University Church lost three pillars the first week of August: Pat Wilcoxen, Curtys Berry, and Glenn Klipp.
Pat Wilcoxen was respected and beloved not only in our church congregation, but throughout Chicago and especially the South Side as she tirelessly advocated for affordable housing, and racial and economic equity. Her firm yet gentle way of communicating (always with a smile on her face) made her an effective negotiator, and she usually was able to accomplish what she set out to do. Pat was surrounded by family August 6 as she made her transition.
A memorial service will be held in person Friday, September 10, at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of University Church. The service will be live streamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot, or prefer not to, attend in person.
Pat’s obituary is posted at this link.
For those who had the good fortune to sing in the church choir with Curtys Berry, you have witnessed his sharp wit and his clear voice that anchored the bass section. If you were in the congregation when the choir sang “Total Praise,” you watched him sing his heart out with his entire body. And his genuine concern for others showed up during prayers of the people during worship services: always prayers for others; never for himself. Curtys passed away August 6 after battling multiple myeloma.
Please contact the office if you would like the link to the Zoom recording of Curtys’ service.
Arrangements for Curtys: Visitation at A.A. Rayner Funeral Home, 318 East 71st Street, Chicago, Thursday, August 19, from 3:00-7:00 PM.
Funeral: Friday, August 20, 11:00 AM at University Church with visitation from 10:00-11:00 and burial immediately following the service.
Glenn Klipp was a one-of-a-kind music director at UChurch (2004-2012), with the uncanny ability to work patiently with even the nearly tone deaf. He was always positive, and somehow managed to smile his way through any mistakes the choir may have made. He always made time for whoever walked in the door and into his “east aisle ministry” during choir rehearsals, frequently giving up his last dollar or offering a ride to anyone who asked. Glenn spent his last few years of life with his daughter and her family in the Netherlands, who cared for him during his dementia until he passed away last week.
We are continuing in prayer for their families and our community as we mourn their transitions from this life and honor their legacies. The Spirit of God continues to comfort us and unites us with them as they join the great cloud of witnesses before us.
(We will post updates about services and ways to remember Pat, Curtys, and Glenn on this page, on our calendar, and on Facebook as soon as they are available.)
