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Tribute to My Father, Gene Wohlberg (1929-2018)

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My dad, Gene Wohlberg, died two nights ago. He was 89. Dad has been in a nursing home for about four months in Glendale, California. Thankfully, I was privileged to spend ten days with him in September/October. Our last time together will always be precious to me. My dad and I have always been very, very, very close.

Life is different now.

I can’t call him any more in the evenings.

I am thankful to report that Dad was a strong Christian. Now, he has joined those who “sleep in Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:14). During my last trip to see him, as he lay there in his bed, struggling, he often repeated Bible promises to me. I recorded three short video clips of Dad speaking God’s Word. If you would like to watch them, here they are: Psalm 94:19; Psalm 62:1,2; 1 John 4:18. My father deeply loved God, his family, and so many others. He so often showed his love in practical ways to those who were old, or sick, or dying. He was a great example to me personally, and to many others.

Yesterday I shared this news with those on my Facebook page, and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, prayers, and condolences. Thank you! One man on my page, a radio host in Pennsylvania, even created a short video clip honoring my father. Bless you, Rob Pratte!

A memorial service will be held on November 3, at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church, where my dad was an elder. My dad requested that I do the service. Please pray for me, for my family and relatives, and for the many people (from many walks of life) who will attend this service. We expect a large crowd, for a whole lot of people really loved my dad! As his death drew near, my father relied heavily on Jesus Christ and on the promises of the Bible.

So should we.

Don’t wait until the day of death draws near. Now is the time to get to know Jesus and His Word.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

To learn more about what happens after death, and about the glorious hope we can have in the Resurrection, read our little pocketbook, Solving the Mystery of Death, now available from White Horse Media.

I already miss Dad. A lot … but I am so thankful for Jesus and for the hope that He gives us in times like this. So I say, “Goodnight Dad. I’m sooooo glad we both became believers in Jesus during our short lives on this earth. By His grace, I’ll see you again soon on Resurrection Morning!”

25 Comments

  1. Dear pastor Wohlberg, I am sorry for your loss.

    May God bless you and your family.

    Sincerely,

    Wayman Nelson

  2. Steve, our condolences to you and your family. Our prayers are with you all. It has been 18 yrs. since my mom had passed, and I still miss her. We will keep you in our prayers as you do the Memorial Service for him. God bless you Steve.

  3. My prayers and sympathy are with you and your family. My mother, 10 years ago, went to sleep in Jesus, and this past summer, my brother also. I have the hope that you do, in seeing them again soon, because our precious Lord and Savior will come again very soon! Blessings to you, Steve, and White Horse Media for being so faithful!

  4. Dear Pastor Wohlberg,

    May the Lord send His Comforter to bring peace to your heart at this sad time. My deepest sympathies are with you and your family.

  5. Dear Pastor Steve and family, I send my sincere condolences with the passing of your dear father. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Sleep well Gene Wohlberg in Jesus’ rest.

  6. Pastor Steve,

    My heart felt condolences to you personally for such a lost but triumphant and conquering sleep in Jesus and off-course to the rest of your family. Indeed this MUST be your very difficult moment to experience such a loss as fathers are like great pillars and shields to our families. May the good Lord who lives to embrace all the promises as shared also by your beloved father be with you and the family in this difficult moment and the most of it all when you will be delivering a ceremony on his last mile at the church he used to serve. This will really be massive and we need all the arsenals we can get from God so that many through the death of your great father and leader should know and commit their lives to Christ. I am with you in prayers and please don’t forget to share me the video of the ceremony. God is good all the time …………………..and your father continue to rest in eternal sleep as we await Christ coming.

  7. Praise the Lord for a father who loved the Lord and share His love! Yes, your father is asleep waiting to be awakened by our very own Jesuschrist’s voice.
    You and your family are in our prayers! May the Lord give you the courage, the words to speak and hold you up as you deliver the special message. Maranatha

  8. Amen. I said the same words to my mom over a year ago. She was 93 and a firm believer in Jesus. I still miss her terribly but know she is just waiting for Jesus to call her name on Ressurection
    Day. (When the saints come marching in). God bless you and yours.

  9. Prayers for you and family. Praise God we do have the hope and promise of seeing our loved ones again on that great resurrection morning. It surely can’t be far off.

  10. My sincere sympathy for the passing of your Father from your daily life. In losing my 97 year old Mom recently, I cried when I read that no more can you call your Father ever day, or evening, as I miss that so much with my dear friend and Mom. I am praying so much for you, your families, and loved ones, to have strength and courage in these days, and I am praising our wonderful God that we will all be together, God willing, someday in that resurrection morning and never part again. I have grown in my love and knowledge of God, His blessed Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, since finding you and listening to you on AudioVerse and reading your books. Praise God that He gives you strength to write and preach as you do! Please ever keep faithful, and help me to keep faithful in these last days!

  11. Pastor Steve,
    I am so sorry about your dad’s death. You quoted my favorite scripture on death 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Your dad will be spared the endtime struggles. No more suffering or pain.

  12. So sorry for your loss. What assurance to know your dad lived a long life and loved the Lord! You were fortunate to have him for so long. It is hard to lose a parent but knowing you will be reunited soon is the blessed hope!

  13. Pastor Steve – I am so sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Looking forward to resurrection morning when we meet all our loved ones who are waiting the call the life giver. What a day, glorious day that will be!

  14. Pastor Steve:
    I wish to extend my deepest sympathy regarding for fathers passing.
    Even though we have the assurance of Jesus promise of life eternal, the temporary separation from loved ones remains painful, leaving a void in ones life.
    May God comfort you & your family enduring the loss of your father.

  15. I am so sorry for your loss. I know it won’t be long though, until you will see him again! What blessed assurance! Praying that you will be blessed with peace and comfort.

  16. Pastor Steve, I am so sorry for the pain you are going through at the laying to rest of your dad. He now is resting in Jesus; Awaiting the soon return of Our Lord and Saviour. What a glorious day that will be when the dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord! We are told to comfort one another with these words. I have had to lay to rest both my mom and dad. There will always be an empty spot in my heart for them but a peace knowing that my parents loved and served the Lord as your dad did. I look forward to Heaven where we can reunite with our loved ones who have gone before us! May God Bless and comfort you and your family Pastor Steve.

  17. Dearest Pastor as I closely looked at your Dad, you LOOK like him. That is so wonderful. Please contact me as
    soon as possible concerning Dr. Neal
    Neidly’s Workshop. Thank you.

  18. Pastor Steve, I wish I could take your pain away with the loss of your wounderful Dad. The Lord will be here soon and you will be reunited again. Until then you and your family are in our prayers and thoughts here in Australia.

  19. My soul is lifted up as I read the account of your story with your father. The Lord has give you a tender heart of love and compassion Pastor Steve. How very precious of you to share video clips of your dad praising God’s promises. Touched my heart. I took care of my momma the last seven years of her life and was with her at our home the last hours before she fell asleep in Jesus. God is good. Such a blessing you had the time you had with your father. Praise God how He has lead you all these years and how you were a blessing to your father, and He you. Sure the Memorial Service yesterday at the Hollywood SDA Church was a beautiful offering to the Lord, and honor to your father. God be with you in these days of grief and mourning.
    But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he as been good to me. Psalm 13: 5-6

  20. I recently watched the documentary about Fred Rogers(Mr. Rogers) and in one segment they asked for us to think of someone who greatly influenced our lives with good, hope and love. Of course I thought of Gene who brought our family through a very difficult time with prayers, love and comfort. I know he’s in heaven now still watching over all of us. Thank you for sharing your Dad with so many. How blessed we are to have had him in our lives.

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