Obituaries

in memory of

Dr. Tad C. Blacketer

Degree

PhD, 2020

Resided

Wilmore, KY

Passed

June 2, 2025

Dr. Tad C. Blacketer, PhD ’20, aged 49, of Mt. Pulaski, IL., passed away on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Tad was born on January 3, 1976, in Pittsfield, IL. The son of Carl and Wanda (Thomas) Blacketer. He married Hannah Clevenger on December 31, 2005 at Rochester Christian Church. Tad is survived by his loving wife, Hannah; two sons, Asa Blacketer and Amos Blacketer; his mother, Wanda Blacketer; two sisters, Carlina (Dave) Welge and Lawanda (Alex) Clarke; one brother, Timothy (Kirsten) Blacketer, his father and mother in law, George and Cindy Clevenger, and brother in-laws, David (Amy) Clevenger and Jonathan (Kim) Clevenger. Tad is preceded in death by his father, Carl Blacketer; and his paternal and maternal grandparents. Tad grew up in Pittsfield, IL., where he graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1994. During that time, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and still enjoyed spending time in nature with his family camping. After high school, Tad attended Knox College where he earned a B.A. in History in 1998. He then attended the University of Illinois, Springfield and earned an M.A. in History in 2005. During this time he met his future wife, Hannah and they were married shortly thereafter. He worked at the Abraham Lincoln Home in Springfield where he enjoyed sharing the history of Abe Lincoln with others. After Tad spent the summer doing mission work in Russia, he then enrolled at Lincoln Christian Seminary and began preaching at Lake Fork Christian Church. He earned his Master of Divinity from Lincoln Christian Seminary in 2009 and a Masters of Arts in Old Testament in 2010. He and Hannah and their newborn son, Asa, then moved to Wilmore Kentucky where Tad attended Asbury Theological Seminary earning his PhD in Biblical Studies with a concentration on the Old Testament. It was during this time, they welcomed their second son, Amos. In 2014, Tad and Hannah moved back to Central Illinois and settled in Mt. Pulaski where they continued to raise their boys. He taught adjunct classes at Lincoln Christian University and Hope International University for the past several years. Tad was a faithful member of Mt. Pulaski Christian Church where he served as an Elder, taught Sunday School, and served in many other capacities including playing harmonica with the praise team. He was a member of Celebrate Recovery at First Assembly of God in Normal where he cherished the many friendships and relationships he built with the group over the years. This past year, Tad taught high school History and English at Unity Christian High School in Decatur. He also performed pulpit supply, preaching at many different churches as needed. Most of all, Tad loved Jesus and his family. He will be missed by the many people who knew and loved him.

in memory of

Dr. Richard Edgar Visser

Degree

D.Min '83

Resided

Pittsburgh, PA

Passed

May 14, 2025

Reverend Dr. Richard Edgar Visser, D.Min ’83, aged 88, of Providence Point Retirement Community, Pittsburgh, PA, died at home on May 14, 2025. Born April 28, 1937, in South Weymouth, MA, he grew up in nearby Hingham, the firstborn son of Edgar and Marjorie (McPhee) Visser. On June 21, 1958, he wed the now Reverend Carol (Edwards) Visser, with whom he enjoyed nearly 67 years of marriage.

He graduated from Hingham High School in 1954 and from Gordon College, Wenham, MA, in 1958 and 1959 with degrees in Bible-Greek and Church Music-Voice, respectively. Afterwards he earned degrees in Divinity and Christian Education from the Gordon Divinity School (now Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary). Throughout his life he remained very close to Gordon College and would keep track of how many extended family members attended there through the years (17 at last count).

He was ordained by the American Baptist Churches (ABC) in 1962, and during a more than fifty year career served churches as senior pastor in Acton, ME; Derry, NH; Warren, PA; and Waynesburg, PA, and on staff in Library, PA, and St. Albans, WV. In 1983 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. In 2016, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Waynesburg University. In retirement, he co-pastored churches with his wife Carol in Warren, PA; Ogunquit, ME; and Cape Neddick, ME.

In addition to pastoral work, he volunteered in both the denomination and his community. During his 20-year pastorate at First Baptist Church, Waynesburg, PA, where he was later Pastor Emeritus, he served as President of the ABC of PA and DE, General Board member of both the ABC USA and the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, and chaired the American Baptist Leadership Institute of Western PA. He served on the community foundation, hospital, ministerial association, human services, Red Cross and Rotary boards. Awards he received include: Excellence in Ministry Award (Ministers Council, ABC of PA and DE), Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club (Waynesburg, PA); and with wife Carol, Distinguished Community Service Award (Waynesburg), Apollo Award (Alderson-Broaddus University), Jack Good Community Service Award (Gordon College), and Volunteer of the Year Award (Brunswick, ME).

Surviving along with his beloved wife are three sons, Andrew (Robin), Thomas (Valarie) and Peter. Also surviving are three brothers, Robert (Charlotte), David (Judy) and John (Linda), brother-in-law Reverend Kenneth Wallace, sister-in-law Diane Edwards, step-grandson Nicholas (Catherine) Lutes and great grandchildren Levi, Emma and Aubrey, and many nieces and nephews and their families.

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