I had the wonderful privilege of being raised in a Christian home, with loving parents , Roland and Bertha Pyche, who took us to Sunday School and church every Sunday morning and evening without missing a beat. I attended with my brother Roland, Jr. and sisters Ruthie, Muriel, and Betty Pyche. At the age of 13, I was baptized along with a number of my peers. I won trips to camps due to my memorizing Scripture verses and/or books of the Bible.
After the events of Pearl Harbor, I went into the Navy and was assigned as a medic to the Marine corps. During my time in the service I was briefly captured and manage to escape the Japanese. When our military unit went into China to accept the surrender of the Japanese, we also had the task of releasing the POW’s from various camps. One such couple that I got involved with was Mr. & Mrs. Lehnse from Holland, who were under the American Presbyterian Board of Missions. They did not want to go home yet, as they wanted to get their compound (church, school, medical clinic, etc) up and running. Through their faithfulness to the Almighty, I saw and came to know the Lord of the heart, as well as the mind. I felt the Lord leading me to Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was there where I learned about believer’s baptism, and at my home church in Massachusetts, I answered the call of obedience and was baptized, in 1947. My fiancée and eventual wife, Mary (Stone) Pyche, together made Proverbs 3:5-6 our life verses. We were married for almost 49 years when God called her home in 1997. God blessed us with 4 children, our 3 kings, and a queen, John, Roger, David, and Arlene. He took our second son, Roger, home in 1983 in an industrial accident. Together they have given me 7 grandchildren, (Christina, JJ, Paul, Shelby, Jay, David, and Erin) and most recently one great-granddaughter (Piper). Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege of serving the Lord in many ways. One of my greatest blessings was being Chairman of the Deacon Board at Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis. I also treasured being able to teach and serve in many churches. After retirement, from a long career between Fuller Brush Company and GAF Corporation, the Lord gave Mary and me the opportunity to serve in Liberia, West Africa. Though civil war required us to return early, we counted it a joy to serve God in this way.
Returning to the states we moved to Albert Lea to be close to our daughter and her family. I continued my ministry with the Gideon’s, an organization I had been involved with for many years. Along with this ministry we served as hosts for Christian retreats at Camp Lebanon and Trout Lake Camp inMinnesota, and I continued this ministry after Mary’s passing. While serving at these retreats, I met Myrtle Thompson. In 2000 I had the privilege of making her Myrtle Pyche.
God has blessed me many with many good friends, good memories, and opportunities to serve Him. While I’ve not always been faithful in that, God is faithful and just to forgive. My life has been truly a reflection of His goodness, His mercy and His grace.
Thoughts from the Family
We would like to thank Allina Hospice and Ramsey County Care Center for their loving support, care and skill. In lieu of flowers contributions should be to Camp Lebanon, 1205 Acorn Rd., Burtrum, MN 56318.
He is survived by his wife Myrt Pyche. His son John, Sr, (Linda), David (Sheri), daughter Arlene (Marty) Little, 7 grandchildren, 1 great grand-daughter, daughter-in-law Dorothy (Bob) Clifton and his brotherRoland, Jr. (Muriel) Pyche. He is preceded in death, by his first wife, Mary, his son Roger, his parents Roland, Sr. (Bertha) Pyche and his sisters Ruthie, Muriel, Betty.