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By Kathy Gilbert*
6:00 P.M. EDT Oct. 28, 2011
Retired United Methodist Bishop Robert Sheldon Duecker died Oct. 28 in Fort Wayne, Ind., after a long battle with cancer. He was 85.
The Rev. Roy A. Eaton of Fort Wayne said he and Duecker became good
friends after the bishop retired. “From 1995 to today we spent every
week together. There was a group of us who had lunch every Friday,”
Eaton said.
“He was a good preacher, administrator and a tremendous friend,”
Eaton said. “He knew he was dying, and the last time I saw him he said,
‘I don’t mind dying, but I dread the process.’”
Bishop Michael Coyner, Indiana Annual (regional) Conference, said Duecker had an “even more amazing ministry after his retirement.”
Coyner said Duecker served as interim pastor, headed a drive to raise
funds for Africa University and was honorary chair of the conference’s
camping ministry. A residence hall at Africa University, the United Methodist college in Mutare, Zimbabwe, was dedicated in his honor.
“I visited him a number of times and recently in hospice,” Coyner
said. “He was ready to go, and we are grateful he had a peaceful
passing.”
The North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church elected Duecker a bishop in 1988 and assigned him to the Chicago Area.
Duecker was ordained an elder in the former North Indiana Conference
by Bishop Richard C. Raines in 1953. He served as an associate pastor of
Kokomo Grace and as pastor at Dyer, Muncie-Gethsemane, Hartford City,
Warsaw-First, Fort Wayne-Simpson and Muncie-High Street United Methodist
churches. He also served as North Indiana Annual (regional) Conference
council director from 1973 to 1977 and as Fort Wayne District
superintendent from 1977 to 1982.
Duecker was elected delegate to four sessions of The United Methodist
Church’s General Conference, the denomination’s lawmaking body, and to
six sessions of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference.
He was the author of several articles and of one book, “Tensions in the Connection,” published by Abingdon in 1983.
Duecker was named a “Sagamore of the Wabash”
by Indiana Gov. Robert Orr in September 1988. The award recognizes
Indiana citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the state.
He and Marjorie Louise Clouse were married in 1948 and celebrated
their 63rd wedding anniversary this year. Other survivors include a
daughter, Cristine Holman of Fort Wayne; and three brothers: Heyman of
Marion, Ind.; Ronald of Wooster, Ohio; and Dennis of Medina, Ohio; three
grandchildren, Carrie Haney of Atlanta, Robert Haney of Morristown,
N.J.; and Lori Haney of Fort Wayne; and a great-granddaughter, Jaden
Housman of Fort Wayne. He was preceded in death by a son, the Rev.
Philip Lee, in 2000, and by two brothers, Sherrod and Victor.
A memorial service will be Nov. 5 at First Wayne Street United
Methodist Church, where he served as bishop-in-residence after his
retirement as bishop of the Chicago Area in 1996.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Bishop R. Sheldon and
Marjorie L. Duecker Scholarship Fund of Africa University, c/o United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007,
Nashville, Tenn., 37203-0007, or to First Wayne Street United Methodist
Church, 300 East Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, Ind., 46802. Condolences to
the family can be sent to Cristine Holman, 7614 Hermitage Place, Fort
Wayne 46815.
*Gilbert is a multimedia reporter for the Young Adult Content team at United Methodist Communications.
News media contact: Kathy Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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