John Samsvick Obituary

Rev. John I. Samsvick, age 98, longtime resident of Windsor Locks, CT, and former pastor of the Windsor Locks Congregational Church, passed away December 4, 2024. Rev. Samsvick was born John Samusevich in Waterbury, CT, son of the late George and Efrosina (Lutzevich) Samusevich. After high school, he pursued undergraduate studies at Northwestern Bible College in St. Paul, MN, where he met his wife, Eileen. They returned to Waterbury where John served in pastoral ministry at the Waterville Union Church and later West End Congregational Church in Bridgeport. While pastoring, he completed his undergraduate degree at King's College in New York City and his Master of Divinity degree at Yale Divinity School where he remembered with great fondness studying under world-class scholars Brevard Childs, Roland Baines, and H. Richard Niebuhr. After graduation and ordination, he accepted a call to pastor the Windsor Locks Congregational Church where he served for twenty-five years.
Following retirement, he continued to serve in interim pastorates completing fifty-five years of ministry. He and Eileen crisscrossed the country visiting children and grandchildren. He cared for Eileen for fifteen years following her diagnosis of Alzheimer's until her death in 2011.
In addition to his love of Scripture and theology, John enjoyed being outdoors and caring for his yard. He enjoyed all sports, especially golf and tennis, but was a diehard Red Sox fan, celebrating when they finally won the Series in 2004. Along with his wife, he was a talented pianist and singer and continued to play the piano until his death.
His family will remember him as a man of deep spiritual conviction and a primary source of faith and guidance in their lives. He was a voracious reader and up until age 98 maintained a blog where he created and posted videos discussing the great theological insights of his favorite theologian, the late nineteenth century Scottish New Testament scholar James Denney, D.D. (www.jamesdenneyaliberatinggospel.com). He persistently promoted the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his atonement on the cross, convinced that it remained the hope of the world.
He is survived by his eldest daughter Priscilla (Samsvick) Baldock and her husband David of Cashmere, WA; his son, Timothy Samsvick of Windsor Locks; his twin daughters, Rebecca (Samsvick) Keller and her husband, Stephen, of Wethersfield, and Elizabeth (Samsvick) Isaac and her husband, Gordon, of Wenham, MA; nephews Dean M. Samsvick of Anaheim, CA; Gerald C. Molkenthin and Steven P. Molkenthin of MN; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, other extended family and dear friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved wife, Eileen Mary (Golden) Samsvick and siblings Luba Shebatin, Lena Qurici, and Rev. Michael Samsvick.
A memorial service will be held at the Windsor Locks Congregational Church, Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Windsor Locks Congregational Church. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com