HAROLD L. LONGENECKER

1926 - 2014

Harold was born October 12, 1926 in Elizabethtown, PA and died May 16, 2014 in Des Plaines, IL. He married Esther Hertzler in 1947. He authored three books: The Village Church (Moody), Building Town and Country Churches (Moody) and Growing Leaders by Design (Kregel). He received a Th.M. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.D. from Western Baptist Seminary. He was a charter member of the Community Bible Church, Marietta, PA and he and Esther were the first missionaries commissioned by the church. He loved God, loved his Church and had a profound love for mentoring the next generation of Christian leaders. Scores of men and women were led into ministry through his influence in his capacity as Director of RHMA, IL; President of Montana Bible College, MT; Senior Pastor of the Des Plaines Bible Church, IL now The Bridge Community Church; and Senior Pastor of the Racine Bible Church, WI. He is survived by his daughter Carol married to Galen Hiestand. Also by five grandchildren: Scott, Gerald, and Todd Hiestand; Brian Longenecker, Megan Longenecker Gilbert, eleven great-grandchildren and beloved friend, Thelma CornellSpain. His surviving sibling is Lois Miller. Harold was preceded in death by his parents Samuel and Annie Longenecker, Esther, his wife, sons Gordon and Ronnie, and daughter Brenda. He was also preceded in death by his sisters Esther Stoner, Erma Maust, and brothers Lehman and Mervin Longenecker. The Memorial service will be held at The Bridge Community Church, 945 Thacker, Des Plaines, IL at 11 am Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Interment will be private. Memorials may be given to the "Longenecker Fund" established by RHMA, Box 300, Morton, IL 61550.