Funeral of Grant Miteer

Rev. Rob Henderson
Shelby Wesleyan Church
https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/robhenderson/
robnaomi@oceana.net

Grant Mitteer, age 86, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2000. He was born April 2, 1914 in colfax Township. He was married to Winifred Craig Mitteer in 1943. She preceded him in death in 1985. He is survived by his daughter, Ruth and her husband John Trexler of Indian Trail, North Carolina; his sister Estella Snyder of hart and neices and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Arsnoe.

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed I will see God; I myself will see him with my eyes- I, and not another” -Job 19:25-27

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” -Psalm 46:1-3

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and he who lives and believes in me will never die.” John:11:25

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award me on that day- and not only to me , but also to those who have longed for his appearing.” -2 Timothy 4:6-8

Today we do not simply mourn the loss of a father, relative, or friend but we celebrate the reward that is his because of his faith in Jesus Christ. One day each of us will pass on from this world into the next and our destiny will not be determined by our decision then but our decision now. Grant Mitteer, reared by Christian parents, understood that it was only by faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins that he would one day be able to enter into the gates of glory as the Father said, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant.”

Grant is now with the angels of glory singing the new song. What is that new song? It is the old old story of Jesus and His love. A love that reaches all the way from heaven into the lives of men and women who are willing to believe. A story of love that God showed when His one and only Son was crucified on that cross nearly two thousand years ago. A love that supersedes any notions of love that we might have; a love that transcends our circumstances and problems; a love that lifts us up out of the deep miry clay of sin and despair. Yes! Grant is singing a new song today.

Today he is reunited with his wife, Winifred who went before him. Winifred was a devoted wife for over forty years. Her devotion to her husband and daughter was rooted in her own Christian faith. A faith in Jesus Christ that was also shared by her husband. Despite their differences of opinions they shared a common belief in Jesus Christ.

Today we lay this tired body down. We do so in the glorious hope that one day their will be great reunion together when we will walk where the roses never fade and sit at that great banquet table. One day we will celebrate our coming home and see not only our loved ones face to face but see our Savior, Jesus Christ: the Author and Finisher of our faith.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying,

‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’

PRAYER

Poem readings by Paulette Zoulek

As a young boy my granmother would get into these discussions with my step-dad and they would talk about a certain person. I guess some would call it gossip and others just information. In Christian circles we would call these kinds of discussions “sharing” or “prayer requests.” To each their own. At some point my grandmother would muse, “It makes you wonder what makes him tick.”

I have looked at the insides of watches and clocks. Especially in my younger years I would pry off the back of a watch and wonder how winding it up made it tick.

I believe in the dignity and sacredness of human life that can come only from God. Grant was not a man of great wealth. Neither was he a man of fame or community stature. To some, he would be seen as just simply another single solitary life that contributed little to his society other than paying his taxes and obeying the law. But I believe that within the heart of every human being there is a nobility that comes from God.

As I peel the cover off of Grant Mitteer’s life and look at what made this man tick I see three areas that I believe will give us pause and allow us to not only celebrate his life but evaluate our own.

Grant was a dreamer. He was a man who strived to make things work better. If it meant cutting the corners of a square shovel to make a round one or squaring off a round shovel to make a square one he was someone who tried to improve something. Perhaps he would be considered an inventer of sorts.

Our world needs dreamers. We need people like Grant who dare to dream. Dream of improvements and inventions. Dream about the possiblities. Dare to dream of potential.

There is not anyone here who does not see ways that a particular job can be improved or new tool invented. I have marveled how a simply screw driver can have a variey of uses as well as a paper clip. I would bet that Grant used the paper clip in a mighty way. He was always taking things apart. He dared to try and re-invent the wheel.

He saw the possiblities and potential in everything. “Don’t throw that away, we might use it someday.” He was known to save anything and thereby save everything because something had potential, something had a possibility, something had value. His collections of hard to find milk caps were of value because they held a potential.

Were we to scale our eyes and adjust our focus perhaps we could see the potential of every human being. Each person, despite their deformity or disease, despite their status or stature, despite their money or materials, has value and potential. Too many disregard those who Jesus referred to as “the least of these.” Here in Western Civilization we have learned to look past the helpless and drop names of big-wigs who have value to our culture and our esteem. But yet, Jesus saw the potential and saw the possibilities in every person- whether she be the adulterous woman or the cheating tax collector or the dead child.

