Pastor Harry Charles Stewart

Pastor Harry Charles Stewart, 87, of Lake Charles, LA went home to be with the Lord on July 6, 2022. Harry was born in Hartford, WI on November 17, 1934. He was married on January 26, 1957, to his beloved Elaine Katherine Kazirod Stewart who preceded him in death July 4, 2015. He later married his second love Elsie Wamsley-Stewart on May 29, 2021.Pastor Harry Stewart's life was one of ministry, walking with his Savior, ministering to others. Brother Harry, as he would become known, planted and pastored churches in Wisconsin and Louisiana over his 70 years of ministry. Whether it was leading the church youth, teaching Sunday school, or tending the flock, his personal commitment to individuals and their needs was always evident and resulted in thousands who were able to experience a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Jesus.

Brother Harry moved to Lake Charles to pastor the Lake Charles Bible Church. After some time he was led to form a fellowship of like minded Bible believers which became Faith Bible Church and Faith Christian Academy. He faithfully led the flock at the church and taught Bible, Science and History in the school. He will, however, be remembered for being more than the first pastor of the church, for it was his constant ministry to individuals as he lived a life of faith and shared his faith so willingly that was the cornerstone of his life of ministry. Whether it was from the pulpit of the church or sitting across the table, at the lake house fishing or during an insurance sales presentation, all will remember the excitement reflected in Brother Harry as he shared the Gospel message of God's forgiveness of sin through the finished work of Christ on the cross. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) he would quote following with “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.“ (Romans 10:13) His ability to communicate the deepest of theological truths in the simplest of terms conveyed the love of Jesus that he knew and experienced and wanted others to know as well.

Harry, affectionately called “Papa” by family, (a name that he held dear) was preceded in death by his parents Harry Charles Stewart and Esther Johnson Stewart, his wife Elaine Katherine Kazirod Stewart, and a son Vance Charles Stewart, and a son-in-law Robert Frank Machen. He is survived by his second wife Elsie Wamsley-Stewart; brother Mark David Stewart and wife Carol of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister Jeanne Stewart Ruth and husband William of Oregon, WI; son Blaize Stewart and wife Dona of Lake Charles, LA; daughter Wendy Machen of Port St. Lucie, FL; daughter Jody Tedeton and husband Curt of Montevallo, AL; daughter Tammy Greathouse and husband James of Lake Charles, LA; and son Jason Stewart and wife Julia of Lake Charles, LA; forty-one grandchildren: Autumn and Phillip Bridgers, Antoinette and Russell Drott, Blaize and April Stewart, Benjamin Stewart and Karrie Gilroy, Stephen and Rebecca Lee, Jennifer and Chris Dietz, Rachel and Paul Albaugh, Ashley and Frank Barrientes, Jonathan Tedeton, Stephen and Katie Tedeton, Amber and Mason Smith, Abigail and Daniel Marshall, Anna and Joshua Pennington, Stewart and Erica Greathouse, Elaine and Jeremy Leger, Lawrence and Jessica Greathouse, Katherine and Garrett White, Valerie and Chris Harp, Vanessa and Joshua Custer, Veronica and Jamie Waterman, and Vance and Maddie Stewart; and forty-eight great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 from 10:00 - 1:00 with service beginning at 1:00. Dr. Bart Leger of Faith Bible Church will officiate. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Garden Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.