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Obituary: Raymond K. Herwig
Reverend Raymond K. Herwig, 88, passed away at 12:11pm on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at his daughter’s residence in Collinsville, IL. He was born on February 26, 1936, in Dane County, Wisconsin to the late George and Olive (Hartsell) Herwig. He married the former Dolores Elizabeth Virginia Oetzel on June 14, 1958, in Germantown, Illinois, and she preceded him in death on July 2, 2021. Also preceding in death are his parents George and Katie (Adam) Herwig and two brothers, infant George Richard and David M. Herwig. He is survived by his six children and their spouses, Kenneth and Marilyn Herwig, Deane and Ken Turner, Marjorie and Jim Abert, Beth and Timo Henk, Douglas and Libby Herwig and Angela and David Recktenwald; his fourteen grandchildren, Kristine Turner, Joshua Herwig, Benjamin Herwig, Jessica and Joshua Beck, Jeremy Herwig, Matthew Herwig, Anna Abert, James Abert, Carrie Abert, Christopher Henk, Maggie Herwig, CeCe Herwig, Jack Herwig, Neal Recktenwald; three sisters: Diane Campton, Ruth Engelhardt, Debbie Tertin; three brothers and two sisters in law: Dennis Herwig, Ralph and Donna Herwig, Guenther and Joan Scheffler and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.
Ray and his wife owned and operated Ray’s Log Homes, building hundreds of homes across the Midwest until his retirement at the age of 85. Ray served as a pastor leading multiple churches in McDonough, Jersey and Madison Counties. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fosterburg.
In celebration of his life, visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm on Friday, March 29, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Fosterburg. Visitation will continue from 9am until time of services at 10am on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the church. Pastors Robert Harris and Troy Crain will officiate. Burial will follow at Fosterburg Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Missionary Acres.
What is the hardest thing for anyone to believe about God? We know that God is all powerful and there is nothing too hard for Him, and we often need to be reminded of this truth. We also know that God is holy, He is absolutely pure and righteous and exalted in a class by Himself, that He hates sin, and will punish it. Therefore we need to be reminded of His holiness over and over again.
But there is another astonishing thing about God, and I think that this is the hardest thing for believers to believe about Him. Did you know that God is absolutely one hundred percent committed to doing good for His people? He is glad, generous, and ungrudging in His goodness towards us. This is one of the breathtaking promises of the New Covenant. God says to His people in Jeremiah 32:38-41, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, . . . with all My heart and with all My soul.”
How can this be? How can an awesome holy God be so good to sinful people? It is only because of the death of Jesus Christ, God’s Son on the cross. When I think of the New Covenant I am reminded of all the priceless benefits Jesus Christ purchased through His blood for those who believe in Him. We would love to have you come visit with us at New Covenant Church and learn more about the Good News of the God who delights in doing good to those who hope in Him!