 Robert C. Girard, Born January 22, 1932 – Died June 19, 2007. Born to Colby and Viola Girard in Aberdeen, South Dakota on January 22, 1932, Robert went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, June 19th, 2007. He was a graduate of Miltonvale Wesleyan College in Miltonvale, KS, and was an internationally recognized speaker and best selling author of seven published books, including “Brethren Hang Loose” (1972), the Bible Commentary Sunday school curriculum for Scripture Press/David C Cook Publishers, and his most recent A Smart Guide To The Bible- The Book Of Acts, released on June 19th, the morning he died. Selah. During his 50+ years in ministry, Bob shepherded several churches in 4 different states. In 1965, he packed up and moved his family from Minneapolis, MN to Scottsdale, AZ where he lived for 14 years and founded Our Heritage Wesleyan Church (now Scottsdale Wesleyan). While at Our Heritage, “Pastor Bob” impacted thousands of lives through his devotion to Jesus Christ and His Word, his creative and innovative approach to ministry, and his fierce commitment to the body of Christ, his fellow believers. In 1981 the family relocated north to Lake Montezuma, AZ. There Bob strapped on a set of nail bags, built his family a home with his own hands, and settled in to the new community. He loved his new life, where some of his favorite activities were chopping wood to heat his house, driving the local school bus, and singing with his wife and family in various community and church events, where his signature deep resonant voice moved listeners to ponder just what God might sound like. He enjoyed especially his years as fireman and engineer for the local volunteer fire department. Bob is loved and respected in the community and was scheduled to be co- Grand Marshall of this year’s Fourth-of-July parade in Lake Montezuma, along with his wife, Audrey. Bob finished out his professional ministry at Montezuma Chapel in Lake Montezuma, where he pastored for over for 17 years and has remained an elder since retiring in 1998. He is deeply loved and will be dearly missed by his wife of 55 years, Audrey, of Lake Montezuma, his children- Christine Poehls and her husband Vern of Chandler, AZ, Charity Worden and her husband Scott of Lake Montezuma, and Bobby Girard and his wife, Meghan, of Brush Prairie, WA, thirteen grand children, three great-grand children, his step-mother Leila Girard, and 8 brothers and sisters- Carol Gregg, Wendell Girard, Tommy Girard, Charlotte Girard, Marilyn Jacobson, Susan Quattlebaum, Darlene Komora, and Colby Girard, Jr. Bob is now joyfully reunited with his children who preceeded him in death- Dixi, Jean Marie, and Billy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Montezuma Chapel (PO Box 5053, Lake Montezuma, AZ 86342). Services will be Saturday, June 23, 2007, beginning with a viewing at 2pm at Montezuma Chapel at 3450 Rusty Spurs Road in Lake Montezuma. Memorial Service will follow. Bob will be interred at 7pm at Middle Verde Cemetery. Dad loved sunsets. Bueler Camp Verde Funeral Home assisted the family.
Published in The Arizona Republic on 6/22/2007. |
Dear Audrey and family:
So sorry to hear of Bob’s going, but also rejoicing in his eternal rest. Bob was such an inspiration and help to us when we attended MWC together and graduated together in 1955. I still have the outline of the programs that he and Audrey, and Gwen & I put together for our 15 minute radio program “MELODIES FROM THE HEART”,every Sunday morning for a year on the new radio station .KNCK here in Concordia, Ks. What in inspiration he was and what fun in the Lord we had together. Blessings on you and yours during this tough but glorious homegoing of my dear friend Bob.
Dear Mrs. Girard, “Pastor Audrey”,
I was saddened to hear that Pastor Bob is no longer at your side, but happy to know that he is at peace and has arrived at the pinnacle of his life’s passion, to be experiencing eternal life. I have not been in contact for very many years, since my high-school days at Our Heritage; but I wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you, and I want to take this time to thank you and Pastor Bob for the influence you had on my formative years as a young girl and teenager. When the challenging teen years were present, and in the 70s at that, Our Heritage and your guidance, shepherding and a church family provided me and countless others with a foundation that created a place of security and a fortress that I recall today with thankful memories. Today, I am a 52 year-old woman with a wonderful, loving family and a blessed life. I hope you are well and comforted by your family and friends.
