Dewitt Obits

Ernest Breithaupt

The Rev. Ernest D. Breithaupt, 79, of Wapella, died Thursday (April 27, 2017) at his home.
 
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Apostolic-Pentecostal Church, 2810 Tractor Lane, Bloomington. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at First United Pentecostal Church, 3 Jones Lane, Bloomington. Interment will immediately follow services at Randolph Township Cemetery. Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington, is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Pentecostal Church of Bloomington Missions Fund.
 
Ernest DeWitt Breithaupt was born Aug. 16, 1937, in Grant Parish, La., son of Rufus DeWitt and Rosa Belle Blackshear Breithaupt. He began to feel his call into the ministry when he was 16 and he later gave up a football scholarship to Louisiana State University to go into ministry.
 
In 1957, he went to Apostolic Bible Institute, St. Paul, Minn. At ABI, he met Wally Ann Bierschenk from Louisville, Ky. They were married Aug. 23, 1958. In 1959, they moved to Frankfort, Ky., to build a church there.
 
In 1962, he returned to ABI as an instructor and also pastored the daughter church of Midway Tabernacle, St. Paul, Minn. From there, he moved to Apopka, Fla., and pastored the United Pentecostal Church. 
 
In 1968, he was elected to the pastorate of Apostolic Church, Belleville. Gateway College of Evangelism began in 1968 and, for its first three years, he served as an adjunct faculty member.
 
In 1972, Pastor Breithaupt was elected to be full-time district secretary of the Illinois District and in 1981 was elected to be district superintendent of the Illinois District. He held this position for 20 years.
 
In 1989, he was appointed to the budget committee of the general board for United Pentecostal Church International and continued to serve until 2015. In 1991, he became pastor of First United Pentecostal Church, Bloomington. One very enjoyable assignment for him was becoming a part of the board of directors of the Tupelo Children's Mansion in 1972, where he continued to serve as an honorary board member until his death.
 
Surviving are his wife, Wapella; two daughters, Lori (Daniel) Bentancur, Lyndhurst, N.J., and Lisa Mustread, Bloomington; five grandchildren, Alexis, Stefan (Miranda), Joshua, Abby amd Lanette; one great-granddaughter, Alejandra; and one sister, Lorain Carroll, Winnfield, La.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Robby.
 
Pastor Breithaupt will be remembered fondly by his family and friends because he was the best gumbo-maker outside of Louisiana, a marvelous story-teller, and though he was serious and compassionate, he was a prankster with a loud-booming laugh.
 
To express condolences, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.