Early Friday morning, Dan Rice passed away suddenly in St. Louis, possibly of an aneurism. Dan served as the well-loved youth and family minister of the Greater St. Louis Church of Christ.

Funeral arrangements are announced here.

Dan was in good health and only 44 years old. Evangelist John Lusk asks for prayers for Dan's wife Heidi and their children Alex (16) and Taylor (14). The family had just returned from leading church camp and were to leave today for the annual Heartland Youth Mission Trip to build homes in Mexico with Casa por Cristo.

About 50 people gathered at the hospital as word spread quickly about Dan's death. Calls are coming in from many places. An autopsy is scheduled for later today to determine the exact cause of death.

Arrangements:

Visitation & wake: Tuesday, June 24th from 4-9pm at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home located at 12444 Olive Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63146. Phone number: (314) 514-1111. Click here for directions to the funeral home.

Memorial service: 11am on Wednesday, June 25th at the Greater St. Louis Church building located at 9330 Stansberry Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63134. Phone number: (314) 653-1615. Click here for a map. The funeral will follow at Mount Lebanon Cemetery at 11101 Saint Charles Rock Road, Saint Ann, Missouri 63074.

Reception Luncheon: Everyone is invited to attend a fellowship reception & luncheon immediately after at the Greater St. Louis Church building.

Donations: may be made to any Bank of America location to the “Dan Rice Memorial Fund.”

A memorial fund is being established for the children. Further details will be published on the St. Louis Church of Christ website www.greaterstlchurch.org

Dan leaves a legacy of love and service as a man of God, disciple of Jesus, wonderul father, great friend and an effective, passionate youth and family minister.

Click here for the online Dan Rice Memorial started by his fellow minister and friend Tim Schmidt.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them. Revelation 14:13

Dan Rice became a Christian in 1982 while a student at the University of Arizona. Heidi was converted to Christ in 1983 while a student at the University of Colorado. Dan has done graduate work at Denver Seminary and was working on a masters program at the Harding University Graduate School of Religion. Dan and Heidi Rice met in Denver in 1986 as members of the Denver Church planting. After working together as ministry interns for three years for the church they married in 1990. Since serving in the full-time ministry, beginning in 1987, they have served in many capacities in a number of different cities and states - Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Wichita, and now St. Louis for the last nine years.

Dan's powerful leadership will be missed. He served as the Associate Minister, and directed the Youth and family ministries with Heidi. Dan was also serving on the Committee for Youth and Family Ministries, which is a service team for the International Churches of Christ.

Our prayers and condolences go out to the Rice family, as well as the St Louis church.

(bio from www.greaterstlchurch.org)