It is great grief that I post this. Our precious 26 year old son, Josh, was killed Friday night. He was riding his motorcycle and a car turned left into his path. There was not enough time for him to avoid it. He died instantly. He leaves behind a wife who is expecting their first child in June. We covet your prayers at this very hard time. For those who wish to know, these are the arrangements:
Arrangements for Josh Rothgaber
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Reception and viewing 12 noon to 3 PM
Service at 3 PM
Gundel Funeral Home
415 North Duke Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Telephone: 717-393-1776
Burial at the Millersville Mennonite Cemetery, Millersville, PA
We would invite you to join us for a buffet dinner. We would appreciate knowing (but it is not necessary) if you plan to join us for the buffet meal following the interment so we can make accurate arrangements. Please RSVP to nadachap@gmail.com.
Many of you know we travel and live in our motorhome (with a mailing address in South Dakota) and so you have asked how to reach us in Pennsylvania. CHAP has graciously allowed us to use the office address as a home mailing base while we are here in Pennsylvania. We will be camping somewhere near the CHAP office. The CHAP office address is:
Doug and Nada Rothgaber
c/o CHAP
231 N. Chesnut St.
Palmyra, PA 17078
It is hard to express our feelings - our grief is so overwhelming. As I write this we are in our second day of driving back to Pennsylvania. Praise God for email and cell phones! The outpouring of everyone’s love and prayer has just overwhelmed us. We felt we needed to drive home as we plan to stay for quite awhile and we knew Vicky had the support of her loving parents. We have been back and forth on the phone and email with her frequently as she makes the arrangements. It seems God is slowing our journey as we dealt with extreme weather (high winds, sideways rain, and tornado warnings) in the Dallas area yesterday which slowed our travel to 30 MPH for almost 2 hours and today our emotions are just over-flowing as the reality of the situation starts to over-take us. We have had to stop several times as the grief just overcomes us and we need to pray and cry out to God. We have been blessed with a daughter-in-law, who even though she is in distress, is able, with the help of her parents, to know what she wants and to make the arrangements for Josh.
If you are so inclined, CHAP is setting up a Memorial Fund to help with the many needs the family will be facing in the coming days. Cards & Gifts can be sent to:
The Josh Rothgaber Memorial Fund
c/o CHAP
231 N. Chestnut St.
Palmyra, PA 17078
About Me
- Nada and Doug
- Welcome to the travels of Doug and Nada. We love the Lord and are traveling full-time in our motorhome with our German Shepherd, Homer. Homer is the star attraction wherever we stop and he gets us talking and sharing with many people. DON'T FORGET: YOU CAN ENLARGE EACH PHOTO BY CLICKING ON THE PHOTO! The newest blog post is at the top and they go back in time as you scroll down. If you want to see each photo larger, you can just click on the photo and it will enlarge. If you decide to leave a comment, don't forget to sign it so we know who left it. ;-) Folks: This site is under continual construction as we travel and see this beautiful country. Check back for more updates and photos. Thanks for visiting with us! May God bless your day!
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14 comments:
Hi Nada, A friend of mine sent me this link and because I have signed up in the past for CHAP newsletters;I received the note about Josh.
My husband and teen-age children were coming home on Friday evening and passed the accident scene. They knew it was bad and prayed immediately for Josh's Family. I can't even fathom the depth of your sorrow and the extreme pain associated with memories that will one day bring you comfort. For now, be certain that prayer will accompany you and that the LORD in his infinite wisdom, will restore your joy.
Drive safely!
We will be praying for y'all as you travel. hugs hugs hugs!
My heart goes out. I am so very sorry. Please know I will write your names in my prayer journal to lift up to our Heavenly Father. May Gods grace & strength & peace overwhelm you.
Today, I grieve with you.
Patrizia
I wanted to share a story about Josh.
I didn't know Josh very well....he was younger than me and a guy and therefore generally hung out with a different group of young folks at national conferences. However, one year he and I were both children's helpers when the Dentons were running the children's program.
The Dentons, with their flair for drama, had us do several skits for the kids. One of them was to act out a true story that had happened to their pastor. Their pastor was a missionary at one time down in South America somewhere. A band of guerillas attacked him, beat the tar out of him and were planning to kill him. The missionary told them, "You can kill me, but I'm not going to die."
