Research Article by Sean-Daniel and Team published!

Sean-Daniel Campos Graduates from Bob Jones University

Sean-Daniel Campos was among over 700 students who graduated from Bob Jones University Friday, May 5 2023. Sean graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Biology.  He received the Natural Science – Biology Award and was honored at the 2023 Awards Ceremony.

Eulogy for Daniel Campos-Lopez

Dad’s Eulogy

As I was going through some boxes of dad’s old stuff (pictures and memorabilia), long forgotten memories of my dad came to the surface. It’s been over 2 months since he passed, and new memories are still coming.

I suppose everyone who has lost a loved one has that experience. My brother and sister mentioned that this was happening to them as well.

As the memories have resurfaced, a visual history of his life has developed in my mind. I can see how he grew – how he matured, how trials and difficulties in his life had shaped him. He was not the same man at the end as he was at the beginning. He was willing to change.

Dad was always a Hard Worker. He was always busy doing something; whether it was working on a project in the house, doing yard work outside, going back to school for his Masters degree, or achieving the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force (Chief Master Sergeant). He put extra effort into everything he did.

He was also a Man of service. He served his country for 35 years, 4 years in the Army and 31 years in the Air Force.

More importantly, after he retired from the Air Force, he began serving God.

One of the first things I remember him starting was a men’s prayer breakfast at his home. A small group of men would come over at 6am on a weekday, and I think they called the group “The Morning Eagles”. Dad would cook up a big breakfast and then the men would share their prayer needs before praying together. I was able to go a few times and I always left encouraged.

He started other ministries – I don’t remember much about them.
In 1999, he and his wife Linda founded CASA ministries: Which stands for:
C – Circulo A – Amor S – Servicio A – Alabanza/Adoracion (Circle of Love Service Praise/Worship)

Their ministry focused on the needs of the Hispanic community. The 2 things that he shared with us the most often were testimonies of how God was working as they visited churches, shared the gospel of Jesus Christ through music and the Word, and conducted Hispanic Chapel Services in the prisons.

Many other services which are listed on the flier at the table in the atrium.

They completed a music project in June 2002 called “Daniel, Among the Lions”, and sold CDs and Cassettes to support their ministry financially. He had a beautiful baritone voice and sang God-honoring songs in various hispanic styles.

A memorial of my dad would not be complete without commenting about his sense of humor. Some might say he was mischievous. But he liked to make people smile. At restaurants he never failed to tell the waitress a joke – usually just a one liner. I think telling a joke with a spanish accent seemed to make it funnier because when I would try to re-tell one of his jokes all I got was crickets. Family gatherings were a hoot because it seems they all had that same humor.

As I said, my dad was not the same man at the end as he was in the beginning. He was willing to change. From my earliest memories to the last time I saw him, the biggest change, I believe, was his willingness to put aside self and think of others first. I’m very proud of all my dad’s accomplishments, but the thing I’m most proud of was his desire to be more like Jesus.

I have a couple of videos that my dad made using songs from the music project he and Linda completed. One is called “Sonrie” (Smile) and the other is Psalm 23. But first, I wanted to read a text my dad sent my siblings and me on September the 9th, at 4:50 pm. For me, it was his last text.

Blessings my dear children! It has been very difficult for the past week. Had appointment with oncologist yesterday. This morning he called to inform that there is nothing they can do for me. He recommended HOSPICE. They did a good job with your Mom during her last days. There is no time frame, only God decides that. Please pray for a peaceful, painless transition. I love y’all so much. Keep your eyes on JESUS.

A little after midnight, on September the 13th, God honored that prayer and took my dad home. Home with Jesus.

Mary “Pat” Falconnier

Mary Patricia Falconnier, nee Langston, 89, of Belleville, IL, born Thursday, December 1, 1932, Goldsboro, NC, passed away Thursday, September 22, 2022 at Ascension Saint Francis in Evanston, IL.

Known to all her friends and family as Pat. Pat was born and raised in North Carolina. She graduated from Columbia Bible College and taught grade school for a couple of years before meeting and marrying a handsome young man from Illinois. She put many of her other hopes and dreams on hold as she became a mother to four and worked hard to be the best wife and mother that she could be.

