Good morning.

I am here today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of the late Pastor Neil Irwin. I also come seeking a spiritual closure—a way to lovingly release our bond into the hands of God.

As I stand here, I feel as if I’ve stepped into a time capsule, taking me back to 1984—over 40 years ago—when I could barely say more than “yes” or “no” in English. Back then, I tried to understand others mostly through facial expressions and body language. I preached only from a manuscript, with a heavy Korean accent. Yet, the congregation welcomed me with grace, accepting me as their pastor with open hearts.

Neil was among the very first people to welcome my family when we moved into the Coxsackie parsonage—a young, unfamiliar Asian family arriving in a small town. I still remember his big frame, his bright, pure smile, and the little boy he held in his arms. He wore a sleeveless white T-shirt and looked every bit the gentle giant.

A few weeks after my first Sunday service, I made a pastoral visit to his parents’ home. I’ll never forget his father’s words: “I’m a baby maker!” With a smile, he told me Neil was the oldest of their children. “I’ve got three grown kids and two little grandchildren.” That moment revealed to me just how richly God had blessed this family.

Let me take you now into Neil’s life within the church.

He was my soul mate in ministry.
• We were born the same year.
• We shared a childlike simplicity.
• We always said “yes” to each other, choosing unity over differences.

He was like an angel, always sheltering others under his wings.
1. He greeted my newborn son in December 1985—right after Christmas, during a heavy snowfall.
2. He helped lead youth group snow sledding adventures.
3. He organized whole-church hayrides.
4. He poured his heart into the annual community Thanksgiving dinner.
• He gathered donations and rallied men to help.
• He put turkeys in the oven at 4 a.m.
• He delivered meals to those alone by noon—and even on a snowy day, made sure everyone received their meal by 4 p.m.
5. He joined daily morning prayer at 6 a.m.
• One morning, after my wife WanHee and I had been praying alone for days, Neil came in and asked, “I wonder how many are supporting this.”
• We smiled and said, “So far, five of us—myself, WanHee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
• From that day on, he never missed a single morning.
6. He helped organize community service with local inmates.
• Twelve model inmates helped install ceiling panels in the sanctuary.
• When the project was complete, we celebrated Holy Communion with them at the altar.
• They signed a watercolor painting of the cross with a crown of thorns.
• Years later, one of those men brought his fiancée back to the church to show her the painting—and the signature he had left behind.

Right after that communion, Neil approached me and asked for a blessing at the altar. He said he wanted to offer his whole life to the Lord. At that moment, I didn’t know what God had in store for him—but I knew the Spirit was leading him.

His favorite Word was “You must be born again.” (John 3:7b)

Now, Neil is with the Lord—free from all physical limitations, smiling that big white smile, and watching over us from above. His spirit lives on in the love he gave and the lives he touched.

Thank you for allowing me to share this long reflection. Please forgive me for taking so much time—I’ve come a long way from the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee.

Thank you for listening.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Cornelius Bogart “Pastor Neil” Irwin III

Birth: 23 Apr 1949, Catskill, Greene County, New York, USA

Death: 9 Jun 2016 (aged 67), Cobleskill, Schoharie County, New York, USA

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Coxsackie, Greene County, New York, USA