Thanks Kev for the Memories!
“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.” – Proverbs 10:7 NIV
Kevin Michael entered our lives on August 16, 1971 at a small hospital in Brookfield, Missouri. After one week, he moved to his first home in Gardner, Kansas. He was dedicated to the Lord by his parents as a boy and then lived his first fourteen years in Olathe, Kansas. He made a decision to follow Christ at a young age. While in Olathe, he developed his love for music, beginning to play the piano at age eight. He started a Bible club for his friends and neighbors at about this age as well.
Kevin was an easy-going, likable son who was a delight to raise. His brother, Darin, joined him in June 1974. They spent many hours together in creative play. Kevin came up with numerous creative projects for their times of playing, and the two had great fun together as one can imagine. In fact, not only they, most of the neighbor kids joined them at our home for these times.
At age twelve, Kevin became very interested in the newly developing technology of the computer, and he and Darin spent one summer cutting grass so they could purchase their first computer-a Commodore 64. It was during this time that he decided he wanted to work with computers when he grew up. Church and church activities filled a major part of Kevin’s life, and, through these years, he developed a trust in Jesus that never wavered.
When he was fourteen, we moved to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. For four years, he enjoyed playing basketball and soccer and participating in the Cumberland Gap Baptist youth group and choir. He began taking piano lessons from an elderly man who had never had a piano lesson in his life, Grover Partin, who taught him the old Southern-Gospel shaped notes and chords. As a result, Kevin began to grow musically, entertaining many, both seriously and humorously.
Right before Kevin’s senior year in high school, we again moved-this time to Rio Grande, Ohio. Kevin then graduated from Ohio Valley Christian School.
Kevin’s next four years were at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, majoring in computer science, where his humor amused many. He was actively involved in a Living Witness quartet, singing and sharing his faith in churches. Kevin began writing and composing songs, and some of the lines from one of our favorite songs he wrote during his college days read,
“Where do you turn, when no one understands?
When the problem that you’re going through seems too hard to bear?
Where do you go when life seems too rough?
When all of life around you comes crashing to the dust?
Jesus cares, and He knows what you’re going’ through.
Jesus cares, and He’ll be right beside you.
When you feel you can’t go on,
Trust the One whose always near,
And don’t forget my friend, Jesus cares!”
Shortly before his 1994 graduation, Kevin was hired as a systems analyst with Ontario Systems, along with one of his college roommates, Rick Elliott. Kevin moved to Millersburg, Ohio, where he started a new chapter of his life. Kevin loved his work at Ontario Systems, those he worked with, and the nurturing, creative opportunities he experienced there. Kevin loved a challenge, and seven years later he moved on to a supervisor position. To keep in shape, a favorite lunch-hour activity was bicycling along the beautiful scenic hills of Holmes County.
On his first Sunday in Millersburg, God had led him to Berlin Christian Fellowship. His plans had been to visit several churches, but God’s leading was clear-this was to be where he would continue to seek God’s heart. On this first Sunday, he was invited to a young adult party after church where he met Angie for the first time, never realizing that she would later become the love of his life. A year later, he and Angie began dating, which led to a memorable proposal. One Sunday morning during special music at church, he sang a love song that he had written for Angie, ending it by asking her to marry him!
While he enjoyed his work and relationship with Angie, worshipping and serving God were still Kevin’s first priorities. Kevin initially stepped out of his comfort zone to play the keyboard during Kinship worship, which progressed into playing on the church worship team and eventually leading Sunday worship. Later, the band 7th Rain was formed, and he devoted several years of inspiration and talent to the band, playing at coffee houses and worship events. Kevin was a very creative individual loving a broad range of music as well as arts and photography.
Kevin and Angie were married on May 10, 1997. He had found the Godly wife he desired, and Kevin’s life became fuller and richer. They bought their first house in 1998, which led to the arrival of Toby their dog, a Cairn terrier. On July 3, 2000, Javin Isaiah was born. Javin added a deeper dimension of love to Kevin and Angie’s lives, as they became a larger family. Many wonderful memories were created as Javin grew and developed under the nurturing care and training they gave him. Kevin made time to build forts and Lego structures, go Good-Willing, create special family memories, and share muscle hugs with Javin.
A time of testing and grief entered our lives when Kevin and Angie’s son, Kian Michael, was born February 24, 2003 and was immediately ushered into God’s loving arms. Our families came together to grieve and yet trust God anew with all of our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding. Less than one year later, Kailyn Amber was born on January 26, 2004 bringing new joy, delight, and healing to all of our hearts. Kevin was the first person to see her roll over and loved to make her laugh. Another dream was also realized then just a month later as Kevin and Angie moved into the new home they had built in the country. Moving day was a celebration with friends and family. Life seemed so complete.
On June 8, 2004, God’s call to come home came to Kevin-so unexpectedly and so untimely from our human perspective. We, as his parents, wife, son, daughter, brother, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, will probably never understand “why now?” But we reach out to trust again the One who formed Kevin and us and Who breathed life into all of us-recognizing that it is His divine grace to give life and to allow that life to be taken. We release Kevin into God’s loving arms, knowing he never truly died but passed from life on this earth to eternal life. Kevin’s heart was right with God. He had stated to a co-worker recently that he wasn’t concerned about getting old, but he was excited to go to heaven. He also shared recently that his desire was to lead one person to the Lord this year. It is our prayer as a family that many will seek a closer relationship to Jesus-walking in complete obedience and that Kevin’s untimely home-going will have an eternal effect on us all. Kevin wrote a song that gives us a brief look into his heart-he was willing to die-he was ready. The words read,
“The final sacrifice He’s given so we might be born again;
The final sacrifice He’s given, so we can be free from sin.
And all it takes, is a simple faith in Him.
Nothing more, but nothing less.
And when I look upon His face,
I see the love He has to give.
And what more, than my entire life,
Could begin to repay that sacrifice? . . .
And though the way may not be easy
And though it may cost me everything.
And though I may lose all I hold dear.
That’s the price I’m willing to pay.
And on His grace will I depend
To give me strength to complete my task.
For all I want, is to know more of Him.
Nothing more will I ask.
[Chorus:] So I lay my all before Him, my life as an offering.
I’ll take up my cross and I’ll follow Him,
Not my will but His.”
Thanks Kev for the memories, your example, and your challenge!
written by Arlie and Marva Peck.
