A favorite memory of mine from Maranatha watching Karl Steele draw his amazing chalk pictures while Grandma and Grandpa played the piano and organ, and sang songs that matched the story Dr. Steele was telling. He was a very talented artist who taught at Wheaton. When he was finished and turned on the blacklights, you could hear everyone in the tabernacle gasp! This was back in the days of wooden pews and bark floor, and Dr. Steele had everyone mesmerized by his painting.
I remember when Stratton Shufelt was the music leader. He would start a sing-along after supper in the dining room sometimes and Grandpa would sit at the piano to accompany him. Mr. Shufelt would also lead the Saturday Night Musicales, and sometimes would perform a solo called "lonely faces" that made many guests in the audience weep. I can still hear the big old bell, calling everyone to dinner. This was back when China and Island Inns were still across the road from the old dining room/office. There were shuffle board courts behind and old fire escapes that the staff would sneak up at night if they were out past curfew. I can remember visiting the old prayer tower with Grandpa, when I was very young, and how unsafe it was. The new one is very nice, but not as exciting to climb on! (I call it the new one, but it was built in the late sixties or early seventies!) Grandma and Grandpa moved to Colorado when they retired, and three years later moved to Arizona. They are both home with the Lord now.
Grandma and Grandpa had two sons, Howard and Robert.
My father, Robert Rupp Skinner, just passed away on March 14th. It was sudden; he was fine at Christmas, but started getting sick in January. By the end of January he was diagnosed with cancer and by the end of February he was transfered out of the hospital and into a nursing home. His brother, five children and three of his five grandchildren celebrated his birthday just days before he died. He had no pain so that was a blessing. I just wish we'd had a little more time.
Uncle Howard has recently retired from conducting the Greeley Philharmonic, and also just retired from University of Northern Colorado, where he has served as Dean of Music and Interim President. (see the links on the left) He came back to Michigan to see my dad before he passed, and then came again to attend Dad's memorial service and give a very nice euology for his brother. I am so appreciative that he was here to help us talk to the staff and to dad about treatments, etc.
I have such great memories of going to Maranatha every summer when I was young. I also worked there for a couple of summers with my cousins and had a lot of fun. I miss Grandma and Grandpa a lot.
.Karl Steele 