Fondly,
Jan Rene Holland Hailey
Here are some from the Arizona Republic guest book:
June 24, 2007
I didn’t sign the book at the Chapel yesterday so will add my name here. The World needs more men like Bob, unfortunately there won’t be one(although Bobby is getting there)! I feel such a loss at his passing and at the same time I know it is a blessing for him. I have known this wonderful family for about forty years. The strength and the faith that they have shown is such a testament to the God they serve. About Bob’s book on any failure…. there was never any failure, just some changes that God needed to make in his servant. I am grateful and a better person for knowing this wonderful family. Thank You.
Joan VanderMolen (Peoria, AZ)
June 23, 2007
You have a beautiful family & I especially am grateful for your daughter Charity & her husband Scott. They, & the Girard family, have been great support through my life.
Stephanie Young (Cottonwood, AZ)
June 22, 2007
to the girard family you have been a blessing to us i have know you now 9 years bob you will b missed in rimrock but i know you are in a better place
mr andmrs jeff upshaw (rimrock, AZ)
I found “Brethren, Hang Loose” in the bookstore of the Bible college I attended in late 1972 or ’73. Read its sequel as soon as I found it. I never have gotten the third book; I had heard vaguely that Heritage disappeared, but I never knew where Bob went until this week. In fact, it was almost accidental that I learned of his passing through a blog.
But his work has had a profound effect on my life’s pilgrimage. In all the years since, my wife and I have been in small groups whenever possible; some have been very good, a few made us appreciate the good ones. We’re now in a body in Indianapolis that’s sort of a cross between a traditional congregation and a house church network. Over the years, I’ve read C.S. Lewis for his understanding and expression of basic Christianity; Francis Schaeffer for his understanding of the culture we live in; but it was Bob Girard who did the most to shape my views on what life in the Body should be like.
Bob was a pioneer, a man ahead of his time. He may not have been as successful as he had hoped to be, but he blazed a trail that a lot of us followed afterwards. When we meet on the other side, it’s going to be good, because his writings have resulted in a lot of spiritual children of his who, like me, never got to meet him.
BTW, I LOVE the quote next to his picture on the website. I’ve learned to look for how much Bible a person lives, rather than how much they know. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies, as Paul put it.
Phil Hawkins
Indianapolis, In
Thank you. I passed on your comment to the rest of the family.
Pastor Bob and Audry played a great role in our Christian Walk in the 1970′s – we attended Our Heritage with our four children, and my husband was baptized by Pastor Bob. When my own father, Howard Graham, passed away in 1989, Pastor Bob was kind enough to return to Scottsdale to speak at his funeral. My mother, Carol, passed away this month, and I was reminiscing about “old times” and searching the internet for people I loved… when I found this announcement. From what I know, he was greatly loved, will be greatly missed, and is rejoicing with those who preceded him. What a wonderful legacy. My family’s prayers are with you. — Jennifer Crismon
I was saddened the news yet very thankful that I knew Bob Girard. He loved the LORD in a way that sank deep into one’s heart, almost as deep as his voice at Christmas time singing AMEN and GLORIA.
It was my privilege to call Bob a few times through the years after moving to Michigan and to know that he loved the people he was sheparding in Lake Montezuma.
I will forever be changed when Bob sang a song that touched my heart forever, I am the church, you are the church, WE are the church forever. Thank you BOB, the message is still in my heart.
Audrey, Chris, Bobby and Charity, thank you for sharing your husband and father with me. You are loved.
