Obituaries
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DR. DON JOY IS ANNOUNCED
A memorial service for Dr. Don Joy will be held September 19th at 11 a.m. at the Free Methodist Church in Wilmore, Kentucky. The family has invited alumni to attend while keeping in mind the precautions needed to take during this time.
Isaac E. Kim, MDiv ’68, aged 86, of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away on August 15, 2020. The cause of death was cancer. Isaac lived in the Chicago area for over 30 years, including 27 years in Skokie, IL. In his later years, he also resided in Highland, IL and Fort Atkinson, WI. Isaac was born on Shim-Ahn Island, a small southern island in the Republic of Korea, on December 16, 1933 to Jung-soon Kim and Mong-la Kim. Like many Koreans of his generation, Isaac endured many hardships in his youth, including growing up under Japanese colonial rule, surviving the deprivations of World War II and the Korean War, and losing his father when he was only 15. Despite these challenges, owing to the support of his mother and his indefatigable work ethic, he graduated from Mokpo High School in 1953 and Seoul Theological Seminary in 1958. Motivated by a genuine heart for Christian ministry, he arrived in the United States in 1964 and enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury in 1968. Subsequently, he founded two churches: the Korean Presbyterian Church in Madison, WI, in the early 1970s, and the Korean Resurrection Free Methodist Church in Evanston, IL, in the mid-1970s. He served the latter church for about twenty-five years. In 2018, he was proud to be invited back to Asbury to celebrate his 50th anniversary as an alum. Also in 2018, he undertook a month-long spiritual sojourn in Korea, where he was invited to preach at several churches near his hometown. Isaac married his wife Young Ja (Han) in 1960. They raised three children. A dedicated husband and father, Isaac worked tirelessly to support his family. Like many immigrants, he worked seven days a week for nearly 30 years: Monday through Saturday at John Crane Packing Company, Morton Grove, IL, and Sunday as a pastor for his congregation of Korean immigrants. Isaac was especially close with his youngest child, Sung-In, a son with special needs. Inseparable best buddies, they played basketball together every morning for about 15 years until Sung-In’s health began to decline. They were a morning fixture in many parks in Fort Atkinson. Because he was the primary caregiver for Sung-In for many years, Isaac was determined to stay as cognitively and physically fit as possible. To keep his mind agile, Isaac read books for several hours every day, especially the Bible and theology texts. He also wrote dozens of articles for Korean Christian journals and published in the last few years of his life two books chronicling his faith journey. To keep his body strong, he exercised every morning. He could be spotted, even during the frosty winter months, kicking soccer balls at Jones Park or Ralph Park in Fort Atkinson. He was an active participant of the Silver Sneakers fitness program at Blackhawk Fitness Center, Fort Atkinson. One of the most senior participants, he rarely missed a workout in eight years and served as a role model and inspiration to others in the program. He in turn greatly appreciated the kindness of his Silver Sneakers friends. Isaac was able to keep a promise he made to himself to continue caregiving for his son even after Sung-In’s declining cognitive function had made caring for him at home impossible. Even though Sung-In had been moved to a group home 25 miles from Fort Atkinson, Isaac, in his mid-80s, drove three days a week for over four years to feed and check in on his precious son. Isaac’s love for and devotion to Sung-In was boundless. When Sung-In passed away in March 2020, Isaac was deeply pained but also grateful that he had been able to fulfill his obligations as a father. In his retirement years, Isaac also derived great joy in maintaining regular phone contact with his former church members and old friends in Chicago, southern Illinois, other parts of the U.S., and Korea. He viewed this activity as an extension of his ministry. He routinely drove to Chicago to participate in the meetings of the Fellowship of the Retired Korean Ministers in Greater Chicago. In the last years of his life, Isaac attended the Fellowship Baptist Church in Watertown. He was grateful for the warmth and kindness of the pastor and congregation. He is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth (Michael), with whom he resided in Fort Atkinson; a son, Peter (Angela); a sister, Chun-Ye Kim, and two brothers, Yo Suk (Julia) Kim and Hui Suk (Moonok) Kim; three brothers-in-law, Sang Hee (Myung Ja) Han, Daniel Kyung Sup (Young Mi) Han, Joseph Hyo Sup (Susan Soon) Han; a granddaughter, Heather, and many nieces and nephews. He was particularly grateful to his siblings, his brothers-in-law, his niece Hi Young (Im) Hong and his grand niece Sook Hee Kim for their many expressions of love and caring-their phone calls, visits, care packages-in the last months of his life. The family is also grateful to the dedicated staff at Claridge Healthcare Center, Lake Bluff, Illinois, where he resided for the last several months. He was preceded in death by his wife, Young Ja; his son, Sung-In; his parents, Jung-soon and Mong-la; two sisters, Soh-ah and Shin-ja ; and a brother, Woo-suk.
Mary Louise Wright, Friend of Asbury, aged 99, passed peacefully in her home on July 26, 2020. Born September 1st, 1920 in Massac County, Illinois, Mr. Wright attended Asbury University (Philosophy and Business) courses, Draughon’s Business College (Business) courses, and Southern Illinois University (interior design) courses. Mary married Rev. Henry Clay Wright of Philadelphia, PA in the Chapel of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. She and Rev. Wright served faithfully together for many years until Rev. Wright passed in 1972. Together they served a short time in London, England at Trinity Methodist Church. Their charges in the states ranged from Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and back to Illinois before Rev. Wright’s passing. By request and after Rev. Wright’s death, Mary returned to Trinity Methodist in England for a brief period as a guest speaker. As a friend of Trinity Church, Mary served in multiple capacities as pastor’s wife, evangelistic speaker, Sunday School Teacher, youth leader, substitute school teacher (Business Technologies), choir member, soloist, and accordion musician.
The only daughter of Edgar Loren and Alice K. Shaffer, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Henry Clay Wright, both parents, her elder brother, Rev. Luther E. Shaffer of Memphis, TN and younger brother, William Loren Shaffer of Fremont, OH. Having moved from Metropolis, Illinois in 1974 with her widowed mother, Mary became involved with the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church Women’s Ministry as Adult Sunday School fill-om teacher, supporter of WMU ministry at Raleigh United Methodist Church and Bartlett United Methodist Church. As a faithful member of Bartlett Church, Mary was selected for numerous speaking assignments as well as teaching the senior’s adult ministry class.
Although she never attended a University of Memphis Basketball Game, Mary was still an avid supporter and friend of the Tigers and their Coach, Josh Pastner.
Mary is survived by three nieces: Lanelle Shaffer Ferguson of Memphis, TN; Lily Lighbridge (formerly Judy Shaffer Ashcraft) of Columbus, Ohio; Nancy Shaffer Rottmeyer of Fort Wayne, IN; a great-niece, six great-nephews, a great-great niece, a great-great nephew, and a great-great great niece. She leaves many church friends, her living community, and a multitude of brothers and sisters in Christ. Mary was never afraid to witness about her faith in God. She loved her Savior Jesus Christ, her church, and her family with her whole heart.
We pray for the Families and may our Brother and Sister Rest in Eternal Peace.