Charles Wesley Obenland

A son honoreth his father Malachi 1:6 Blessed is the man that waleth not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1,2 CHARLES WESLEY OBENLAND, born March 15, 1921 to parents John Franklin and Anna (Grant) Obenland in Penfield, Illinois, died on October 10, 2005 at 12:02 a.m., with his son at his bedside. He passed peacefully from this life into eternity. Wes was 84 years old. He died of pancreatic cancer. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, his eldest brother Alfred, and by his much-beloved (and missed) wife Mae on July 29, 2005. Wes was a born-again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and a former faithful member of Hoopestons First Baptist Church, and later of Danvilles First Baptist Church and then Ridgeview Baptist Church. Wes served the Lord over the years in various capacities. He was a Sunday school teacher, Camp Assurance official, Child Evangelism Fellowship worker, church visitation worker, church soloist, etc. He was especially delighted when he was able to gather and ship hundreds of pairs of shoes to the needy in Mexico. He was a voice/witness for the Lord Jesus Christ whenever the opportunity arose, however, his familys assurance of Wess salvation is based upon his confessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious shed blood"not upon the presumed merit of human works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8, 9) Wes studied for the Gospel ministry until World War II. He then served in the United States Army as a corporal before being honorably discharged. Afterwards his interests shifted to electronics, and he studied to become an electronic engineer. It was while working in this field in Chicago, Illinois that he met and married Mae B. Carlson on December 27, 1947. They resided most of their married life in Hoopeston and Danville, Illinois. They had one child, Warren G. Obenland. In 1960 Wes studied to become a furnace cleaner/technician. He owned a business called Service Clean. He ran this seasonal business for years before taking up an interest in electronic organs and pianos. He then started a Gulbransen Organ dealership in his home and eventually opened a small store on the old downtown mall in Danville. Wes never knew a stranger. He was outgoing, kind, and friendly towards everyone he met. This was noted by many people including the nurses and caregivers at the Heartland Health Care Center in Houston, Texas, where he lived his last days. He is survived by his son Warren and his wife Rebecca, three grandsons; Christopher, Jonathan, and Timothy, and an older brother Raymond. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.(Psalm 116:15) Visitation will be at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion Street, Danville on October 13, 2005 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held on October 14, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The graveside service will be held afterwards at Partlow Cemetery, Armstrong, Illinois. Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (IICorinthians 5:1, 8)