Grant teaches us from the past that there are possiblities and these possibilities comes from a deep rooted belief in potential. May we transform that belief to people. May we dare to dream that people have dignity and value. May we dare to dream that no matter how late in life we can step up and reach our potential in Jesus Christ.

Not only was Grant a dreamer, but he was also a giver. Grant gave to missions. He believed in what others were doing for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Grant was a reader of the Bible. He, like many, was especially interested in the Book of Revelation. He studied, he researched and he read from a variety of commentators about the Bible. Consequently, within the framework of his indepenence he could not wholeheartedly agree with any preacher. But that’s okay. I’m not offended. He just never got a chance to hear me preach.

His study of scripture made him fully aware of the first work of Christians: to preach the gospel. And Grant did his part to support missions. He would literally give up his normal eating habits to give. He was a giver.

I would hope that we likewise would understand the value of God’s kingdom. Promoting the welfare of others, providing for the needs of the homeless, and propagating the kingdom of God is necessary in our world. The poor will always be with us. But that does not mean we ignore the poor for the sake of building our own castle of wealth. People will always need Christ so we work and give to God’s kingdom, not our of our wealth but out of our poverty.

You see, what Grant had I firmly believe that he believed was God’s. He gave out of his poverty not his wealth. His life was about giving to missions. And he gave diligently and sacrificially.

Grant was a dreamer, a giver, and also a believer. He believed in the Bible as God’s book to mankind. He believed in God. He believed in Jesus Christ. He believed that Jesus died for his sins. He believed that the Holy Spirit had done a new work in his heart and life. Despite the rough edges and eccentric ways Grant’s life was firmly within the Father’s hand.

How does one become a Christian?

Your Christian faith begins when you realize that you are a sinner. The Bible tells us that “All have sinned fallen short of the glory of God.” We are all guilty of sinning and doing wrong. Why? Because God’s perfectness is so perfect that none of us will ever measure up. We have all sinned.

When you realize that you are a sinner then you must believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins. Why did Jesus have to die? Jesus died as a sacrifice for sins. There are still today, tribes of people, and even some in our own country who do sacrifices of animals or even parts of their own flesh to compensate for sins committed. This is not necessary. Jesus provided the perfect sacrifice: he was not an animal but God in flesh who took on the sins of the world and that includes your sins. He died so that you might live.

Realize that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and then confess your sins and your need for Jesus as your sacrifice. How do you confess? Pray, “Father forgive me for my sins and short-comings before you. I accept Jesus Christ as my sacrifice for my sins and I accept him as the Lord of my life.”

And then you need to accept this gift of new life that God offers. A new life that changes the old you. You are born again. You become a new creation in Jesus Christ.

This is what Grant believed. He was a believer. And I have no doubt that if he could speak today he would say: “Whatever you do, don’t miss heaven! It’s wonderful.”

What made Grant tick? Ultimately it was his uniqueness as a human being. His independent nature and curious mind caused him to see the world through different lenses. I suppose were we to contemplate everything this man did we would be here a long time. One thing we are sure of: His place in God’s kingdom and his reward in heaven.

When I was a child my grandmother would get out what seemed to be a pile of sticks. She took each one and put it in its place. I never sat a watched but with snippets of time here and there I would take glances at the quilt that she made. She took the bag of rags- those old jeans that I grew out of or that shirt that had an ink stain- and sewed the various unmatchable pieces together. What came out was a beautiful quilt- handstitched and warm on those cold college nights. Each rag piece meant nothing to anyone and was worth nothing- it was just part of a rag. But together with all of the other pieces it found it’s potential just when the world would say it was all used up and of no value to anyone.

Earnest Grant Mitteer lived what seemed to our news-oriented world as small insignificant life. He never accomplished some great mission, though he gave to missions; he never invented some new gadget, though he dreamed and tried; he never led multitudes to Christ though his life was one of belief in Jesus. Mr. Mitteer’s life was valuable and priceless. And gratefully and thankfully he becomes a part of the quilt of my life. A quilt made up of insignificant and discarded lives that by faith in Jesus Christ has more value than all the riches of Solomon’s kingdom.

Special music: “Where the Roses Never Fade” by Bob Oberlin

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit abide with us now and evermore. Amen.

We will now commence to the Mears Cemetary for the committal service.

COMMITTAL