On July 8, 2014, Wava Hale Teilmann (91) passed away in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she and her late husband Gunnar Teilmann had retired to in the early 1980s.
“Mother went to be with my Dad and Jesus today at 12.30 pm,” wrote Gunnar Johan Teilmann III – or “Tiga” as he was fondly known – in an email to a member of Wesley Methodist Church (WMC), Singapore. “We all thank God that she died peacefully. My sisters were all with her.”
Wava leaves behind four children, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She especially loved butterflies, and wore a butterfly pin whenever she went out – she loved the freedom and promise of resurrection symbolised by butterflies.
Wava was born on a hillside in tiny Comer’s Rock, Virginia, in 1922. At the age of just 27, she became a “citizen of the world”, and ventured beyond the shores of America to serve alongside her husband, the Rev Gunnar J. Teilmann Jr. The Teilmanns left a significant legacy through their ministry and service here in Singapore and Malaya (as it was then known) from 1949 to 1981, a span of more than 30 years.
The Teilmanns first arrived in this part of the world, when they landed in Kuala Lumpur in September 1949 for Gunnar to pastor Wesley Methodist Church in KL for five years. Later they moved to Ipoh for 11 months. Subsequently, he served in Penang as a pastor, before he joined WMC in Singapore as a pastor for four years.
Mr John Lee Choon Soo, a member of WMC Singapore and a pioneer member of the church’s Dawnbreakers choir, shared: “We remember Wava with fondest memories. She was instrumental in getting the Dawnbreakers started in 1961, and in fact christened the choir with this name, and it’s stuck till now.
“We grieve with the family – Johanna, Beth, Tiga and Evalin, but rejoice that Wava is now united with Jesus and Gunnar.
After serving with WMC Singapore, Gunnar taught at Trinity Theological College for 14 years as a part-time lecturer in pastoral care and Christian education. During this time, he founded the Counselling and Care Centre, and was also one of the founders of the Samaritans of Singapore, as well as being involved in the creation of the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association and the Singapore Association of Mental Health.
It was no wonder that Gunnar was known as the “people pastor” and the “social service pastor”. The Ministry of Social Affairs presented him with an “Award of Appreciation” in 1979. (“A home for Asian students” by Dianna Khoo – Methodist Message, November 1980).
Indeed, Gunnar’s heart was still very much with the people he served for more than 30 years – just a few days before his death, and when he could no longer talk, he scrawled on a notepad: “I am a Malayan Methodist pastor. Ask them to pray for me in Malaya.” (Obituary by the Rev Denver Stone – Methodist Message, June 1987)
Gunnar passed away at the age of 68, six years after they returned to the USA from Asia, and since then, we know he’s been waiting for his “Wava-honey” to join him.
Wava continued to lead an active life in the church she was with – Blacksburg United Methodist Church. She regularly listened to the broadcast of the church’s 11 am service, when attending services became too difficult. She also kept herself apprised of world events, read voraciously, shared boundless stories of her experiences and travels, and loved playing Scrabble!
She especially loved butterflies, and wore a butterfly pin whenever she went out – she loved the freedom and promise of resurrection symbolised by butterflies. (Wava Teilmann’s Obituary: The Roanoke Times – m.roanoke.com).
Rest in peace, Wava, and delight for all eternity in the presence of our Lord and Saviour, and reunited with your dearest Gunnar.
Christina Stanley is Editor of the Methodist Message and a member of Wesley Methodist Church. Valuable archival information on the Teilmanns was made available by Ms Jenny Ng, Manager, Archives & History Library of The Methodist Church in Singapore.