Wade Allen Church

Wade Allen Church, 69, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at his home. Mr. Church was born in Iredell County on May 17, 1947, and was the son of the late Robert “Doc” Clay Church and Edra Mae Padgette Church.  He attended Iredell County schools and on February 22, 1969, he married Joyce Queen Church and together they shared 47 years of marriage until his death. Mr. Church was a veteran of the U.S. Marines and was a member of Mt. Sinai Evangelical Methodist Church.  In 2009 he retired from the Iredell-Statesville Schools where he worked in the Maintenance Dept.  He enjoyed the time he shared with his co-workers at North Iredell High School and the ISS Maintenance Dept. He was an avid outdoorsman.  He loved coon and rabbit hunting along with all outdoor activities.  He was the past president of the Iredell County Coon Club and the Licensed Master of Hounds.  His two favorite coon hounds were Shine and Casey.   He was also a man that spoke his mind leaving nothing to guess.  Wades’ family was his life.  He had a deep love for Joyce and his three sons.  He shared that same love for his daughters-in-law.  Nothing compared to the grandkids.  He was quoted as saying “boys are special but girls are something else”.  Regardless, he treated everyone equal.  He will be missed by all who knew him. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Davidson and four brothers, Charles, Ben, Fred, and Neil Church. Along with his wife, Joyce, he is survived by three sons, Wayne Church (Beverly), Steve Church (Lisa), and Ken Church (Dawn), three grandsons, Lane, Jesse Mark, and Travis Church and two granddaughters, MaKenzie and Peyton Church, all of Statesville.  He is also survived by three sisters, Ruth Stewart (Jerry) of Oklahoma City, OK, Peggy Krider (Bill) and Judy Johnson, both of Statesville, along with a sister-in-law Faye Church of Southerlin, VA. A graveside funeral service with full military honors for Wade Church will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Mt. Sinai Evangelical Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Hyde and Pastor David Walters officiating.  The family will visit with friends this evening (Friday) from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Nicholson Funeral Home.  Active pallbearers will be Forest Church, Scott Krider, Johnny Ely, Rick Poole, Mike Davidson, Clarence Kissinger, and George Campbell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Wade Church.