Funeral Sermon for Kore Bohmer, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, based on Psalms 91:14-16 & 92:12-15; Eph 3:14-21; Lk 23:39-43, on Friday, November 18, 2022, at Bawlf Lutheran Church.
A loving husband and father, a kind-hearted friend and neighbour, an active and respected citizen in the community, and a faithful member of Bawlf Lutheran Church, Kore Bohmer, has left his long and full life-journey in this world for life eternal. You who knew and loved Kore shall certainly miss him.
Kore lived a long and full life of 99 years. Thus in our scripture passages from the book of Psalms, we learn a couple of truths, which I believe resonate with the life of Kore. First, we learn that God shows his care for us by protecting us throughout our lives. Having lived for 99 years, God honoured Kore’s love of God and his faithfulness to God by protecting him and giving him a long life. One example of God protecting Kore was him riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle until he was in his mid-80s! Wow! Quite amazing, that he could benefit from God’s protection and ride his motorcycle in his senior years.
The second truth we learn from the psalmist is that God promises to bless some folks with a healthy, active, productive, long life. God says: “With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” And in Psalm 92: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. In old age they still produce fruit.” I think that word “satisfy” is a good description of Kore’s life. His life was a satisfying one in that he lived it to the fullest.
I also like the way the psalmist compares those in old age with the palm tree and the cedar of Lebanon. These are both very stately trees and can serve a variety of purposes.
Indeed, the Syrians list over 360 uses for the palm. It can be twisted into ropes, used for thatch, it gives shade, is used to construct booths, and heralds an oasis from afar. Furthermore, some say that a palm tree bears its best fruit in old age. Dates growing on palms past one hundred years are said to be the best ever!
The palm and cedar trees, being productive in old age, are living reminders that we humans need not feel useless, unproductive, or bored when we grow old. Rather, we can be productive as Kore was in his 99 years. Kore continued to be a loving parent to Brenda, encouraging her when she took over the farm, and helping her on the farm in his retirement years, and participating in community organizations and events, including sports, Boy Scouts and 4-H. Kore also served on Church Council, and did not like to miss attending worship services on Sundays. Speaking of serving, Kore’s life was, in numerous ways, an example of the line that we sang in our hymn, Christ, Be Our Light: “Let us be servants to one another, signs of your kingdom come.”
As a person of faith, Kore liked to read the Christmas story aloud to his family every Christmas Eve. He was also proud of his biblical name, which in 2 Chronicles 31:14 refers to Kore as the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, in Jerusalem, and was in charge of the freewill offerings of God.
Turning to our passage from Ephesians, which is a prayer for the faithful—the prayer emphasizes the blessings those who have faith in Christ are given, among these blessings and gifts are: “...being rooted and grounded in love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Just as a plant, in order to grow and be healthy and productive, needs to have a healthy root system; so too it is with us spiritually. Kore as a faithful follower of Jesus, was rooted and grounded in love. For his faith to be healthy and productive, Kore needed to be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, which he received through his involvement in this congregation. Kore’s being rooted in Christ’s love, made it possible for him to share that love with his family, and members of Bawlf Lutheran, and members of the community.
God’s love in Christ is all-inclusive, it reaches us in every area of life—that is why we are filled with all the fullness of God. We call it mercy—it is God’s forgiving love. We call it providence—it is God’s caring love. We call it kindness—it is God’s understanding love. We call it—Christ’s passion and death—it is God’s proven love. We call it happiness—it is God’s encouraging love. We call it the will of God—it is God’s unerring love. We call it heaven—it is God’s rewarding love. We call it eternity—it is God’s unending love. Insofar as we share this fullness of God’s love with others it becomes a real blessing to them as well as us—which, I believe was true for Kore in his life, as he inspired and influenced others in loving ways, he and they were blessed.
Turning to our gospel passage from Luke, the fullness of God’s love in Jesus became a reality for that criminal crucified beside Jesus, when he said to him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus, in love answered him with that wonderful promise: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
May we be inspired by the long, full and faithful life of Kore Bohmer. May we, like Kore, live healthy, active and productive lives as we grow older. May we be like the productive palm trees that produce the best fruit in old age. May we, like Kore, live life to the fullest, because God through Jesus has filled us with his love to share with others, and make a difference in the world and in the church. As we leave this world, may we, like the criminal on the cross pray: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”--trusting that Jesus will answer us with his promising, comforting words: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
