Funeral Homily for Alan Dunn - The Rev. Colette Hammesfahr

 

As I was reading Alan’s obituary this week, what really stuck out to me were the words used to describe Alan – simple, devoted, prideful, gentle, influential, wise, humble. I think that any of us here would be grateful to have any one or maybe two of these words used to describe ourselves. To be described as all of these things makes a very special person.  

At the age of 15, a friend begged Donna to go to an Episcopal Youth Retreat with her. This is where she met Alan, who was 17 years old. After the retreat they went their separate ways. Alan could not get Donna off his mind and was determined to find her. Alan tracked her down, in his VW Beetle and the rest is history.

Alan was Donna’s provider and protector. Her father died when she was a junior in college. Alen jumped into the role of protector without hesitation. He helped the family fill the void her father had left, always being there in times of need and in times of tragedy.

As a father to his children, Courtney and Kendra, they couldn’t have had a better dad. He was always there to practice their sports with them – basketball, softball – a tradition he followed with his grandchildren as well. The girls said that growing up, if they did something wrong, when they were most afraid of was the time of quiet, sitting in front of Alan, waiting for his words to come out. But it never failed – instead of scolding, they would hear words of advice. Courtney and Kendra said that no matter what their predicament, their dad always had words that would heal your heart. He always had an answer for life.

Alan’s proudest moment as a father was when his girls graduated from college – Courtney from Clemson and Kendra from Alabama. An avid sports fan, he was true to their alma maters and the University of Georgia was his greatest nemesis. When the family told me this, I was very taken aback. Alan? How could that be? Donna saw the shocked look on my face, to which she quickly replied, “but he was a huge Braves fan, all the way back to when they were the Milwaukee braves!” as if that would make a difference.   

While Alan didn’t have any biological sons, he had many adopted sons. You see, Alan had a special knack for being a father to others, especially to boys and men who had a void that needed to be filled. He loved work. He started his career as a teacher but the majority of his life, he worked in the automotive business. Throughout his years in the automotive business he mentored many of his co-workers and was always there to give guidance. Alan didn’t speak much but when he did, people listened, and they listened with respect.  He was known as “Big Daddy” to many, and I suspect that many of those he mentored, his coworkers and family, are sitting here with us today. With his gentle voice and great wisdom Big Daddy changed the lives, and saved the lives of many.

 

In the scripture readings Alan chose for us to hear today, we heard characterizations of who God is. We heard that the Lord’s love never ceases and is full of compassion. That through the spirit of adoption we are all children of God. We heard that will never be separated and can never be separated from the love of Christ. And then Jesus tells his disciples, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places” – a place for each one of us. This is who God is – always loving, always compassionate, always ready to welcome us home.

When Christ died for us, we were commanded to be the hands and feet of Christ – to live out our lives as Christ lived his and to carry out those characteristics of God as best we can. This is how Alan lived his life. Simple, devoted, prideful, gentle, influential, wise, and humble he lived his life as a true child of God: and to the best of his ability, Alan lived as Christ commanded. Always thinking of others, he left a piece of himself in all of our hearts.

As we mourn our loss, I ask you to take a minute to rejoice in the gift Alan has received. As we wait for the promised gift of everlasting life, Alan has received that gift. After living his life doing God’s work and being the hands and feet of Christ, Alan is now sitting at the hands and feet of Christ. In the light of Easter, we trust the promise of Christ: that He has gone before us to prepare a place in the Father’s house, where Alan now dwells in life everlasting.   Amen.