More comments from the Legacy page:
October 27, 2007
Bob Girard was a man that touched many lives. I loved him because he could be touched and would touch back. I can remember Pastor Bob singing during Christmas with his big booming voice the splendure of his love for his LORD. Now he is singing with his SAVIOR.
Greg Graham (Franklin, TN)
October 27, 2007
Pastor Bob and Audry played a great role in our Christian Walk in the 1970′s – we attended Our Heritage with our four children, and my husband was baptized by Pastor Bob. When my own father, Howard Graham, passed away in 1989, Pastor Bob was kind enough to return to Scottsdale to speak at his funeral. My mother, Carol, passed away this month, and I was reminiscing about “old times” and searching the internet for people I loved… when I found this announcement. From what I know, he was greatly loved, will be greatly missed, and is rejoicing with those who preceded him. What a wonderful legacy. My family’s prayers are with you.
Jennifer Crismon (Sun City West, AZ)
Although I never met Bob Girard senior, his son, Bobby, had an awesome impact on my life as a teenager in Southern California. There is no question that Bob and Audrey raised their kids in the love of the Lord. Thank you Bob Sr. and Audrey for pouring your lives into a family that echoes your faith to generations to come. May Audrey’s heart be continually comforted with the Lord’s whipers of “well done”. Faith breeds faith. And through it, I have been blessed.
Dave Swoger
Burbank, CA
Les (aged 73) from Australia
Many years ago I purchased (1970s) “Brethren Hang Loose” and while I enjoyed it at the time I re-read it only a few years ago and realised how much ‘ahead of its time’ it was.
Soon after I re-read it I sought to make a connection via the internet with Robert and the closest I got was a Baptist pastor who was in the same area – he offered to pass on any message for Robert.
Somehow I lost the email for the Baptist pastor and did not take it any further at the time.
I had seen reference to a later book “When the Vision has Vanished:…..” and was intrigued about the story that this probably covered but this book did not seem to be readily available ‘downunder’ in Australia.
These last few days I have been rearranging my library and came across “Brethren Hang Loose” which prompted me to try again for a email contact.
Sadly, I discovered Robert had passed away a few years ago, thus I missed the opportunity to make contact.
Whether or not this web page is still alive I do not know.
Maybe at some later stage there might be a fuller account of the ‘Robert C Girard’ story.
God bless all who miss him as father and grandfather, and maybe great-grandfather? (Today is Father;s Day in Australia)
Best wishes,
Les
Macleod, Australia
913 9459 1378
In Response to LES:
While I wasn’t the model church goer in my ealry years. I can tell you personally Bob Girard and his wife were the real thing. The home churches that we all attended because of Brethren Hang Loose in one way or another impacted our lives to make them richer.
Pastor Girard as I remember was on a radio station in Phoenix and one day my dad decided to call in and question some of the teachings Bob was teaching. Pastor Girard won my dad’s devotion and love. My dad was one of the people in Bob’s writing, his name was Howard and now Bob and he are worshipping before the Lord.
Pastor Bob taught one Sunday and it forever touched my life…We are all Priests together in Christ and a Pastor’s title is only on paper. But we are all ministers in one way or another and it is because of what Jesus did for us and not some diploma, award or title placed on us. We are all equal in HIS sight given may talents and attributes.
Les, I passed on your comment to Audrey.
Dear Audrey:
Just tonight Jerry & I were wondering about you and Bob, so I decided to look you up on the net. Low and behold I found Bob’s obituary … so sad that he is not with us any longer. You may not remember us from Miltonvale Wesleyan College, but you and Bob had a great impact on our lives — we looked up to you in more ways than one but sadly lost contact after we left MWC. From reading all the comments on these pages, we realize God continued to use you in mighty ways after our paths went different ways.
I know God is your comfort because the Bible assures us that He will always be faithful and true during the hard times in life. May God continue to do great things in and through your life.
Fondly,
Jerry and Sheryl Lindsay
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