Wayne Stephen Josefson
June 17th, 2019
Wayne Stephen Josefson fell asleep in the Lord with his family around him on June 17, 2019 at the age of 66 years. He will be missed by his wife Shirley; children Michelle, Suzanne (Chris Beckel), and Mark (Valérie Lemay); and his beloved grandchildren Emaleigh, William, and Andrew; extended family, friends, and colleagues.
Wayne was born in Wyoming, Rhode Island on December 25, 1952 to Raymond and Pauline Josefson. He has three brothers Jeff, Doug, and Dean. The family lived in Wyoming, Rhode Island until Wayne was six, at which point they moved to Warwick. After High School, Wayne spent one year at the University of Rhode Island studying administration and then one year in a small Bible School. That summer he went to Magog, Québec to work at a camp where he felt the Lord pushing him to learn French at Bethel, a school that would come to have an important impact on his life.
After learning French, Wayne took theological and biblical courses at Bethel which opened him to his calling as a pastor. More importantly, it was there that Wayne met the love of his life and future wife. After proposing to Shirley, they started dating and soon got married. Their first child, Michelle was born during a two-year stint as student pastor in Richmond, Québec. Shortly thereafter, Wayne – and Shirley – accepted their first call to the full-time pastorate at the Église Évangelique Libre de Chambly, near Montréal, where they would minister for 19 years and where Suzanne and Mark were born.
During his time as pastor in Chambly, Wayne also became superintendent of the Evangelical Free Church of Québec. This allowed him to use his strong administrative drive and focus on details. It also afforded him the opportunity to travel and create some strong and lasting friendships with other members of the Free Church board. Having a very diverse skillset, Wayne found fulfillment in building relationships, preaching, teaching, administrating, and doing various building and renovation projects. However, cancer and spreading himself a little thin resulted in Wayne struggling with depression and burnout. Eventually he decided to seek a change by completing his M.Div. at Briercrest. He spent the subsequent years in Québec back at Bethel as registrar and administrator investing in another generation of francophone young people seeking to learn about God.
His final chapter of ministry was spent serving the Evangelical Free Church of Regina close to his cherished grandchildren. Despite his increasing health issues, it brought him great joy to be part of the E-Free Church again and to invest in significant relationships.
Wayne was granted his desire not to retire but to serve to the end of his life.
Messages:
Dear shirley and family So sorry to hear about pastor Wayne he was a great man and we cared alot about him if you need anything let me know Sincerely Kieth holly and jayken
Dear Shirley, Marilyn Garter told me about Wayne's graduation to heaven. I am so sorry for your loss but rejoice that he is with his Savior. We rejoice that his suffering is now ended and that you and your family will see him again one day, as our hope is in the Lord and His promises!! I remember fondly our year at Bethel studying French.
Dear Shirley, We have just learned from Gaetan and Ivy about Wayne's passing. We are so sorry to hear of this great loss and ask the Lord to be your comfort and source of strength at this time. We met at Bethel, Ron was part of the Bible course. What precious memories we have of our three years there and of the wonderful people that we met! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Love, Gloria and Ron
Dear Shirley and family, we were so very saddened to learn of Wayne’s passing, yet happy for him to be at peace with His Lord and Saviour. Praise God that, for the believer, death has lost its sting. We have fond memories of you both from our days at Bethel and beyond… Wayne and his orange VW, his time with Gaetan one summer working in camps throughout Quebec, your warm hospitality and acceptance of our son Marc as one of your own, Wayne’s wonderful smile and sense of humour. We are confident that our Heavenly Father will continue to strengthen, encourage, protect and direct you, Shirley, as you continue to find your refuge in Him. We praise God too that you have a wonderful family who will be there for you. Love & prayers from us.
Hello Shirley, We were sorry to learn of Wayne's homecall. He has been released from his long years of pain and illness and is with his Lord whom he served so faithfully to the end. You and the family are in our prayers, that God will conform and sustain you during your time of sorrow. Come back to Quebec and visit sometime. Richard & Virginia Strout
We learned of Wayne's passing and want to send our sincere condolences to you Shirley, and the family. Even though we never got to know you very well while you were here in Quebec, we are deeply grateful for all the time and effort you put into the Lord's work among the French Canadians. May the Lord comfort you all at this difficult time.
Bonjour Shirley, Je suis ému en apprenant le départ de Wayne! Je suis désolé pour toi et toute la famille. Je garde de bons souvenir de sa bienveillance envers moi quand je tardais à lui envoyer les résultats des examens des étudiants de Bethel. Sa gracieuse patience m'a été d'une grand réconfort. Je vous présente toutes mes condoléances! Dans l'espérance de le revoir dans la gloire de notre Seigneur Jésus! Michel Michel-Habib, St-Eustache, Qc
Je suis triste d’apprendre le décès de Wayne… Un homme de Dieu que j’ai connu il y a pas mal d’années surtout lorsqu’il était (à Carignan) à Chambly là où il m’invitait à prêcher quelquefois. Yolande et moi transmettons nos sympathies à Shirley et sa famille. Fernand et Yolande Saint-Louis.
