|
Visitation:
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday June 30 at Lincoln
Christian Church
Service:
11 a.m. Wednesday at the church
Funeral home: Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral
Home
Obituary
Veva Mae (Crooks) Appel of Lincoln
was gathered into the arms of Jesus her Savior on
Sunday, June 27, 2021 at Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital in Lincoln. Veva was an extraordinary
woman, follower of Jesus, wife, mother, grandmother,
and great-grandmother. She lived a full life
possessed by unwavering faith and uncommon love.
It’s fitting that it was on a Sunday, her favorite
day of the week and the day of resurrection.
Veva was born February 6, 1923 in Sutherland, Iowa,
the daughter of Walter and Cora (Harkness) Crooks.
She graduated from Sutherland High School and went
on to college in Minneapolis at Minnesota Bible
College. It was here that she met the love of her
life Leon Howard Appel. Leon and Veva were married
by their college Dean G.H. Cachairus in the college
Chapel on Dec. 22, 1942.
Just out of college, Leon and Veva pastored the
Christian Church at Sheldon, Wisconsin. Their
daughter Gloria was born there.
Next they were called to pastor the Christian Church
at Toluca, IL where they also ministered to several
local churches that did not have a preacher at the
time. Daughter Glenda was born to them while at
Toluca.
In 1950, the Appel Family was called to Lincoln, IL
to minister to Lincoln Christian Church. Veva
partnered again with her husband and they made a
great team. Veva taught 3 different Adult Sunday
School Classes for a total of about 55 years. Four
more Appel children were born during this time:
Gail, Mike, Gregg and Gene.
In the summer of 1970, Leon Appel was called to be
Vice President of Lincoln Christian College, now
Lincoln Christian University, with Veva at his side.
Later in 1973, Leon became the President of the
College with Veva fulfilling many roles as the
President’s wife.
Veva worked as typist in the Training Department of
Lincoln Developmental Center for a couple of years
starting in 1970. From there she went to work in the
Office of Christian Homes, Inc. After two years with
Christian Homes she accepted a new position in the
Development Department. In that role she travelled
many states fund raising for the organization and
holding seminars and speaking engagements.
In 1980, Veva became the Director of Development for
her Alma Mater, Minnesota Bible College which had
moved from Minneapolis to Rochester, MN. She worked
in this capacity for a few years and endeared
herself to the student body as well as the people
she served in this capacity. In addition, her home
was opened to scores of people who came to Mayo
Clinic for treatment and needed a place to stay.
|
After a serious illness, Veva returned to Illinois to be closer
to family and once again began working for Christian Homes in the area of
Development She held this position until her retirement.
Veva was loved by all who knew her.
Her many gifts included hospitality and the ability
to stretch a meal created for a family of 8 to feed
a group of 16 without anyone suspecting that wasn’t
her intention (Leon always brought others home for
dinner). Her Bible was her most precious book, and
she was in her Bible every day. Veva was a prayer
warrior as her many prayer journals reflect. As the
family goes through these books, distributed pages
to those who were covered in prayer will be a
blessing once again to those who were so diligently
prayed for by this woman.
Veva was preceded in death by her husband Leon
Howard Appel in 1974, parents Walter and Cora
Crooks, brother Duane Crooks, sister Jane Crooks
D’Aoust, daughter Gloria Appel Fry, Son-in Laws
Timothy Fry and Norm Clark, and Grandson Brian
Clark.
She is survived by Children: Glenda Appel Allison
(Jim), Gail Appel Clark Guzzardo (John), Michael
Wayne Appel (Diana), Gregg Howard Appel (Charlotte),
and Gene Brian Appel (Barbara), and Sister-in-Law
Evelyn York. Grandchildren: Natalie Fry Bajandas,
Katie Fry King, Brady Fry, Zachary Fry, Lisa Allison
Mestinsek, John Allison, Krista Clark McBeath,
Nichole Appel Cole, Clint Appel, Jeffrey Appel, Ryan
Appel, Ben Appel, Jeremy Cowen, Alayna Appel Towne,
and Jenna Appel Enns, and 26 Great Grandchildren,
along with many nieces and nephews.
Services for Veva will be Wednesday June 30 at 11:00
a.m. at Lincoln Christian Church. Visitation will be
from 9:30 to 10:50 before the service. Funeral
services have been entrusted to Holland, Barry &
Bennett Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the ”Appel Scholarship
Fund” at Lincoln Christian Church, 214 McClean St.
Lincoln, IL 62656.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the
family of Veva Mae (Crooks) Appel
|
.jpeg)
