Daddy's Funeral Service

The funeral service was recorded on an Olympus WS-110 Digital Voice Recorder that was placed on the pulpit. You may read the documents, or listen to the audio, by left-clicking the links, OR you may download the PDFs or MP3s by right-clicking the links.

Funeral Program: PDF

Page 1 is the front of the program, page 2 is the inside, page 3 is an insert for the graveside service, and page 4 is an insert with the special music lyrics.

We honored Daddy's WWII service in the Canadian army by concluding the graveside service with the Canadian National Anthem.

Welcome and Prayer: Brian McKillop (MP3 - 03:55)

Scripture Reading: Kieron Sharpe (MP3 - 2:50)

Memories:

Tribute to a Beloved Grandpa: Charity Myers PDF - (MP3 - 06:00)

Tribute from the Association of Independent Baptist Churches, Jamaica: Billy McKillop PDF - (MP3 - 02:16)

Tribute to a Co-Laborer: Bob Clubine PDF - (MP3 - 09:21)

Remembrance: Billy McKillop PDF - (MP3 - 12:57)

Message: Mark Hunsburger (MP3 - 14:10)

Benediction: Jerry McKittrick (MP3 - 01:40)

This Tribute was included in an email sent on April 9th to the Baptist Mid Missions (BMM) family. BMM is the agency that Daddy and Mother have served with since going to Jamaica in 1952.

Daddy's Obituary

Rev. John Franklin McKillop, 92, passed away on April 1, 2013, in Jupiter, FL. He was born in Dutton, Ontario, on August 7, 1920, to Neil and Josephine (Baxter) McKillop. Jack was raised by Al and Abbie Kennedy. He served with the Canadian Army in Jamaica during WWII. He later graduated from London Bible College in Ontario, Canada.

On August 7, 1943, Jack married Doris McKibbin; they had six children. His chosen occupation was missionary to Jamaica for Baptist Mid-Missions. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, two brothers, and an infant son, Kenneth Douglas, who is buried in Jamaica.

Jack is survived by his wife; two sons: Rev. Brian McKillop and his wife, Gloria, of Columbia, SC; Rev. Billy McKillop and his wife, Sherry, of Montego Bay, Jamaica; three daughters: Margaret Whitehead of London, Ontario; Barbara and her husband, Rev. Kieron Sharpe, of Jupiter, FL; Marianne and her husband, Dr. Daniel Devasirvatham, of San Diego, CA; 14 grandchildren: Carla (Robert Brown), Tammy (Rosaire Bondy), Angie (Marc Dyke), Katie (Seth Rowe), Rachel, Ariel, Sarah, Charity (Rev. Lee Myers), Raj, Shanthi, Priya, Caleb, Zachary, and Gabrielle; and four great-grandchildren: Daniel, Alysha, Lauren, and Nicole.

A visitation will be held in the Maranatha Room at Evangel Baptist Church, Silva, MO, on Sunday, April 14, 2013, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be at Twidwell Cemetery in Clubb, MO.

Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com

Daddy's passing

My precious daddy in his 93rd year, passed into the arms of Jesus around noon today.

His body will be taken back to MO and our family will gather on Sunday April 14 at 3pm to celebrate his life.

I remember as a child attending many funerals (because my daddy was a preacher) and this song by Fanny Crosby stands out in my memory.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations, sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

Daddy's declining health

In August (2012) Daddy celebrated his 92nd birthday and many of us were with him at Missionary Acres to celebrate. His memory has been slowly failing but he still knew his children by name, although he was not able to call his grandchildren by name.

Marianne and her family spent Christmas with Mother & Daddy and noticed a precipitous decline in his health. He was withdrawn and seldom engaged in conversation. As has been their practice for a number of years they traveled to FL early this year, to spend the winter months with Barbara.

His health continued to decline and Hospice began to visit daily to shave and bathe him. The Hospice people have been a tremendous help to Mother and Barbara and a number of them are Jamaican, from towns or villages that Mother is familiar with.

I was able to be with them to celebrate Mother's 91st birthday on Feb 7th and my daughters joined me for a few days. There was only one time in that week when I thought that Daddy actually knew who I was. On the Sunday of that week, there were 17 members of our extended family for dinner, which is not uncommon for our family! Daddy walked into the dining room and when he saw the crowd, he looked at each one and smiled, the most expressive I had seen him that week. When my girls and I were leaving to return to SC, Mother said to Daddy, "this is Brian and these are his beautiful daughters." Daddy looked at them and replied, "yes, they are beautiful!" the most he had spoken that week.

He had been able to get around with his wheeled walker until a week ago, when he was so weak that he collapsed in the bathroom. He has not had the strength to eat and his weight has dropped to the low 100's. Last week Gloria went to FL to be with them and to help Mother and Barbara with his care.

Yesterday morning (Sunday) he was not responsive and Marianne was able to come from CA late last night. This morning his breathing is labored and we expect the Lord to take him home shortly.

In August Mother and Daddy would celebrate their 70th anniversary on his 93rd birthday. A few weeks ago I prayed that the Lord would allow us the privilege of having him with us until then.

On behalf of my siblings, our spouses, and our children, let me express our grateful thanks to God who, for His good pleasure and the glory of His name, saved Daddy and gave him kingdom work to do, and has allowed us to keep him for so many years. We are blessed beyond our worth.

Daddy's life can be summed up in this statement:

He loved the Lord, he loved his wife, he loved his children and grandchildren, and he loved his work.

That is a life that has been well lived!