Donnie was born on “September 17, 1951”. Similarly, we also read in this obituary that Donnie was a man of faith who loved the LORD. In other words, Donnie had been born-again and received eternal life. (John 3) Because of Donnie’s public confession of faith in the LORD Jesus Christ He had been baptized in the church. When a person is born again the LORD will enrich that person in every way with His grace. (2 Cor. 9:11) Everyone who knew Donnie had in some way benefited form this grace. (1 Cor. 1:5) Donnie was not perfect, but he would repent and continue to walk by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

6. This obituary reminds us that there were others who preceded him in death. This reminds us that death will one day come upon all of us. God did not originally create the world this way, but sin and death entered into this world when Adam sinned. (Romans 5:12) Everyone born of Adam since then has been born dead in their trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1) In that condition we were without hope and without God in this world. (Eph. 2:12) But God will mercifully and graciously save all those who respond to the call of the Gospel with repentance and faith. (Eph. 2:3-10) As terrible as death is, because of what the LORD has done, we do not have to feel helpless and hopeless on an occasion like this. God had promised to crush our enemy and to conquer our sin. (Gen. 3:15) He has fulfilled the promise that He gave in Genesis 3:15 when Jesus Christ came into the world. He lived under the law, fulfilled it, went willingly to the cross where He was judged in our place. (Gal. 4:4-5) Then three days later Jesus rose from the dead and has ascended into heaven at the right hand of His Father. (Luke 24:7) Therefore, all of us should consider the words of Ecclesiastes 7:1-4, “...The day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

7. If we have a heart that seeks wisdom on this occasion we will see how important it is to not only be born and live as Donnie has, but to also to be born-again unto eternal life through Jesus Christ as Donnie had. Jesus says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he life, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” After saying this Jesus asks each of us, “Do you believe this?” In the end, when his life was ebbing away, it seemed clear that Donnie believed this and was given God’s peace and comfort. (1 Cor. 1; John 14:1-3, 27) Reflect upon these things as we sing our first song.

Song: Abide

Mark’s Testimonial:

Homily:

Hours before Donnie departed to be with His Savior I was reading scriptures to him. As I held onto his hand I read these words from John 10, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the world snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

A few verses later Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

I looked at Donnie and I took great comfort in these words. In this dark and dreadful world there are real enemies against us, but there is a Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. This Shepherd was willing to lay down His life for His sheep. There are many other hirelings who flee when trouble comes because they ‘care nothing for the sheep’, but the Good Shepherd will never do this.

As I looked at Donnie I realized that he was powerless at this point in his life to defend himself from his mortal enemy- Satan. At this point in Donnie’s life he could not read his bible, pray, or even remember the promises of God. In that moment Donnie had an enemy who does not give up because our earthly life is coming to an end. Satan does not care that Donnie was not going to witness to anyone or sing a hymn. Jesus says in this passage that Satan is a thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Therefore, even at that moment Satan was creeping at Donnie’s door waiting to devour him if he could. (Genesis 4:7) In the Book of Zechariah and in the Book of Job we see that Satan will even go to God and attempt to accuse God’s people.

On that day Donnie was too weak to fight any spiritual battle but wouldn’t Satan continue to attack a person to the very end? Did the devil stop attacking Christ while He was being beaten and put on a cross? No, he was involved in those events at every level. Satan stirred up hatred in the people towards Christ as they shouted, “Crucify Him!” and as they taunted Him and scoffed at Him while He was on the cross. At that time, Satan was provoking fear in Jesus’ disciples and tempting them to doubt. Jesus had confessed to Peter that Satan had requested to sift his faith throughout this time period, but the LORD had prayed for Peter that his faith would endure.(Luke 22:31-32)

During this time in Donnie’s life we all saw God’s grace at work. Perhaps, this grace, which is the very presence of Christ in Donnie’s life, had kept me from seeing the battle that was going on all around him when he was at his weakest. As I contemplated these things I began to reflect upon certain truths. For example, by great power the LORD is...

• ...continually bringing the gospel to people and making it heard, understood, believed, and trusted.

• ...snatching people out of darkness and bringing them into the Kingdom of Light. Snatching them out of death and giving them life.

• ...disarms and defeats our enemies and makes a public spectacle of them. (Col.2)

• ...regenerating, justifying, adopting, sanctifying, and glorifying a people unto Himself.

