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Edward Ubels Obituary
Ed is also survived by his loving wife Virginia (Ginny). Ed's invitation to hike up a Lake Michigan sand dune was the start of 53 wonderful years together. They shared a deep love for the outdoors, nature, hiking, and gardening. A rustic cabin in Boone, North Carolina was their habitual hideout.
They also cherished their two wonderful daughters and their families: Anne-Marie and David Batz with grandsons William and Thomas; along with Erica and Brian Bohne with granddaughters Tinley and Ashton. Fun family vacations were spent exploring national parks, mountains, and seashores.
Upon their graduation from Calvin College and The University of Toronto, Ed and Ginny were called to serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators. After intensive language training they moved to Cameroon, Africa, where they focused on language development and Bible translation with the Karang peoples. Coming back to the U.S., Ed served Wycliffe as an administrator in human relations and field staff support. When Wycliffe's office moved from California to Florida, Ed shifted roles to serve as a consultant for Wycliffe's sister organization, SIL. He traveled extensively, providing leadership that supported comprehensive language development projects throughout Asia.
Ed and Ginny enjoyed their retirement years in the Orlando area investing in and cherishing the love of their children and grandchildren. They shared their gifts of music by singing in the Bach Festival Choir and in their local church choirs.
Ed's love for Jesus and his peace in God's promises was never as evident as it was during his valiant fight with cancer. While Ginny lovingly traveled with him from one clinic or treatment to another, their spirits never wavered and their trust in the Lord was always firm.
And now Ed rests in the loving arms of Jesus. We will always miss him terribly, but we rejoice in knowing that he is free from pain and is hearing his Lord's words: "Well done - good and faithful servant."
Family and friends are invited to join in a service of remembrance and celebration followed by a light lunch on Wednesday, April 17 at 11:00 am at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, 201 South Peninsula Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Coronado Community United Methodist Church.
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Carol Krehl
April 6, 2024
The Choir will miss you dearly!
Nancy Posthumus Roersmaa
March 31, 2024
Well done thy good and faithful servant. When your work is all completed,He will gently call you home.. Oh the rapture the meeting! Oh, the joy to see you come! Dear family sorry for your loss. Love Sid & Nancy Roersma
Doris Moss
March 24, 2024
Ginny,
I wish to express my deepest sympathy to you as you travel life´s path without your husband by your side. Each of you were brave and assured as you dealt with all the health challenges that impacted your lives. You kept on keeping on. What an example of walking the talk of Christian faith.
May God continue to grant you peace and strength.
Alice Nieburger
March 14, 2024
Dearest Ginny,
I cannot tell you what a complete joy you and Ed brought to our church family at CCUMC, and especially the choir!! Your positive attitudes were radiant throughout Ed's illness and passing. You have my love and support as well as the entire choir, whenever needed.
The Obituary is a masterpiece as was Ed's life. His (and your) service in God's work cannot be matched. What great memories you both created.
Blessings to you and your family in the weeks and months to come.
In Christian love,
Alice Nieburger
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Dale and Debbie Matheson
March 11, 2024
So sorry to hear about Ed, Ginny and family.God has a new angel in heaven!met Ed and Ginny several years ago at a cabin below us.the last few years they would come up and we would get caught up on our lives over the past year. We really enjoyed seeing them spending time hiking and enjoying the mountains and nature.may God heal your hearts and comfort you in every way! You´re in our prayers and thoughts!!Dale and Debbie Matheson,valle crucis nc
Francis and Hilary Viscount
March 6, 2024
My wife and I met Ed and Ginny in 1986 in Nairobi at the Townsend Institute training session. At that meeting we all had to give personal stories and Ed shared the pain in his heart that the Karang people were still waiting to hear the Gospel and he implored the Lord to not keep them waiting longer. It was my first encounter with the passion and zeal with which Ed and Ginny brought to their lives and work. Subsequently Ed and Ginny came to California where I worked with Wycliffe USA and they attended the same church we did and my wife taught their children in Sunday School. And later I worked with Ed in Asia Area and connected in many different locations including PNG and Southern China. Ed always was a thoughtful participant in meetings and quite often only spoke up late in the discussions and what he said filled in many gaps and offered keen insights into the topics at hand. Sometimes I wished that Ed would speak up sooner because I am sure the meetings would have been shorter if he had. I did marvel at his ability to make so many international trips to Asia from Florida (often 20 hours each way!). As many have said, Ed was always a pleasure to be with and to work with and to share in his life.
Hilary and my prayers are with Ginny and her family during this time.
Larry Seguin
March 6, 2024
Dear Ginny and Family,
I have been asked to write to you on behalf of SIL Cameroon to share with you our heartfelt condolences on the passing of your husband and our co-worker in the harvest, Ed. It´s a particular honor for me to write this note, as Ed was Branch director around the time I arrived in Cameroon in 1988 - and after 36 years, I am still here!
We wish to express our thanks to you and our thankfulness to the Lord for Ed´s and your service in SIL Cameroon. You were the first SIL team to serve in the Karang community, and when you left that project you passed the baton on first to Dan and Barb Davis and then to Bob and Yezmin Ulfers. I´m sure you´re aware that the Karang New Testament was recently completed and, although the dedication has yet to take place, it is being widely used in both printed and digital form.
Of course, there was also Ed´s service as Branch director. He was director around the time when I arrived in 1988. Ed´s leadership, with your support, helped lay the foundation in the Branch´s early years for what it has become today: a thriving, multicultural community serving several dozen language communities. And we will soon be installing our very first Cameroonian General Director!
So once again, Ginny, on behalf of the Branch please receive our deepest thanks and the assurance of our prayers through these difficult days. May the Lord Jesus encourage you directly in the way only He can, as well as through the loving embrace of all those who love and cherish you.