Her family and friends all knew her to be one of the sweetest, godliest, most merciful and caring people in the world. Some even called her a saint. Pat volunteered in many behind-the-scenes opportunities to serve at her church including hospitality, visiting the sick, camp work, and grading Bible lessons sent in by incarcerated people trying to learn a better way of living. She had a beautiful Alto singing voice and an ear for music that caused her to harmonize perfectly in church services.

Music was very much a part of who she was, and her children and grandchildren remember her breaking into little ditties and folk songs at random times, smiling and enthusiastic as she sang.

Even in the last few years as her health declined, her sweet spirit, wit, musical gift, and the faith that she had lived for so many decades still rose to the top with nurses and doctors and all who came into contact with her. On the morning of September 22, 2022 the Lord welcomed her home. She no longer is suffering. She stepped from being 89 into the rest of her ageless eternity. She most surely is laughing and singing with those who have gone on before, home at last with the Lord she loves.

She was preceded in death by her:

• Husband, John Falconnier
• Parents, John D. and Mary, nee Williams, Langston
• Sister and brother-in-law, Ann (Bill) Futrelle

Surviving are her:

• Children:
  • Ruth (Daniel) Campos of Belleville, IL
  • Lydia A. (Neil Carruthers) Falconnier of Chicago, IL
  • Evelyn M. Falconnier of San Diego, CA
  • Philip J. (Camille) Falconnier of Housesprings, MO
• 10 grandchildren:
  • Crystal
  • Amber
  • David
  • Sean
  • Mélodie
  • Langston
  • Sophie
  • Catherine
  • Alicia
  • Tim
• 12 great grandchildren

Memorials: Memorials may be made to www.brighthope.org Dedicate Donation in Memory of Mary Patricia Falconnier

Visitation: Visitation from 10:00 am – 11:00 am, Friday, September 30, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, September 30, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home with Scott Renth and John McCarey officiating. Interment will follow at Highland City Cemetery, Highland, IL.

Daniel Campos-Lopez, CMSgt

Daniel Campos-Lopez, CMSgt, USAF (retired) age 86, of Lake Saint Louis, MO, born Tuesday, December 3, 1935, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, died Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis, MO.

Daniel started his military career when he joined the U.S. Army in 1953. He was in the Quartermaster Service which handled all non-combatant supplies for the Army troops. They met on weekends for training and exercises, and went to camp several times a year for up to a month at a time.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in February 1957, and after spending a few months at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, he was sent to basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. After basic training he was sent to Aircraft Electrical School at Chanute AFB, Illinois.

After finishing school, his first assignment was to Tyndall AFB, Florida where he worked on the electrical systems of fighter aircraft. He was also assigned to the battery shop which he described as “a messy job, dirty and smelly because of the fumes”. It was so bad he actually wanted to leave the Air Force after 4 years.

However, when he married his first wife “Gerry”, he decided to stay in the Air Force, and was offered to retrain into Air Traffic Control Maintenance. He worked in that field for the rest of his Air Force career and was stationed in Viet Nam, Puerto Rico (Ramey AFB), New Jersey (McGuire AFB), Iran, and Korea. His last duty station was at Scott AFB, Illinois where he retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1988. It was also the same year his wife Gerry passed away.

After retirement, Daniel eventually remarried, and together, he and Linda started their own Prison Ministry. Daniel used his bilingual skills to preach the Word of God in the prison. He had an amazing singing voice and made a recording of several songs that he sang in Spanish and in English. He and Linda also sang together at several churches, lifting up the name of Jesus. He was kind to everyone he met, was always encouraging, and lifted many to the Lord in prayer.

