Osceola- Rev. Dr. Clyde Ralph Root, 79, went home to be with the Lord on December 27, 2024, passing away peacefully in his sleep. Born December 30, 1944, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Arthur and Anna (Geist) Root. On May 23, 1971, he married Maryanne (Drewa) Root in Minot, North Dakota, and they shared 52 years of happy matrimony. She preceded him in death on March 17, 2024.

Clyde's story begins when he came to know Christ as a young boy at Lebanon Church of God, thereafter spending the next 70 years living out his savior's gift as an embodiment of his faith. Overwhelmed by the unspeakable joy of salvation, his heart stirred with humility and service and bore witness as a believer. In everything he did, and everything he was, he took every opportunity to tell those who knew him, "I love Jesus."

His coworkers knew, especially those at Bethel University, where he worked for 35 years in the library and classroom. For 25 years he taught history as an associate professor and served as Director of the Bowen Library, staying on as a staff librarian until retiring at the rank emeritus librarian. Never the big man on campus, he diligently did his job as a way of telling students, faculty, and staff, "I love the college."

Local worshipers also knew Clyde's heart, serving as interim pastor for over two decades at numerous churches in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. He first pastored his own congregation in North Dakota from 1968–1982 at Ryder Church of God, a pioneer parish that met in a storefront sanctuary. The small, rural fellowship grew out of Northwest Bible College, where he graduated in 1967 before earning his doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota in 1981. Up to the very last days of his life, he encouraged parishioners to remain strong in the Lord with his simple testimony, "I love the church."

Unknown to many, though, Clyde did not grow up in a loving home. Instead, at a very young age he ran away from one marked by violence and abuse. He grew up bouncing around Foster homes and institutional ones, always longing for the home he could rightly call his own. After graduating from Gettysburg High School in 1963, the 100-year anniversary of the famous Civil War battle, he peacefully settled his own civil war by building a home rooted in kindness. Never once striking his hand in violence, he forgave his abuser by raising a family cultivated in the cherished words, "I love you."

While Clyde's story could stretch on into eternity, with endless memories from the five colleges he served at or his love of food, the flag, the New York Yankees, and more food, at his core he lived the Word of God every day in the light of its most famous verse. John 3:16. The scripture not only guided him home to glory, but also quickened him to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, the most important story a man can tell by living his life in its grace known so well. "For God so loved the world . . . "

Clyde is survived by three sons, Mark (Sara) Root, Jonathan (Susan) Root, Dr. David Root; four grandchildren, Katie (Jared) Gerndt, Madelynne Root, Melissa Root, Andrew Root; one great-grandson, Elijah Gerndt; three brothers, Ralph (Ann) Root, Irwin Root, Thomas (Vertie) Root; one sister, Rita (Terry) Kreiser; one aunt, Jean Geist; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Arthur Root, Jr., William Root, Robert Root, Jonathan (Gloria) Root; and one sister, Anna (Harry) Reist.

Family and friends may visit on Monday, January 6, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, located at 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola, Indiana 46561, immediately followed by a funeral service at Chapel Hill at 12:00 pm. Burial follows immediately at Southlawn Cemetery, located at 61430 IN-931, South Bend, Indiana 46614.