Community mourns accident victims

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Family and friends gathered at Joy Community Church to say their final good-byes to Deb Stuifbergen, 51; Leann Shoulders, 27; and Nick Stuifbergen, 23, who were killed in a head-on crash in North Allis Township, January 26. Inside the packed church were three open caskets lined end-to-end at the front of the altar. Placed next to Nick Stuifbergen?s casket was his #58 Onaway High School football jersey and his 2001-02 Ironman Award. Some of his former teammates signed ?Miss Ya Bud, 55? and ?Nick, we love u bro, 59? with a marker. Public viewing lasted four hours and was followed by the church?s pastor Christopher Rasper beginning the service with a prayer.

?Lord, you know there are so many emotions in this place today,? said Rasper, standing in front of Debra?s casket. ?The death of Debra, Leann and Nick has left a huge hole in their family?s hearts. I would ask that you comfort all of their loved ones.? Rasper reflected on the loss of his daughter Shelby, who had just celebrated her 15th birthday a year ago, before her sudden passing. Debra Stuifbergen was on the way to celebrate her birthday when the accident occurred.

?I?m sure your loss is shocking as well, and I can understand some of the pain you are going through, but I can?t even begin to imagine the amount pain you must be facing. ?I just want you to know, my heart goes out to you, that I?ve been praying for you and that I?m going to continue to do that. I want you to know that my door is open to you. If you ever need to talk, or if you need somebody to listen, I want to be available to you.? The pastor said he remembers the people who sat with him during his family?s time of grief to cry, listen and pray with them.

?That meant so much,? he said. ?I would say to the friends and the family that I think that?s one of the best gifts you can give, just to be there as you are today, to show that you care. They are going to need to talk about these things for a long time to come.? Rasper encouraged those in attendance to ?thank God? for the time they had with Debra, Leann and Nick. ?The time we had with them was a gift from God, and we should thank Him for that.?

He encouraged everyone to cherish the memories, but most importantly, share the memories and not grieve alone, ?grieve as a group and as a community.? Rasper said the message is ?life is short. We never know, so we need to invest in the things that really matter, and the thing that really matters are not things: What really matters is people.?

He said more time is

spent in eternity with loved ones than on this side of the grave and the way to get there is getting right with God and accepting his gift of Jesus. Rasper ended by reading all three obituaries. Chagnon Funeral Home, funeral director Melissa Chagnon asked everyone to keep the family in their prayers. She added that they would be buried in the spring. Vince Gill?s ?Go Rest High on the Mountain,? played on the loudspeakers as people left the sanctuary. A benefit spaghetti dinner is being planned for the end of the month to meet the family?s needs. Permission has been granted to conduct the event at the school.

(The family invited the Outlook to cover the funeral for the newspaper.)