Loretta A. Swanson, age 78 passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2015. She worked at the American Baptist Churches of Ohio as the assistant to John Sunquist for over twenty years in Granville, Ohio. She is preceded in death by her husband, Garland Swanson for whom she was married to over 44 years. We praise God for her service for the American Baptist Churches of Ohio.

 

One of our own, Mary Belle (Meadows) Jansen, 93, passed away on May 17, 2015. Mary graduated from Ottawa University before leaving Kansas to achieve her Master of Religious Education at Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. Following graduation, she served as Minister of Christian Education for churches in Rochester, N.Y. and Toledo, Ohio. In 1959, she joined the staff of the Department of Christian Education of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio, Granville. While there, she met the love of her life, Bob Jansen, a widower from Akron with three sons. On September 11, 1965, she and Bob married and Mary began an elegant transition to life as a wife and mother to teenaged boys.

 

Over the years, she eagerly and joyfully shared her commitment to Christian service in various leadership roles at Goodyear Heights Baptist Church while serving the larger community through her work with the Akron Area Association of American Baptist Churches as well as the Ohio region. Mary was a faithful participant in ecumenical activities of the Akron Area Association of Churches, which she served as president, the Interfaith Council and the Interfaith Council Givers Program.

 

Mary radiated a strong but soft spoken Christian witness, generously offering comfort, guidance and a helping hand wherever and whenever she was needed. She was devoted to her family - immediate, extended and adopted - and embraced her friends and neighbors equally. She relished her role as the family's news center, and woe be to those who forgot to share their news with her. 

 

Mary requested memorials be made to the Ohio Baptist Education Society Scholarships (ABC-Ohio, 136 Galway Drive North, Granville, OH 43023). With simple acts of kindness, her family will seek to honor her every day.

Rev. Donald G. Holtzapple, 83, of Mansfield went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday morning, July 31, 2014. He was born April 4, 1931 in Elida, Ohio to the late Marian (Montague) and Earl S. Holtzapple. He graduated from Elida High School in 1949 and Wheaton College in 1959. He served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Don received Jesus as his savior in Naples, Italy under the Ministry of the Navigators. He graduated from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and served at the Balligomingo Baptist Church in West Conshohocken, PA while in Seminary. He was passionate about sharing God's love with others throughout his life. Don then came to Mansfield and served Diamond Hills Baptist Church for 16 years.While pastoring at Diamond Hills Baptist, he served as Chaplain at Mansfield General Hospital. Rev. Don pastored at many churches throughout the years including serving as Interim Pastor at multiple churches. He retired from First Baptist Church in Defiance after 11 years. He then came back to Mansfield, becoming Pastor Emeritus of Diamond Hills Baptist Church. He also served as Ohio Baptist State Evangelist for 7 years. In 1951, he married the love of his life, Janet Burget and together they raised a wonderful family. Don was an excellent golfer and enjoyed fishing in Canada, spending time with his family and friends, and preaching and teaching God's word. A life well-lived for the Lord!