He was preceded in death by his:

• First wife, Geraldine D., nee Kite, Campos
• Father, Daniel Campos-Figueroa
• Mother, Carmen M., nee Lopez- Baez, Campos-Lopez
• Sister, Esther Campos-Cortes
• Brother, Samuel Campos-Lopez

Surviving are his:

• Wife, Linda Mae, nee Rosencrans, Campos of Lake Saint Louis, MO
• Children:
  • Daniel O. (Ruth) Campos of Belleville, IL
  • Roy E. (Connie) Campos of Highland, IL
  • Susan (Rob) Pochek of VA
• Step-daughter, Alicia (Dwight) Schwebke
• Step-son, Mark Baker (Mark Cornelius)
• Sisters:
  • Carmen Ruth Campos of Puerto Rico
  • Aixa (Jeff) Malley of Puerto Rico
• Grandchildren:
  • Sean Daniel
  • Mélodie
  • Benjamin
  • Samantha
  • David
  • Jessica
• Step-grandchildren:
  • Susanna (Christopher) Bradford
  • Jeremiah (Rachel) Barnes
  • Aaron (Alexandra) Barnes
• Great-granddaughter, Sophie Ritz-Campos
• Step-great grandchildren:
  • Rosemarie Lynn Mosley
  • Gregory Daniel Mosley
  • Thomas Allen Barnes
  • Elijah Daniel Barnes
• Many dear nieces, nephews and cousins

Memorial donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, IL on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.

Funeral: Funeral procession will leave at 12:15 pm from First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, IL on Monday, November 21, 2022 to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Empty nesters

In just a couple of weeks Ruth and I will be driving the kids to college. This will be Melodie’s Freshman year and she has decided to attend BJU with her brother and major in Theater. Sean will start his Junior year. He changed his major last semester from Pre-Med to Cell Biology.

Ruth and I are very excited, but a little anxious about this new season of our lives.

John Falconnier

John Falconnier, 92, of Belleville, IL, born Saturday, November 10, 1928, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, IL.

John was born in France to Swiss parents and later immigrated to the U.S. He was a lover of nature, a lover of Mom, a skilled craftsman with exceptional work ethic, and was inventive and resourceful. John started his own business when he was in his forties doing upholstery. He was content with what he had and knew how to enjoy the simple things in life. He was forever curious and never bored. He was a member of Villa Hills Gospel Chapel in Belleville, IL and served in the Army during the Korean War.

He was preceded in death by his:

• father, Charles François Falconnier
• mother, Ida Falconnier
• 3 brothers:
  • Charles
  • Robert
  • Roger
• 2 sisters:
  • Nani
  • Yvonne

Surviving are his:

• wife, Mary Patricia Falconnier of Belleville, IL
• children:
  • Ruth (Daniel) Campos of Belleville, IL
  • Lydia A. (Neil Carruthers) Falconnier of Chicago, IL
  • Evelyn M. Falconnier of San Diago, CA
  • Philip J. (Camille) Falconnier of Housesprings, MO
• 10 grandchildren:
  • Crystal
  • Amber
  • David
  • Sean
  • Melodie
  • Langston
  • Sophie
  • Catherine
  • Alicia
  • Tim
• 11 great-grandchildren

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Dayspring Bible Camp in Ironton, MO https://www.dayspringbiblecamp.org/

Sean’s Off to College!

Sean will be attending Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.  He is seeking his Pre-Med degree.  We are very proud of this young man.  We know he’ll do well.

Regional Convention 2019

This year was the schools first time at the Ozark Regional Convention in Warrensburg, MO and our students got 3rd Place Overall in Academics!!!  3rd Place is a really big deal, as this was a much bigger Convention, with lots of schools and students.

Sean’s awards:
1st Place Archery -Traditional Instinctive
1st Place Science Exhibit Theoretical (Topic: Fear)
2nd Place Checkers

Melodie’s awards:
1st Place Website Design
1st Place PowerPoint Non-Linear
3rd Place Color Computer Enhancement Photo
6th Place Checkers

Team Awards
1st Place Pace Bowl
2nd Place Group Bible Speak

Sean got 1st place in Science Exhibit Theoretical!! He worked so hard for so many hours at this, especially on the research part. Congratulations, Sean!

Cumberland Valley Convention 2018

This years Regional Convention was in Bolling Green, KY.  All students that went have placed in at least one of their events, so they will all be going to International Convention in May.

Sean-Daniel
1st place – Bible Bowl (team event)
1st place – Pace Bowl (team event)
1st place – Limited Freestyle Archery
2nd place – Traditional Instinctive Archery
6th place – Color Scene (photography)
6th place – Poetry Writing

Melodie
1st place – Bible Bowl (team event)
1st place – Pace Bowl (team event)
2nd place – Checkers
4th place – Social Studies Research Board