Chi Phi Fraternity Iota Delta Chapter

Today Brother Kevin Gfell was laid to rest in New Haven, Ind. Many family members and friends were present, including more Chi Phi brothers that I had ever seen outside of Bloomington. Alumni traveled from as far away as San Francisco and New York for the funeral and I suspect more will be in attendance Saturday at the memorial service in Indianapolis.

The size of the group made it obvious how many people Gfell touched in his all-too-short life. Although I was not among his closest friends, it was a privilege and an honor to call him “brother.”

We are all better people because we knew him. As the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi says: “Lord make me an instrument of Thy grace … Where there is hatred, let me show love … Where there is sadness, joy.”

Gfell was an instrument of His grace — he left us all with love and joy.

Rest in peace.

Note: If you haven’t already, leave your memories of Kevin after this post or the others below. Feel free to read what others have written. The outpouring of love is truly overwhelming.

Tags: Uncategorized by Derrick Gingery
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Friends of Brother Kevin Gfell are building a scrapbook of pictures and stories about him. Friends can e-mail their stories to: remembergfell@gmail.com.

Photos should be sent to: remembergfell.photos@picasaweb.com if you have a gmail account. If the pictures are coming from somewhere else, send them to the remembergfell@gmail.com account.

Brother Andy Stone also has made the online photo album publicly viewable. It is available here.

For those who don’t already know, comments and memories can be posted here or at any of the posts below. Some that I have read are really wonderful.

Note: Gfell’s obituary is now on the Fort Wayne Newspapers Web site, which handles the Journal Gazette and News-Sentinel. It also has a guest book feature, which you may sign.

Another note: For those of you coming to Fort Wayne from Indianapolis or other areas, please be careful if you are driving. Northeast Indiana is expecting blizzard conditions Wednesday and wind chills as low as -15 degrees, snow Thursday and very cold temperatures Friday. The latest forecast is here.

Tags: Uncategorized by Derrick Gingery
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Here is the schedule of services for Brother Kevin Gfell:

Wednesday, Jan 14th
Viewing from 7pm to 9pm
at: D.O. McComb and Sons
1320 E. Dupont Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Thursday, Jan 15th
Viewing from 2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm
Rosary Service at 3pm
at: D.O. McComb and Sons
1320 E. Dupont Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

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Friday, Jan 16th
Viewing and funeral will be at:
St. John the Baptist Church
943 Powers St
New Haven, IN 46774

Viewing from 9am to 11am
Funeral begins at 11am

View Larger Map

Saturday, Jan 17th
Prayer service at 1pm at:
Immaculate Heart of St. Mary
5692 Central Ave.
Indianapolis IN, 46220

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Thanks Brother Nick Barger for sending the information along. Leave memories here or after the posts below.

Tags: Uncategorized by Derrick Gingery
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More details to come, but it looks like there will be services in Fort Wayne (see post below) as well as a memorial in Indianapolis for those who can’t make it to Fort Wayne.

More details when they become available. You can post memories in the comments section here or the post below.

Tags: Uncategorized by Derrick Gingery
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The Iota Delta community is mourning the loss of Brother Kevin Gfell, Iota Delta class of 2001. He passed away Jan. 10.

Gfell was a fine active and alumni member. He was a member of the house’s Little 500 team, including the team that finished in third place in 1999. He also was a member of the alumni association board and an important part of efforts to save the chapter this past year.

Gfell grew up in New Haven and was living in Indianapolis. After finishing his undergraduate degree at IU, he graduated from the IU Law School at Indianapolis in 2004. He was practicing at Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman at the time of his death.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Services are expected to be Friday, Jan. 16 in Fort Wayne. More information will be posted here when it is available.

Those who knew him are shocked and saddened. He was a wonderful person and a credit to Chi Phi. Feel free to post your memories of Kevin in the comment section.

We all miss him. Rest in peace and God’s speed.

Tags: Alumni Updates by Derrick Gingery
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