I look forward to seeing Wayne with our wonderful Lord beyond the veil. We were on several committees together in the Montreal area and it was always a pleasure to work with him. May our Father console his wife and family. « Cette espérance, nous la possédons comme une ancre de l’âme, sûre et solide ; elle pénètre au delà du voile » (He 6.19). René Frey
Chère Shirley, Nous voulons t'offrir toutes nos sincère sympathies en Jésus-Christ notre Sauveur. Il nous fait beaucoup de peine du départ de Wayne après sa longue maladie, mais pas autant qu'à toi. Que le Seigneur t'aide à continuer ton pélerinage sans ton cher Wayne, mais sache le Seigneur et avec toi et que Wayne est dans sa présence. Tu sais que Dieu un amour tout particulier pour les veuves. Bon courage! Dieu, ton bon Berger est avec toi pour te soutenir. (Ps 23). Nous prions pour toi. Tes amis en Jésus-Christ, Fernand & Evelyn
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Wayne. Are thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of great loss. Uncle John Aunt Nellie and Donna Penner
Dear Shirley and family, we are sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing and want you to know you are in our prayers.
Dear Shirley & Family, Let me borrow the following from CHS's Morning Devotional for today. We pray that God will use this truth to encourage your hearts today. With love and prayers, Gerald & Gloria "Christ Himself is the builder of His spiritual temple, and He has built it on the mountains of His unchangeable affection, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truthfulness. But as it was in Solomon's temple, so in this: The materials need to be prepared. There are the cedars of Lebanon, but they are not framed for the building; they are not cut down and shaped and made into those planks of cedar whose fragrant beauty will make glad the courts of the Lord's house in paradise. There are also the rough stones still in the quarry, which must be hewn out and squared. All this is Christ's own work. Each individual believer is being prepared and polished and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, except when they are used by Him to fulfill His purpose. Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashions our hearts correctly. As in the building of Solomon's temple, where "neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard"1 because it all arrived perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy, so is it with the temple that Jesus builds; the preparation is all done on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no maturing us with suffering. No, we must be made ready here--and all that Christ will do He will do now; and when He has done it, we will be ferried by a loving hand across the stream of death and brought to the heavenly Jerusalem, to live as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord."
«Dieu est pour nous un rempart, | il est un refuge, un secours toujours offert | lorsque survient la détresse. Aussi, nous ne craignons rien | quand la terre est secouée, quand les montagnes s’effondrent, | basculant au fond des mers, quand, grondants et bouillonnants, | les flots des mers se soulèvent et ébranlent les montagnes. Pause» Psaumes 46:2-4 BDS https://www.bible.com/21/psa.46.2-4.bds
Toutes nos condoléances à la famille Josefson. Que Dieu vous garde et vous réconforte. Nous gardons de bon souvenirs de « oncle Wayne ».
So sorry to hear about your loss, your family is in our thoughts. Please accept our deepest sympathy, Markon's family
So very sorry for your loss. Our consolation is that there is so much joy in the resurrection and we live in the hope of being reunited in Christ. Christ is Risen! May Wayne's memory be eternal. Love to you all ~ Helen
Dear Shirley and family, We were saddened to hear of Wayne's passing. I (Sam) had enjoyed a warm friendship with him even though intermittently attended to with semi-occasional breakfasts. Our discussions included ministry, theology, personal and family matters, histories, etc. I'm grateful for those visits and saddened that they will be no more, as we had both said, "See you next time" after our last one just a couple of weeks ago. We hope that you will find comfort in the good memories you have made, in the fellowship of your family and community, and above all in the hope of the resurrection. Sam and Erika
Shirley and family, So sorry to hear of Wayne's passing but so happy for him and his health battles over. My prayers will be with you in the days to come as I know that even though I knew Don was failing, it didn't make the loss less difficult. God will be your strength as you relive many memories and especially those created in the hard times. Love and many prayers for strength as you grieve. Don enjoyed Wayne so much and the times spent together were never long enough. Love, Carol Anderson
Dear Deacon Mark: So very sorry for your loss. Keeping you and your family in prayer. May your father's memory be eternal. In Christ, Leslie Brigid
Chers Shirley, Michelle, Suzanne, Mark et les petits enfants, je viens tout juste d'apprendre cette triste nouvelle du décès de Wayne :( Je vous offre mes sincères condoléances. Mes années passées dans votre famille et dans l'église de Chambly ont été très importantes pour moi. Elles ont grandement influencé ma vie jusqu'à ce jour. Je suis très reconnaissante envers Wayne pour son aide spirituel et ainsi que votre soutien et amour envers moi à travers ces années. Je pense bien à vous tous dans ces moments difficiles. Louise et Graham