Funeral For a Friend – Elton John is one of my favorite instrumental pieces.  The music is good.  But celebration of the life of a faithful Christian man is a much more meaningful Funeral for a friend.

Tuesday morning, Feb. 4 we got a message from Covenant missionary colleagues in Cameroon.  It was a shock to all who knew him.  Bob Lane, a Wycliffe Associates missionary, had unexpectedly passed away in Yaounde, Cameroon.  It was apparently a heart attack.  Memorial service was held in Cameroon before the body was brought home to rest in Chicago, IL.

March 6 we attended visitation in Chicago.  March 7 was the funeral in Chicago, IL.  We brought as many kids with us as possible.  You see, Bob’s youngest son is a senior at Rain Forest International School, and is a good friend of our kids.  It was a bittersweet reunion for the students, graduates and friends.

Bob had been a servant, always willing to lend a hand or to go out of his way to be of assistance.  That was a consistent theme in the memories shared.  And it is what we personally know of him too.  He drove the van of students to school at RFIS daily.  He worked in the finance office for Wycliffe staff.  He was an elder at the International Christian Church of Yaounde where we also served.  He will be missed greatly by Cameroonian colleagues, missionary colleagues, friends and family.

He was also well known for his distinctive laugh.  It is a comfort to know that he is enjoying eternal life with Jesus — and I’m sure his laugh is well known in heaven by now!