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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
July/August 2006 |
Bishop Hodapp remembered
Grandson speaks of bishop's excellence at memorial service
By Daniel R. Gangler
INDIANAPOLIS - "Never be satisfied with anything less than excellence" is the most important virtue Brian Gates said he learned from his grandfather, the late Bishop Leroy C. Hodapp, who was eulogized during a May 31 memorial service at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, where Hodapp served as an associate minister in the 1950s.
During the hour-long service attended by nine
bishops and more than 500 other mourners, Gates, speaking on behalf of the
family, said he was blessed by his grandfather's intellect, wisdom, humor and
bald head.
When he was a child, Gates said, "my grandfather could beat me at anything -
Monopoly, hearts, anything. I believed he was smarter than anybody with that big
quiet smile."
As an adult at the time of Hodapp's stroke in 1998, it was his grandfather that reassured him that everything was going to be alright.
"I started grieving when I knew he wasn't going to get better. Before, during and after he said everything is going to be alright," said Gates. He further said his grandfather was "smart, willing to do justice."
The Rev. Lloyd Wright, a retired clergy of the South Indiana Conference and lifelong friend, eulogized Hodapp's 50 years of ministry, most of which were in Indiana as pastor, district superintendent, council director and bishop. Wright also talked about Hodapp's encounters with secular stars like Hugh Hefner and Bobby Knight. He said, Hodapp was a friend who modeled friendship.
As a council director, Wright said that Hodapp believed "the real mission of Christ's church was lived out in the local church" and that "family has to be part of our team." Wright said Hodapp modeled family love. He was a scholar and theologian. Leroy devoured books.
Other similar comments were expressed by Bishops John Hopkins and David Lawson.
In his meditation, Bishop Mike Coyner said we live in a death denying culture and that we need, as Christians, to be "life affirming out of our hope in Jesus Christ who is life offering."
When he heard of Hodapp's death, Coyner said, "When I think of Leroy Hodapp, the word which comes to my mind is 'faithful.' He served 50 years under appointment. A half-century of faithful ministerial service - that is an amazing record.
"In the United Methodist Council of Bishops, Leroy Hodapp has been acknowledged for his wisdom, experience and level-headedness. When others might panic over the latest issues and concerns, Leroy has always been a steady, consistent, and faithful leader for this denomination."
A private family burial service was held later in Evansville, where the Hodapps had lived until their recent move to the Franklin United Methodist Community Home in Franklin, Ind.
Memorials to remember Bishop Leroy Hodapp can be given to one of three United Methodist-related organizations: Operation Classroom's Bishop Leroy Hodapp Medical Scholarship Fund, Indiana United Methodist Children's Home, and/or Methodist Hospital. Memorial gifts, designated to one or more of these organizations noted in the check memo, may be sent to the Indiana United Methodist Foundation for distribution. Checks need to be payable to the Indiana Area United Methodist Foundation, and send to Indiana Area United Methodist Foundation, 1100 West 42nd Street, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008