Consider these words of Jesus, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Let me make four observations about these words. First, look at who gives us eternal life. I might make a promise but not deliver on it, but it is the LORD who does this. It was His Father who gave us to the Son. The Son who did the redemptive work. And it is the Holy Spirit who applies all of the blessings associated with this gift to those who repent of their sins and believe upon Christ.

Second, this is a gift that is given. It is not a work that entitles us to receive a wage. It is not something we earn and can boast about. No, it is given freely from beginning to the end. The only thing we bring to our salvation is our sin.

Third, He gives us eternal life. It is not temporary life, but eternal life. Anyone who believes in Christ, even if he dies, he will still live! (John 11) Jesus boldly declares, “They will never parish”. They will never parish under any circumstances. They will never parish in body, soul, or spirit; they will be glorified. This boldness that Jesus speaks with does not have anything to do with us. He is bold because salvation is of the LORD. (Psalm 3:8)

Fourth, no one can snatch one of His sheep out of His hand. Do not assume that the enemy does not try to do this! The devil is malicious and he is always acting against the things of God. There is only one safe place for any person to be because we are weak and powerless. However, we do not always understand that we are weak, powerless, poor, and needy.

However, you would think that as we draw near to death we would appreciate these truths more and more. The LORD keeps us against all of our great enemies of indwelling sin, sin in the world, and Satan. The LORD shows his glory in keeping us, preserving us, and glorifies us despite our weakness of spirit, soul, and body. Praise the LORD for His grace to us as infants in Christ, as we grow, and as Christians on our deathbed!

Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 15 when he says that when we die our bodies, “are sown perishable...in dishonor...in weakness...a natural body.” (42-44) But in that very moment God keeps, preserves, protects and raises us up by His power to be “imperishable...in glory...in power...a spiritual body.” (42-44) What a miracle!

Even after Jesus has said these things He goes on to remove any other fears and doubts by saying to us, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” These words of Jesus are to be a strong encouragement for His people that we do not need to fear.

Therefore, we would do well to pray like David when he said in Psalm 71:4-11, “Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.” We need God in every stage of life. The LORD must begin the work of salvation and He must see it through to the end. (Philippians 1:6)

Because of Jesus’ words every believer can say with Paul in Romans 8:34-39, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” With these things in mind let us sing our next song.

Song: 10,000 Reasons: Bless The LORD

Scripture: Psalm 23

My wife and I have two cats. These cats have a different relationship with both of us. This is mainly because my cats live with me but they are cared for by my wife. I observe them but my wife knows them and can pick up on the smallest things regarding them. For the most part she is the Good Shepherd of our cats and I am a hireling. They are alive and well and even thriving because of my wife, not so much because of me. Consider this as we read the first half of Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.

• When David says, “The LORD is my shepherd”, his faith and trust is in the right person. He could have looked to the hireling but he doesn’t. It is the LORD alone who cares for His sheep, leads them, and protects them. In this world we are so prone to look to so many other things to do these things for us. Yet, these things can never replace the LORD. To Him alone we are to say each day, “The LORD is my Shepherd…”. It is the LORD who gives us rest, refreshment, restoration, and leads us in right paths of righteousness. He does this “...for His name’s sake.” According to His nature, character, and for His glory. He is not inclined to do this because of anything He sees in us; rather, He does this for His own glory.

After this David says,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.

You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meall the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lordforever.

Notice that even though the LORD leads His people to rest in green pastures, refreshment by the water, restoration of soul, and on righteous paths; they are always in a world which is described as a ‘valley and the shadow of death’ filled with ‘enemies’. Therefore, if a sheep wanders off and departs from the Shepherd is utter folly.

There are fears within us and terrors all around us, but we have been given God’s promises. We need not fear any evil because His rod and His staff are a comfort us. The LORD prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. He restores us and refreshes us by anointing us with oil, and our cup overflows. His goodness and mercy never departs from us; and in the end, His people will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. To Him be glory and honor and power forever! Are you in His house? Are you in His hand?

• Today we remember that Donnie has walked among us in these things, but now He dwells in the house of the LORD forever by the grace and mercy of God. Even now, Donnie is in the presence of His Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Since the LORD is our Good and Faithful Shepherd let us sing confidently our next song.

Song: It Is Well With My Soul

Closing Prayer and Benediction:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”