He came into my dream (or I may have been awake) last night (Oct 22/23)

 

Half awake or dreaming I know not which.   I saw his face and I remembered his name;  The Revd. Ed Neuhaus.

Best of all I remembered both name and face when I awakened this morning.

Remembering the name and face is one thing.  But who was he, and why did I recall him in the wee hours?

A "google" search answered my questions.

Ed was the gentle, gracious, ecumenically minded, socially active  Assemblies of  God (Pentecostal) Pastor in Fitchburg MA.

I knew him when I was the minister at the (Episcopalian) Church of the Good Shepherd between 1976 and 1980.  

I doubt that I have thought about him since 1980; but here, forty years on, he entered my mind.  How strange.  How wonderful.

I remember him with gladness. Sad to say there are probably only one or two CGS Fitchburg (now closed) parishioners of that era who knew him. Just about no-one whom I could ask "Hey, remember Ed. Neuhaus?"

For whatever reason Ed visited me last night. I am glad!

Pastor Ed died earlier this year.  His obit is below.

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Obituary

Fitchburg-Rev. Edward R. Neuhaus, 92 of Fitchburg died in his home on Friday, April 24, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. Rev. Neuhaus was born in Hartford Ct on July 24, 1927 son of Theodore F. and Gladys M. (Ashwell) Neuhaus.

Edward was a pastor, chaplain and community activist whose career spanned five decades. He earned a master's of education degree from Fitchburg State College in 1970, and has continued
his affiliation with the college as an active member of the Alumni Association. Ed completed his undergraduate studies at Houghton College in New York, and studied theology at Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri. He worked for a time as a chemist before beginning his service as pastor of the Assembly of God in Fitchburg in 1957. In the 1970s, he oversaw a period of
exceptional growth that included the building of a new church, expansion of the congregation
to 400, and establishment of a church- sponsored K-12 school. In 1982, Ed accepted a position as
assistant pastor of the Assembly of God in Leominster, allowing him more time to pursue
his second vocation as hospital chaplain for Burbank and Leominster Hospitals. He had also been active in local Nursing Home Ministries.  He had served as an advisory board member for the Fitchburg State Nursing Department, Ed was for 10 years an advisor to the Fitchburg Department of Welfare, a member of the Montachusett Council of Churches, Chaplin in the Juvenile court system, Chaplin for Leominster and Fitchburg Home Care, served on the board of Our Father’s House and the Cedar Street Home.  Ed served in the U.S Navy during World War II and then again during the Korean Conflict.

His wife Catherine E. (Hanson) Neuhaus died May 8, 2000. He leaves two sons; Mark E. Nehuaus of Fitchburg and Daniel J. Neuhaus of Gardner, one daughter Lisbeth Neuhaus of Fitchburg, two grandchildren; Zachery E. Neuhaus and Rachael A. Neuhaus. He was predeceased by his brother Henry L. Neuhaus and his sister Alberta L. Nehaus.

Funeral services and burial in Forest Hill Cemetery Fitchburg are private.