Rev. Noel L. Whitis, Sr.

Rev. Noel Lee Whitis Sr, 97, of Bourbonnais, died peacefully Wednesday (July 6, 2016) at his home. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. (EST) Monday July 11, 2016 in Pleasant View Union Cemetery, Fayette, Ohio. Rev. Brad Buhro will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Noel and Ilene Whitis Scholarship Fund at Olivet Nazarene University. Rev. Whitis was a loving husband, devoted father, pastor, teacher and friend. He was born January 14, 1919, in Continental, Ohio, the son of Ed and Ocie Whitis. After graduating from high school in Continental he attended Olivet Nazarene College. He graduated from Olivet in 1942 with a degree in Theology and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Toledo in 1968. On Dec. 31, 1941, in Fayette, Ohio, he married Ilene Spengler. Together they served Nazarene churches at New Richmond, St. Paris, New Hampshire, Dayton, Findlay, and Fayette, all in Ohio. In addition to his pastorates he taught in public schools in Ohio and Michigan for more than 20 years. After retiring they spent time in Indiana, Florida and Illinois. He resided at the Bickford House in Bourbonnais the last 14 years. Surviving are one son and two daughters-in-law, James and Cindy (Jenkins) Whitis of Indianapolis, IN; and Dr. Judith (Davidson) Whitis of Bourbonnais, IL; two daughters and sons-in-law, Natalie and Dennis Buhro of Kendallville, IN, Cheryl and Mark Smith of Bourbonnais, IL; 10 grandchildren and spouses, including Gregg Whitis of Tucson, AZ, Matt and Amy (Cserep) Whitis of Bourbonnais, IL, Brad and Michelle (Lafevor) Buhro of Middletown, IN, Josh and Jessica (Brosman) Buhro of Kendallville, IN, Jennifer (Smith) and Alun Champion of Stillwater, MN, Jessica (Smith) and Andy Corbus of Bourbonnais, IL, Hillary (Smith) and Rob Humphreys of Nashville, TN, Alisa Mossbarger, Scott and Jessica (Haddan) Mossbarger, and Laura (Mossbarger) and Adam Sertich, all of Indianapolis, IN; and 19 great-grandchildren, Hope, Hannah and Luke Whitis, Brenden, Brett, Bryce, Brock, and Mackenzie Buhro, Macy and Charles Buhro, Euan and Tait Champion, Grey, Emma and Kate Corbus, Hattie and James Humphreys, Carmen Marquez and Claire Haddan. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Ilene, his son, Noel Lee Whitis Jr. and two brothers, Richard and Robert Whitis.

Rev. Noel L. Whitis, Sr.

January 14, 1919 - July 6, 2016