Papa Nease...I always felt blessed when you would call and introduce yourself, I know it was the size of your heart to see me as family. Know that you are missed but your words, hugs and inspiration will NEVER go away. Your love for my family has made and impact like no other.

Missing you but not WWBD...

Steve

Happy birthday Papa!! Want to know a secret? I would purposefully ignore your phone call on my birthday knowing you would sing happy birthday to me and I wanted to save that forever! Now I am extra glad that I have every single “happy birthday” medleys you sang to me saved on my voicemail to this day and listen to them constantly! You are greatly missed and greatly loved!

Happy Birthday Papa! Celebrating you today and missing you always. Kory and I were watching a video from a birthday celebration of yours and it just made me so thankful for the memories we got to have together as a family in those moments and others. What a gift you were and continue to be, you are greatly missed.

We miss you papa.

The girls and I talk about you daily.

I wish I had more stories to tell them about you.

But you are still here with us. We feel you every day.
Thank you for being you and always being an example to everyone around.

You are a legend.
Happy birthday.

My life will be so ever blessed by this gentle man.
Bob had come to our home to share our grandsons birthday on August 19, 2009.
As he stepped into the room he saw our bibles sitting there on the table.
He then gently suggested that I should memorize this particular verse.

My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver,
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means
to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2: 1-5

Bob, thank you for the gift of your great wisdom and gentle heart . You blessed me and my family.
Rest with our Lord. Until together we’ll share His word.
Blessed Babette

Bob and Betty were and will always be special people in my life. 

Having grown up in a home where the Bible was never opened, I have three men in my life that significantly influenced my Christian walk - Bob Nease was the first one of them, the other two are pastors. It was the early '90's and I was a new Christian in my late 20's with two pre-school girls.  My wife, Janice, had coaxed me to not only go to church on Sundays at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, but also attend a Sunday School Class called "Home Builders". 40 young couples with young children attended Home Builders taught by Bob and Betty.  (It helped soften me to the idea of attending that Bob's son, Brad, had already invited me to join him and some other guys playing basketball after church.) 

This wise and caring couple poured their hearts into our group of young parents. Many of us, especially the men, were adjusting to this new role of "dad" and even "husband".  The Neace's sharing of practical advice balanced with Scripture and humor immediately captivated my attention. Bob was a true Man of God and an example of a Godly husband and father that I admired.  Betty and Bob were a dynamic duo who so capability coached us through not only the challenges of marriage and raising a family but developing our own spiritual walks and love of Jesus as individual men and women. They spoke candidly of their own experiences and challenges so that we might learn from them. 

Bob and Betty were so generous with their time and love.  Bob was gentle and kind but also not afraid to challenge and engage us. I remember one time Bob inviting me and Janice (my wife) to join him and Betty the next Sunday before church for breakfast.  I was surprised and honored he would do this given all the other couples in the class who were more involved. I had become comfortable in their class and while regularly attending, did little in the way of leadership or organization. I remember the last part of the breakfast like it was yesterday. After a pleasant and joyful interchange, Bob concluded the breakfast by asking me gently, "So Craig, what are your spiritual gifts and how are you using them to serve the Lord?" My face likely turned redder than a stop sign as I grappled with a simple question I had not given thought to. It was just the gentle nudge I needed to move from consumer to servant host in that class and beyond.

I love Bob and Betty deeply and always admired the sacrificial and intentional way they encouraged, loved and shared their faith with us by teaching that Sunday School class. We were blessed to have that season more than 30 years ago with them. Their impact will last a legacy in my family as those two young girls are now married and we have our first grandchild. Their love and teaching will impact generations as those 40+ couples now have kids raising families of their own.

Craig Furniss

Bob "Papa" Nease was a very special man who we loved dearly. Our daughter Eryn married into the Nease/Kraning family and we were welcomed with love from the first time we met Betty and Bob. Such love, such warmth, such joy.

We were blessed to have Betty and Bob and some of their family as guests in our cabin in Lake Arrowhead, and I know they had some special times there. We would see Betty and Bob at the family birthdays and we cherish every time we got to see them. The joy of the Lord was so evident in their lives and they blessed all who knew them. Our grandchildren (their great grandchildren) will have Papa Nease's presence and legacy with them throughout their lives.

Thank you Lord Jesus for this good and faithful servant who made a great impact for your kingdom!