Rev. M. Samuel

Pasadena, California resident Reverend M. Manick Samuel, 79, passed away Thursday, November 11, 2010.

Services will be held Saturday, November 20, 2010; 10:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, Nebraska with Pastors Rev. Hughes Morris, Rev. A.K. Saul and Rev. Richard Turner officiating. Burial will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery in Trumbull, Nebraska following the service. Visitation will be held Friday, November 19, 2010; 3:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present 7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church. Rev. Samuel has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name be forwarded to supporting the Methodist Boys High School and Lucille Colony Girls Hostel in Bidar, India.

Rev. Samuel was born October 25, 1931 in Marjapur, India to Rev. Jothappa & Narsamma Samuel. His grandfather, Jothappa Shivappa, is historically remembered as the first Hindu in Bidar, India to be converted to Christianity in 1896. Rev. Samuel married Sarojini Yesudas in 1955 and had four children. He was an academic scholar, who received several Bachelors and Masters degrees in the fields of Education, Theology, History and Sociology. In 1968, he left India and came to the U.S. He received an educational scholarship to the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, earning the Masters of Divinity and Masters of Sacred Theology in 1970. Rev. Samuel was the first United Methodist Minister from India to serve in the Nebraska United Methodist Annual Conference. His first appointment in 1971 was with the Trumbull/Inland United Methodist Churches. He left Trumbull in 1977 and later served the churches of Red Cloud/Inavale, Holdrege/Wilcox/Ragan, Aurora/Marquette and Minden/Upland. He retired in 1998 after 40 years of service in Christian ministry in both the United States and India. During and after his service to the Methodist Church, Rev. Samuel felt strongly about financially assisting churches in and around Bidar, India to help build and maintain their structures. He also saw the importance of providing educational scholarships to students in India.

Survivors include:
Wife: Sarojini Samuel - Pasadena, CA
Children & Spouses: Shirin Samuel - Pasadena, CA
Edison & Margarette Samuel - Pasadena, CA
Sheba Dabney - Denver, CO
Sylvia & David Lancaster - Omaha, NE
Granddaughters: Sierra Lancaster - Omaha, NE
Sophia Lancaster - Omaha, NE
Siblings & Spouses: Rev. Sukumari Samuel-Michael & Anand Michael - Jackson, MS
Dr. Nelson &Triza Samuel - Moreno Valley, CA
Elizabeth & Dr. George Wolfer - Buckeye, AZ
Many other loved ones throughout the United States and India.