George Gerald Nika's Obituary
George Gerald Nika, 94, of Martinsville, Illinois passed away at 12:40 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Union Hospital, Terre Haute, Indiana. He was born May 22, 1914 in Painesville, Ohio. On September 3, 1938 he married the former Florence Jonita in Cleveland, Tennessee. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, son, G. Gerald Nika; daughter, Bonnie Patton; daughter, Janice Helton; daughter, Rebekah Martinez; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. George graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio. At the age of 18, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior on October 22, 1932. At the age of 19, he entered the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. While at Moody Bible Institute, George started and held bible clubs for children living in the Chicago slums. Throughout his pastoral career, he continued to start and hold bible clubs for children. Upon graduation from Moody Bible Institute, George enrolled in Dallas Seminary for one year. He pastored his first church in Berea, Ohio at the Grayton Road Baptist Church. With a group of pastors, they started the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland and the Cedarville University and Seminary in Cedarville, Ohio. After seven years in Berea, Ohio he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to pastor the Grace Tabernacle for two years. In 1948, George accepted the pastoral position at the Bible Church in Martinsville, Illinois. He pastored, along with his wife Florence, at Martinsville, for 50 years. During his tenure, with a group of pastors, George started the Bible Institute in Danville, Illinois, the Midwest Baptist College, and the Wabash Valley Bible Institute (which operated for 27 years). In 1998, he resigned his pastoral position with the Martinsville Bible Church. Thereafter, George continued to fill pulpits in area churches, until shortly before his death. No visitation or funeral service will be held. A public graveside service and burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Ridgelawn Cemetery, Martinsville, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations and contributions may be made to Martinsville Bible Church, 590 N. Ridgelawn Road, Martinsville, IL 62442. Memorial tributes and condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwellfh.com. Greenwell Funeral Home of Martinsville, Illinois is in charge of the arrangements. SERVICES Service Sunday, March 01, 2009 2:00 PM Ridgelawn Cem., Martinsville, IL Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. , Visitation
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