Obituary of Jack McConnell Iverson

Jack McConnell Iverson was born on June 14, 1929 in South Haven, Michigan to Joe and Mary (Bauer) Iverson. As a boy he walked many miles to attend Adventist grade school and later attended Cedar Lake Academy. Committing his life to Jesus and the Seventh-day-Adventist church, Jack was baptized as a young man. After entering young adulthood, Jack began working as an apprentice with his father in his cabinet shop. It was here that Jack learned and developed his skills and love of woodworking. When Jack and Freda moved into their house in Dec. of 1973, his first carpenter shop was in the garage. Later he fixed up the old barn on his property for his shop and built an addition in the late 70's. In the early 90's he expanded the shop to what it is now and continued the cabinet making and wood-working business in the Berrien Springs community until retirement. Jack followed the example of Jesus as Ellen White describes Him as "not willing to be deficient, even in handling tools. …..By example He taught us to do our work with exactness and thoroughness and that labor is honorable." One of his early responsibilities as a woodworker with his father was making wooden packing boxes for missionaries leaving for the foreign mission field from Emmanuel Missionary College. This was only the beginning of many contributions Jack would make in service to Christ and his church community. In later years, Jack would use his gifts in service to build sets for 3ABN and teach classes and assist with projects at Camp Au Sable. When Neighbor to Neighbor needed leadership, Jack served as director. Feeling God's call to participate in radio ministry, Jack became visionary and director of LifeTalk Radio, which continues to operate at WSFT 105.5 FM. Jack's ministries reached beyond the institutional to the individual. Three years ago, after much prayer and deliberation, we embarked on an expansion of our hardware business. I really had no inkling of the challenges this would entail. I became one on Jack's ministries. In Ecclesiastes 6:14 it says: A faithfull friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found such hath found a treasure. Throughout the project, Jack was indeed, a treasure. Providing building and design advice, keeping me on task, and finding humor in every difficulty, Jack brought me through. Jack was not only a faithful friend, but a devoted husband and father. He dearly loved his two children Gregg and Tonda. Jack met Freda at the Village Church singles club early in 1973. He thought she was pretty and a nice woman. And she was lonely. In spite of having three pre-teen kids, Jack wanted to marry Freda and help her raise her children, Rachel, David, and Charles. On December 16, 2013 Jack and Freda celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Over a decade has passed since Jack was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and given only months to live. Jacks life became a living testimony to the value of health, and the lifestyle choices one can make through strength in Christ to increase both the quality and quantity of our existence. He became a walking health message and an inspiration for many. Francis Bacon said, "God almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures". Jack enjoyed this purest of human pleasures and was an avid gardener of vegetables and flowers and garden club member. Jack loved zinnias. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 it says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." I imagine God is planting zinnias of every color for Jack. A memorial service to honor Jack's life was held on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Village SDA Church. Memorial contributions may be made in Jack's memory to: Life Search Radio WSFT105.5 FM, P.O. Box 475, Berrien Springs, MI 49103.