The Reverend Richard M. "Dick" Etner, 89, of Elkhart, passed into the loving arms of his Savior on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 12:08 p.m., surrounded by the peace of the Lord at Brickyard Healthcare Center in Elkhart, following an extended illness.

Born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, on July 14, 1936, to the late Richard Y. and Ruth J. (Johnson) Etner, Dick's life was a testament to faith, service, and steadfast devotion to both God and country. He is survived by his beautiful bride of 67 years, Marjorie A. (Brown) Etner, whom he married in Elmira, New York, on August 9, 1958 — while home on leave from the U.S. Navy. Their love story began in the most unexpected way: Dick had gone to visit his Aunt Jenny in the hospital, but fate intervened when he met her roommate, a young woman recovering from an appendectomy. Aunt Jenny, ever the matchmaker, urged Marjorie to write to Dick while he was at sea. She did — and thus began a correspondence that blossomed into a lifetime of love, ministry, and shared purpose.

Also surviving are Dick's children, The Rev. Stephen M. (Heather L.) Etner of Granger and Ruth A. (The Rev. Tony W.) Hufnagle of Elkhart; grandchildren Andrew (Catey) Etner, Philip Etner, Rebekah (Ben) Smith, Elisabeth Etner, Michael Ritz, Megan (Doug) Vander Roost, Makyle (Tessa) Hufnagle; and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in passing by his faithful white bichon frisé, "Bobo," who was never far from his side.

A memorial service celebrating Dick's life will be held at Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., with a gathering of family and friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. Pastor Carl Henry from the Northside Baptist Church will officiate. Military honors will be rendered at the funeral home by the United States Navy and the Elkhart County Veteran's Funeral Honor Guard.

A Life of Service — To Country and To Christ

Dick proudly served his nation in the United States Navy during a pivotal era in American history. Assigned to the storied Butler-class destroyer escort USS Tabberer (DE 418), he faithfully served as the ship's mail officer and bridge telecommunications specialist, ensuring the flow of vital communications across radio and satellite channels. The Tabberer was a ship of uncommon courage, famously earning a Navy Unit Commendation for heroism during Typhoon Cobra, when her crew rescued the survivors of three destroyers lost to the storm's fury. For Dick, the Navy was more than a job — it was a calling to duty, discipline, and camaraderie, values that would serve him well for the rest of his life.

When his naval service concluded, Dick answered another call — this time, from the Lord. Entering pastoral ministry, mostly within the Baptist church, he threw himself wholeheartedly into the work of shepherding souls. Whether from the pulpit, across a kitchen table, or in the aisle of a grocery store, Dick would speak to anyone about Jesus Christ. He was well known for finding a way to weave God's message of salvation into everyday conversation, often with a warm smile, gentle humor, and a sincerity that left a lasting mark.

Over the years, Dick pastored several congregations at churches in Elkhart, Saugerties, NY, Saginaw, MI and even an Evangelical Church in Bermuda, where the turquoise waters and vibrant island community gave him yet another mission field to love. He served for many years as Visitation Pastor for Elkhart's First Baptist Church, ministering to the sick, the homebound, and those in need of comfort. Finally, he served faithfully as a deacon at Elkhart's Northside Baptist Church, where his presence was as steady and reassuring as his handshake. Even in his later years, when his own health began to falter and he required assisted living care, Dick continued to lead others to the Lord — proving that for him, ministry was not a profession, but a lifelong devotion.

Beyond ministry, Dick was a man who found joy in God's creation. He was an avid gardener, coaxing beauty and bounty from the soil; a patient and committed deer and rabbit hunter, always with a deep respect for the land; and a man who felt at peace along the beach and ocean, the sound of the surf reminding him of his naval days.

Memorial contributions in Dick's honor may be made to the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (Harrisburg, PA), or to Pure Man Ministry of Granger, Indiana, founded by his son, Rev. Stephen Etner.

To those who knew him, Rev. Dick Etner will always be remembered as a faithful servant — a sailor who served his country with honor, and a pastor who served his Savior with love. His voice, his counsel, and his unwavering commitment to the Gospel will be dearly missed, but the seeds he planted will bear fruit for generations to come.