Wayne Richard Carvell

Pastor Wayne Richard Carvell, 56, of Savanna, IL., died Saturday, July 10, 2010, of injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident while biking on Blackjack Road in Galena, Illinois. A memorial fund has been established in Wayne’s memory. Wayne was born to Robert E. and Francis J. Carvell in Centralia, IL, on November 2, 1953. As a child, Wayne attended the United Methodist Church of Centralia. At 17, he gave his heart to Jesus when Bob Laurent and the "Good News Circle" (a traveling evangelistic singing group from Judson College) passed through town. The next year Wayne attended Judson College in Elgin, IL, where he met his future wife, Karen Anne (Kermott) Carvell.
Wayne married Karen Kermott on November 24, 1973, in Morenci, MI. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and proudly served his country as a fuel specialist at the Little Rock AFB in Arkansas, the Kadina AFB in Okinawa, Japan, and as a student training advisor and Drum & Bugle Corps director at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL. He then served as a fuels accounting specialist at the Bitberg AFB in Bitberg, Germany, and at the KI Sawyer AFB in Gwinn, Michigan. Wayne volunteered to be sent to Desert Storm where he served as a liaison between the Saudis and the Chicago National Guard in the United Arab Emirates. During his Desert Storm tour Wayne also preached to the underground church. He later authored a book entitled, "Tenderness in the Wilderness" detailing his spiritual journey with members of the persecuted church. He also authored, "Uprooting the Mulberry Tree" and an E-book devotional entitled, "Clear Instruction."
After retiring from the military, Wayne was called by the Lord into full-time ministry while serving as an elder of the New Life Church in Marquette, MI. He graduated from North Central University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and was ordained by the Assemblies of God and Charismatic ministries. He pastored the New Hope Assembly of God Church in Cornell, WI, followed by the New Hope Assembly of God Church in Savanna, IL. He then planted the Church on a Hill located in Mount Carroll.
Wayne was a gifted vocalist and guitarist performing and recording over the years with his wife Karen. He was a licensed pilot, earned a black belt in Karate, enjoyed golf, bow hunting, carpentry, riding motorcycles, playing softball and cheering on the Cubs and Bears.