Rev. Michael E. McFarland
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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He was born June 30, 1951, in Rochester, to Eugene and Virginia Swango McFarland. On Sept. 2, 1976, he married Susan J. Craig, who survives.
He was the Athens United Methodist Church minister for the last four years. He worked for Woodlawn Hospital in the emergency room and intensive care, and at Kosciusko Community Hospital and Medstat of Warsaw. He was the director of nursing at Peabody Retirement of North Manchester, and he worked for the EMS department at Woodlawn and he worked at Bremen Kindred Nursing Home.
He received his associates degree in general studies in 1990 and obtained his associates degree in nursing from Indiana University in 1991, then his bachelor’s degree in 1995. He took the Community Parish Nurse course in Ohio to further his ministry. He was honored as the Outstanding Alumni in 1995 and received the Carle Foundation award in 2002. He attended the Ozark Bible College in Neosho, Mo. He received his ordination certificate on July 30, 2007, from the Northwest Indiana District. He served as pastor of the Logansport and Kingsford Heights Assembly of God Church. He conducted revival meetings in Logansport, Mooresville and Athens. He also was the associate pastor at the Rochester Nazarene Church and was involved with the children’s ministry. He was looking forward to having his next revival Stepping Back in Time tent meeting from June 11 to 14. In previous years, he served as a city councilman in Rochester. He was a man of God that never knew a stranger and always put others before himself. He enjoyed his family time, reading and eating at restaurants.
Also surviving are his daughters, Melissa (and spouse Brian) Weitzel and Rebecca (and spouse Brian) Sweany, all of Rochester; sons, Michael (and spouse Tamara) McFarland, Rochester, and Matthew (and spouse Samantha) McFarland, Lafayette; his father, in Rochester; his mother-in-law, Lorna Craig, Rochester; an aunt, Evelyn McFarland, Rochester; nine grandchildren: Clifford Vanata, Bronson (and spouse Dasha) Vanata, Margaret (and spouse Andrew) Rock, Madison Sweany (and fiance Kyle Nelson), Joselin Sweany, Bryce and Reese Weitzel, and Nathinel and Emma Beck; two great-grandchildren, Willow and Weston Vanata; a brother, Tim (and spouse Sue) McFarland, Rochester; a brother-in-law, Jim (and spouse Judy) Brazo, Warsaw; nieces and nephews: Julia Gibbons, Laura Smiley, Tim Shepherd, Kim Hunt and Heather Cox; and a dog, Mollie. He was preceded in death by his mother, mother-in-law, Jo (and spouse Guy) Strayton; father-in-law, Raymond Craig; and a brother-in-law, Delmor Shepherd.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Church of the Nazarene, 1987 Southway 31, Rochester, IN 46975 with Rev. Don Meyer and Lay Servent Michael Walters officiating.
Burial will follow at Rochester IOOF, Rochester.
Visitation is 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Athens United Methodist Church, 230 S. CR 650E, Athens.
Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron, is entrusted with arrangements.
*****
Memorials to Athens United Methodist Church Teen Ministry, Gideon’s International or Fulton County animal shelter.
Condolences via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com[[In-content Ad]]
He was born June 30, 1951, in Rochester, to Eugene and Virginia Swango McFarland. On Sept. 2, 1976, he married Susan J. Craig, who survives.
He was the Athens United Methodist Church minister for the last four years. He worked for Woodlawn Hospital in the emergency room and intensive care, and at Kosciusko Community Hospital and Medstat of Warsaw. He was the director of nursing at Peabody Retirement of North Manchester, and he worked for the EMS department at Woodlawn and he worked at Bremen Kindred Nursing Home.
He received his associates degree in general studies in 1990 and obtained his associates degree in nursing from Indiana University in 1991, then his bachelor’s degree in 1995. He took the Community Parish Nurse course in Ohio to further his ministry. He was honored as the Outstanding Alumni in 1995 and received the Carle Foundation award in 2002. He attended the Ozark Bible College in Neosho, Mo. He received his ordination certificate on July 30, 2007, from the Northwest Indiana District. He served as pastor of the Logansport and Kingsford Heights Assembly of God Church. He conducted revival meetings in Logansport, Mooresville and Athens. He also was the associate pastor at the Rochester Nazarene Church and was involved with the children’s ministry. He was looking forward to having his next revival Stepping Back in Time tent meeting from June 11 to 14. In previous years, he served as a city councilman in Rochester. He was a man of God that never knew a stranger and always put others before himself. He enjoyed his family time, reading and eating at restaurants.
Also surviving are his daughters, Melissa (and spouse Brian) Weitzel and Rebecca (and spouse Brian) Sweany, all of Rochester; sons, Michael (and spouse Tamara) McFarland, Rochester, and Matthew (and spouse Samantha) McFarland, Lafayette; his father, in Rochester; his mother-in-law, Lorna Craig, Rochester; an aunt, Evelyn McFarland, Rochester; nine grandchildren: Clifford Vanata, Bronson (and spouse Dasha) Vanata, Margaret (and spouse Andrew) Rock, Madison Sweany (and fiance Kyle Nelson), Joselin Sweany, Bryce and Reese Weitzel, and Nathinel and Emma Beck; two great-grandchildren, Willow and Weston Vanata; a brother, Tim (and spouse Sue) McFarland, Rochester; a brother-in-law, Jim (and spouse Judy) Brazo, Warsaw; nieces and nephews: Julia Gibbons, Laura Smiley, Tim Shepherd, Kim Hunt and Heather Cox; and a dog, Mollie. He was preceded in death by his mother, mother-in-law, Jo (and spouse Guy) Strayton; father-in-law, Raymond Craig; and a brother-in-law, Delmor Shepherd.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Church of the Nazarene, 1987 Southway 31, Rochester, IN 46975 with Rev. Don Meyer and Lay Servent Michael Walters officiating.
Burial will follow at Rochester IOOF, Rochester.
Visitation is 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Athens United Methodist Church, 230 S. CR 650E, Athens.
Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron, is entrusted with arrangements.
*****
Memorials to Athens United Methodist Church Teen Ministry, Gideon’s International or Fulton County animal shelter.
Condolences via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com[[In-content Ad]]
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