David Allen Terhune
Jan. 17, 1950-March 7, 2012
ROCHESTER — Pastor Dave Terhune, 62, of Manitou Park Road, Rochester, passed away at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at his residence.
Dave was born in Bluffton Jan. 17, 1950, to Thomas “Big Tom” and Dorothy Steffen Terhune. The oldest of the Terhune kids, Dave shared his childhood with two brothers Keith and Kent and a sister Kim. He was a 1968 graduate of Bluffton High School. During his high school years, Dave met Susan Captain, and they quickly became high school sweethearts. Their relationship evolved into a life long commitment when Aug. 8, 1970, Dave and Susan married. Their marriage of more than 41 years produced three wonderful children, Brad, Clayton, and Nicole. Later came the added blessing of four grandchildren, Rachel, Daniel, Sarah, and Andrew, all dearly loved by their Papa.
As a young man just out of high school patriotism beckoned him. Dave answered the call as a member of the U.S. Air National Guard. During his six-week boot camp he shared platoon membership with former U.S. President George W. Bush. During his stint he served as a jet engine mechanic. Returning to Bluffton he worked as a radio dispatcher for the Bluffton Police Department. It was their requirement that dispatchers be trained at the Ft. Wayne Police Academy so dispatchers could also work patrol. Officer Terhune enjoyed working the beat and began his lifelong adventure serving humanity when he initiated the Police Athletic League Club. The PAL Club helped more than 200 kids daily, keeping them off the streets with a variety of gym activities, from kick boxing to basketball to occupy their time and crime rate was reduced by more than 40 percent.
Answering a call to serve the ministry in 1975, Dave took classes at Taylor University while accepting a two-point charge, pastoring at the Petroleum United Methodist Church and the Phoenix United Methodist Church both in central Indiana near Upland. Following his graduation from Taylor in 1981, Pastor Dave and Susan returned to Bluffton, with great enthusiasm started the Sonlight Wesleyan Church. The congregation grew as it answered the spiritual needs for many of the community members.
In 1984, Pastor Dave and Susan were sent to Bedford, Texas where they founded the second Sonlight Wesleyan Church. With the church up and going, they followed their hearts back to the Midwest and became the assistant Pastor of Kentwood Community Church in Kentland, Mich. With a desire to lead, unlimited energy and an evangelical spirit, Pastor Dave and Susan were led to Plymouth. For the next nine years they transformed the Plymouth Wesleyan Church into a dynamic house of worship.
After leaving the Plymouth area, Pastor Dave served as the senior pastor of the Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion for four years and then spent seven years leading the Park Place Wesleyan Church in St. Petersburg, Fla.
As grandchildren were born and retirement years were getting closer, Dave and Susan began to feel the pull back to Indiana. After months of prayer and direction from the Lord, he gave his notice in May of 2009 to return to Indiana and start a new Wesleyan Church in Rochester which he would simply name, The Cross.
From the humble beginnings at the Rochester Middle School, to Alejandra’s Banquet Hall, to a final church home at the corner of 3rd and Main, the Lord has been at work through this faithful servant. With a heart for the community and those in need, The Cross is a blessed church that gives back. The Harbor House, the Just Work It Out program, the Jail Ministry, and Matthew’s Market are the four outreach ministries dear to the pastor’s heart.
A little known fact about Pastor Dave is not long ago, he was bestowed an honorary Doctorate from Georgetown University for his unselfish work, leadership with a vision and purpose in the area of Humanities. Our community is a better place, with the innovative ideas that were implemented and became reality, because of this Pastor.
A great humanitarian, his influence has a ripple effect that has impacted thousands of lives. He will long be remembered for his compassionate heart and genuine love for Jesus. He lived his life with a passion to win souls for the Lord. He often quoted and encouraged people to live by his favorite prayer/poem:
Others
Lord, help me to live from day to day,
In such a self-forgetful way.
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for…Others
Others, Lord, yes others
Let this my motto be.
Help me live for others,
That I may live like Thee.
Dave is lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend, Susan, a daughter, Nicole Terhune of Indianapolis, two sons, Rev. Brad Terhune and wife Kari and their children: Rachel, Daniel, Sarah and Andrew of Marion, Clayton Terhune and fiancé Mackenzie Depferd of Dallas, Texas, parents: Tom and Dorothy Terhune of Bluffton, a sister: Kim Smith of Fort Wayne, two brothers, Keith Terhune and wife Patty of Olympia, Wash., Kent Terhune of Bluffton.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Louis and Doris Captain.
Pastor Dave would like to share the plan of Salvation with you, one more time...
* All of us have sinned — Romans 3:23
*The cost of Sin is separation from God — Romans 6:23
* We all must be Born Again — John 3:3
*We must believe Jesus is the Savior, and we must receive him into our life — John 1:12
*Ask Him to Love You, Start living for — JESUS
A celebration of the life of David Terhune will be at 2 p.m., Monday, March 12, 2012 in the Plymouth Wesleyan Church, 11203 S. Michigan St., Plymouth, with Sherriff Walker Conley, Pastor Don Bayne and Pastor John Branch officiating. There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to The Cross Benevolent Fund, 100 W. 3rd St., Rochester, IN 46975, to assist the needy, feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
The arrangements have been entrusted to the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, IN
Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to Pastor Dave’s family at www.goodfamilyfh.com [1].
Links:
[1] http://www.goodfamilyfh.com