Brian Theodore Post

Brian Theodore Post entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 6, 2024 after a five-month battle with an aggressive form of leukemia. He will be remembered as a loving family man, an attentive and affectionate grandfather, and a man of conscience and kindness who was always ready to lend a helping hand with a smile on his face.

Brian was born to Harold J. and Frieda Reich Post on June 5, 1948 in the village of Catskill, NY. He spent much of his childhood exploring the abundant natural world of the Catskill Mountain region, expanding his intellect and imagination through extensive reading, developing his talents in music, and playing sports and games with neighborhood friends.

As a teenager, he came to saving faith when a young man shared the gospel with him in a personal way after a Sunday church service in Long Island, NY. The authenticity of his faith in Christ was evidenced by the focus and pursuits of the rest of his life.

Voted the "Mr. Congeniality" of his senior class, Brian played varsity baseball and soccer and graduated from Catskill High School in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Central College in Pella, IA with an emphasis in organ performance.

After college, Brian moved to Denver, CO for nearly a decade, having fallen in love with the American West and the Rocky Mountains during previous travels. While living in Denver, he pursued his passion for the mountains as part of the Rocky Mountain Rescue and as Safety Officer for the Colorado Mountain Club. He also worked a number of fascinating jobs, from building radio towers on top of mountain passes to teaching middle school music during the first year of integration of Denver public schools, guiding his students toward both musical and social harmony.

He married Beatrice Ann (Bea) Engel of Selkirk, NY in March 1979 after proposing to her at the aptly-named Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide. The couple soon moved back to the Hudson Valley to start a family. They had two children: Brian Christopher and Catherine Elizabeth (Caity), both born in Albany, NY.

While raising his young children, Brian primarily worked as a nursing home personnel administrator. Moved by the desire for every person to have the story of God's redemption through Jesus in their heart language, he and Bea then pursued full-time missions with Wycliffe Bible Translators. In 1993, they relocated their family to work at the International Linguistics Center in Dallas, TX.

Brian served in finance, recruitment, and project management roles for Wycliffe, including an overseas assignment as Finance Director for the Central America Branch in Guatemala. Though formally "retiring" in 2018, he maintained part-time duties until he received his leukemia diagnosis.

Both musicians, Brian and Bea (Westminster Choir College, '75) also served in numerous churches over the years with Brian as organist and pianist. The congregations of The First Dutch Reformed Church (Catskill, NY), Our Savior's Reformed Church (Lakewood, CO), Applewood Valley UMC (Golden, CO), Clermont Bible Church (Livingston, NY), and Union Church (Guatemala City, GT) were primary recipients of Brian's talents, but his ministry extended far beyond official church duties to nursing homes, retirement homes, Wycliffe gatherings, evangelical organizations of all kinds, and the family living room - all where his skillful, creative, and energetic music-making inspired joyful and lively praise of the Lord.

That energy was always at its best when accompanying the great hymns of the faith. He and his family take courage in the saving love of Jesus on his behalf and the promise of a new, incorruptible body for all who trust in Christ on the day of resurrection.

Brian is survived by his wife, Bea, his children, Brian C. (Becky) and Caity (John), his brother, Paul (Bonnie), and four grandchildren: Hudson, Emmie, Teddy and Shepherd.

His family invites all who are able to join us for a music-filled celebration of his life at the Event Center of the International Linguistics Center (7500 W Camp Wisdom Rd, Dallas, TX 75236) on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brian's name to Wycliffe Bible Translators (P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862) and directed to the supplemental income fund (SIF) for missionary families experiencing a shortfall.

###