Randall Michael Vartabedian

Randall Michael Vartabedian, 74, of Springville, Iowa, was welcomed home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the words "well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord" on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Grace Baptist Church, 1461 East Post Road in Marion, Iowa. The visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. with the service at 2:00 p.m., followed by a meal. There will be a private burial at Paralta Cemetery in Springville for close friends and family. Randall was born on Feb 3, 1950, in Chicago; the son of Matthew and Dolores Walsh Vartabedian. He received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at age 22 and thus sparked the desire to tell people about his faith in Jesus Christ. His interest in the Bible and providence led him to the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1977. His favorite Bible verse was Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." Randall was called in 1980 to begin pastoring a church in Iowa where he faithfully served as Pastor of Bible Baptist Church until he was called home to Heaven. He thanked God often for the privilege to serve Him in the Cedar Rapids area, and the ability to make mission trips to Central America for over four decades. He completed his last mission trip to Nicaragua in early February. He will be remembered by many in Cedar Rapids for his downtown street preaching. Randall was beloved by many for his quick wit, cutting sense of humor, strong character, strong faith, his concern for lost souls, his love for the King James Bible, and his pursuit of a great bargain. He was self-taught, a lifelong learner with a firm belief that "can't never did anything". He was self-sufficient and handy, leveraging books and YouTube to accomplish any home, mechanical, or construction projects needed. He enjoyed outdoor activities: he was a runner, a swimmer, a gardener, a certified scuba diver, a water skier, and an amateur farmer. He was a piano player, an avid reader, and a lover of travel, dogs, and coffee. He met his loving wife, Mary Jo, in Des Plaines, Illinois and they married in 1976 in Pensacola, Florida. Together they were blessed with six children and eight grandchildren who affectionately called him Pappy and were a delight and a joy to him. He loved his children and instilled in them his strong work ethic, independence, and a sense of adventure. He prayed for his children and grandchildren daily that they would love the Lord, have Godly character, strong faith, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a gracious, humble man who never held a grudge, a confidante for many and always there to serve in a time of need. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 47 years, Mary Jo; his children, Joanna (John) Hamilton, Elisabeth (Chris) Hoffman, Leah (Ken) Gilbert, Jessica (Minh) Ha, and Suzanne Vartabedian; his grandchildren, Skylar, Jada, Whitney, Jack, Jordyn, Milo, Levi, and Gemma. He is also survived by his brother Ed (Deborah) Vartabedian and his sister Marla (Michael) Fox. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen; his parents, Matthew and Dolores Vartabedian; and his brothers, Matthew and Steven Vartabedian. Please share a favorite memory of Randall at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.