Dr. Ross William Bacon
Dr. Ross William Bacon, faithful servant of the One True King, age 70, of Indian Head Park, formerly LaGrange, went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 1st, 2022.Beloved husband of Karen (Kats) of 48 years; Devoted dad of children Jenny (Bacon) Kutchek and her husband Randy, