Dean A. Lanning

Dean had a profound influence on me. I remember how much I loved sitting in Morrow church listening to his sermons. I always felt that they were more like chats about how my life was going. He always seemed to be speaking directly to me about the things that were going on in my life during the past week. Of course, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way and that was Dean’s true gift. He had the ability to make his sermon relevant to each of us individually. When I think of the thousands of...

The entire Stone family from Lincoln Park, N.J. has been so positively influenced by Dean that it is hard to know where to begin. My parents, George and Kathryn Stone very much loved Dean and all that he bought to the Wayne Methodist Church in the 1950's and 1960.s. My sister, Nancy (Stone) Belsky became an ordained minister and served many Mehodist congregations in N.J. Nancy passed away about 10 years ago, but one of her daughters, Cyndi (Belsky) Stouffer serves the New Brunswick...

I began attending Morrow Church just after Rev Lanning left. I was so privileged to meet him when he returned and spoke to the morning adult class. He spoke movingly about his work with death row inmates.
He said something that has stayed with me to this day and changed the way I look at people.. He told us "People are better than the worst thing they have ever done." He was able to see good in everyone. He helped me see that too.

Heaven is a better place today because of the presence of Dean .Truly a disciple and will be earths loss!
To know him was to love him .

I’m so sorry to hear of Deans passing I remember him as a kind wise man who could get his point across without ruffling feathers and always a gentleman. I kno w you will have family and friends to help you though the times ahead of you Doris. Bless you and take care. I’ll always think of your or kids when I think of you.