Jean Louise Habig Urshan

Jean Louise Habig Urshan, age 85 years, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. after being involved in a motor vehicle accident in December, 2006. Funeral services were held at 2:00 P. M. Thursday, May 10, at the Rector Funeral Home, 8310 S. Coulter Rd., Amarillo, with Pastor Terry Pugh officiating. Funeral services will also be at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 16, at Calvary Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana. Burial will be in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jean was born July 21, 1921 in Indianapolis, IN to Andrew and Hattie Gakstetter Habig, and throughout her life she loved and stayed close to both the Habig and Gakstetter sides of her family. The very gentle and backwoods country girl traveled to New York City with her pastor, Raymond Hoekstra in 1938 and there met the handsome Nathaniel A. Urshan, son of a prominent New York pastor. Nathaniel and Jean were married in October 1941. The marriage of the Urshans launched a ministerial career of speaking and singing that included the pastorate of the 2500 member Calvary Tabernacle in Indianapolis from 1949 to 1979, the leadership post of the 4 million member United Pentecostal Church, International from 1977 to 2002 as well as hundreds of conferences, camp meetings, and special church events around the world. The unpretentious girl who attended the Arthur Jordan School of Music in Indianapolis, and the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, MN, and played the piano at the little, backwoods church in Brown County, IN, never dreamed that their music on CD's, tapes, records, and in live performances would impact an entire generation of listeners and beyond. Her admirers included, Oral and Evelyn Roberts, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Tom Trask, General Superintendant of the Assemblies of God, and millions of others who tuned in to the Harvestime International Broadcast between the years 1961 and 2003. Jean has now stepped across the great divide. Blessed with an amazing genteel nature, she leaves behind three surviving children, 1 daughter, Annette R. Elms and husband Rev. Royce, of Amarillo, TX; 2 sons, Rev. Nathaniel Paul Urshan and wife Kathy, of Indianapolis, IN, and Rev. Andrew D. Urshan and wife, Cathy of Arcadia, FL; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Rev. Nathaniel A. Urshan, a precious daughter, Sharon Sue McKellar, sister, Elizabeth French, and a brother, William Habig. The family extends a special thanks to Triumph Hospital and the staff for the tender loving care they provided for Jean.