The guerillas were like, "Huh?" So he explained to them that they could kill his body but not his soul. He witnessed to them and they became Christians on the spot.
So we acted this out. I was one of the Nathty Mean Guerillas (you know what a fierce and vicious person I am, haw haw!). Josh was the missionary. Some of us were new to doing impromptu skits and felt sorta bashful but Josh got completely into his part. (He was head-and-shoulders above everybody else in that regard.) Anyway, I still have this vivid mental picture of him lying on the floor, supposedly all beat up, with us Nathty Mean Guerillas glaring at him, and him telling us quietly and convincingly, "You can kill me, but I'm not gonna die."
And that's exactly what has happened now. A car killed him, but he didn't die. He has gone on to the best life there is, leaving a shining testimony behind him.
Hugs and prayers,
Raquelle Sheen
Dear Doug and Nada,
We do not know each other, I just read about you and your son from a post on AFHE (AZ Families for Home Ed.). I felt so compelled to write you and let you know that I will be praying for you. We have very similar circumstances. My father was killed while riding on his motorcycle when a driver turned in front of him. My father was 21 years old, and it was a week after my first birthday. I was his only child. He was just leaving work and in the parking lot when the accident happened. My mother was 19 at the time. He was my grandparents only son, the youngest of three children. My grandmother wept the rest of her life over losing her son. One day she had a dream where she saw a little boy in heaven very sad. When asked why he was so sad he replied that every time he lit his candle his mothers tears made it go out. She knew it was her son and she tried so hard to try to not cry so much and look for the good and wonderful memories of his life. I have been told so many stories about my Dad and wish that I could have known this wonderful man, I hope that your grandchild will know the same wonderful stories of her father. We will be praying for safe travels for you, for the funeral service and for the times to come. I am so sorry for your loss. May you feel God's love and his arms of support surrounding you.
God bless,
Wendi
Dear Doug and Nada,
When we received the email from CHAP we were stunned. I(Mary)stepped into the living room to share the devestating news with Rodger and the kids. He immediately gathered everyone who was home and we lifted both of you and your daughter-in-law before the Lord. Words fail us, but we know that God is your fortress, and are praying that he will carry and comfort you as continue your time here on this earth without your precious son. We love you both,
Rodger and Mary
Our love and prayers are sent out to you during this very difficult time. Josh had a heart of gold. We love you guys and if we can do anything please let us know. Jesse and family
I've been thinking and praying for you each day Nada. Wish there was something I could do to relieve your pain.
Lucy
Dear Nada and Doug,
My heart is breaking for you both and for your family. Only God knows why He needed Josh to come home at this time. Praise God, it won't be much longer until we all will be reunited with our believing loved ones for all eternity. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Gin and Larry Lingle
Hi Doug and Nada!
We were overwhelmed by the news we heard on the radio of Josh. We have many, many fond memories of Josh. He was one of us here at CATRA as a strong participant in many of the heavy duty lifting of the hay bales as well as the good times he had with Casey and John in his early years. He was always so much fun to be around with his stories of what he had done and what he intended to do. Our hearts go out to you at this time - so hard to fathom the sudden loss of a child although we have lived with many parents at CATRA who have had to deal with the gradual loss of a child - it isn't any easier. We will pray for Josh's child to be healthy and the light of Josh that will keep on burning. May God give you the strength to endure this weekend and give you peace in the years to come. With all our Love - Ben, Shirley, John, & Casey
Hello it has been a long time. Our son died in a car accident 6 years ago and we know the pain you are going through. We did and still do know that God knew what he was doing when he took our son home. If you ever need to talk just call. Our prayers are with you! In Christ Love,
Rick and Linda Wertz
I cannot tell you how sad I am to hear this news. Josh was a constant source of fun and joy growing up. I cannot believe his light has been extinguished. I cannot even fathom the pain that you and Josh's wife, Vicky, are experiencing. Please know that I am praying for you family.
I cannot tell you how sad I am to hear this news. Josh was a constant source of fun and joy growing up. I cannot believe his light has been extinguished. I cannot even fathom the pain that you and Josh's wife, Vicky, are experiencing. Please know that I am praying for you family.
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