In Christ´s peace and fellowship,
Larry Seguin
On behalf of SIL Cameroon
Dennis Punches
March 5, 2024
Love from the Punches. I remember Ed´s gentleness and sensitivity through challenging issues during his time as our director in Cameroon
NGANGBAI Emmanuel
March 5, 2024
May his soul rest in peace. He has been a blessing for our community
Emmanuel NGANGBAI, one of Karang sons in North Cameroon.
Jim Vanderwerp
March 4, 2024
I have known Ed for most of my life, my earliest memories go way back to our time at Oakdale Christian elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI. Ed and I were in the same grade and sometimes in the same class. I remember Ed as the guy with 10 talents. He was an outstanding student as well as a great athlete. We use to compare report cards and Ed always had more A's then I would get. I'm so glad that Ed chose to use his many talents in special service to our Lord and Savior at Wycliffe. My sincerest condolences to Ginny and the rest of the family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Judith Hollingsworth
March 4, 2024
Ed and Ginny were among our first admired people. They had studied Fulfulde in Maroua and made a mark there. They encouraged us to learn Mofu first rather than Fulfulde and that was wise. I admired how Ginny could look gorgeous no matter what she had been through. I´ll always remember Ed´s tears when he was elected branch director and had to leave the translation work. Always humble, always willing to help. May the Lord comfort your hearts and fill your minds with joyful memories.
Bob Ulfers
March 4, 2024
Bob Ulfers
March 4, 2024
Bob Ulfers
March 4, 2024
(1978 to 1987) Ed (and Ginny) paved the way for the Karang people to eventually receive the the New Testament (2020) by helping them create an alphabet, teaching them how to use it, organize a language committee and start village based printing. They are still dearly remembered by the older generation.
Bob Ulfers
March 3, 2024
It is with deep respect for Ed and admiration that I speak on behalf of the Karang of Cameroon who will soon hear of the news of his going to be with gerzah (God) and his savior germbay Zezu (Jesus Christ). Today I can say that Ed is rejoicing with some of those who spoke very highly of him. Tami Jean Marc, Mirihoul David, Ngangdouma Jaques and many other. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Ed did a superb linguistic analysis and through his efforts and those of his gifted wife the Karang people received their first alphabet. From my perspective the Ubels were a hard act to follow. By God's grace the Karang now have the Sal in a foyu (New Testament). This was largely possible by the foundational seven years of Ed and Ginny's work there. Praise be to God for the sacrifice Ed and Ginny made. In God's eternal perspective they were years well invested. Peace and comfort to you, Ginny, girls and extended family.
Jack Waterway
March 3, 2024
A friend of mine asked if this was the Ed Ubels that we had supported at our church in Portage, Mi. Here is my reply:
"Yes! For those who don´t know he and Ginny had been Wycliff Bible Translators to an indigenous people group in Africa called the Karang. They moved into a grass hut village with them, learned their language, wrote the language, and began translating the Word. Ed reached out before he died to get an update. The Word had been completely translated, distributed to all the villages and a revival has taken place, lead by the young people. Bless God!
We may be cool, but we will never be that cool! "
Jack Waterway
March 3, 2024
One of our friends saw this obituary and asked if this was the Ed Ubels that our church had supported in the past. This was my response:
"Yes! For those who don´t know he and Ginny had been Wycliff Bible Translators to an indigenous people group in Africa called the Karang. They moved into a grass hut village with them, learned their language, wrote the language, and began translating the Word. Ed reached out before he died to get an update. The Word had been completely translated, distributed to all the villages and a revival has taken place, lead by the young people. Bless God!
We may be cool, but we will never be that cool! "
Michael Ramsey
March 3, 2024
Michael Ramsey
We sang in the church choir. This is where I got to know Ed and Ginny. What a great couple.
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
Mary VanderWerp
March 3, 2024
So grateful for the treasured memories of our bike and barge trip to the Netherlands with Ed and Ginny in April of 2022.
Kristi Knowles
March 3, 2024
Ginny, Erica and Anne-Marie, I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Ed was always so kind. I remember his quiet personality when you joined our church. I will be praying for your family. -Kristi (Lau) Knowles
Eric Oestreich
March 2, 2024
We got to know Ed and Ginny as well as their daughter Erica and family singing in the choir at church with them. We send our sincerest sympathies on Ed's passing to his family. Love, Eric, Inger, and Ian
Clinton Robinson
March 2, 2024
So sad to lose Ed... so many memories of our time together with Ed and Ginny in Cameroon. During those years, they were a support in every way to me and my family - as friends much more than as colleagues. Many hours of discussion on work and leadership with Ed... always stimulating, always helpful. His sharp intellect, steady vision and perceptive insights were strategic in carrying the team forward - an expression of his abiding commitment and deep faith. His ready smile and irrepressible sense of fun lent a sparkle to many an evening of warm companionship. My heartfelt sympathy to Ginny and the girls... as Ed now rests in the light and love of the risen Christ.
Linda Keegstra
March 2, 2024
Classmates at East Christian High in Grand Rapids MI. Ed attended some of our reunions. He and Ginny were always a joy to catch up with. My deepest sympathy to Ginny and the entire family.
Allen and Lynn Likkel
March 1, 2024
Lynn and I first met Ed following Mel Hoekstra´s death as Mel and Edna and their daughters were traveling through Lincoln, Nebraska. We drove down from our place in Cedar Falls Iowa (our first ministry experience). Ed and Ginny came down to babysit and bring comfort to the family. Ed and Ginny were a blessing then and continued to be a blessing always for the Kingdom.
Edward
February 29, 2024
Your heart soon will be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
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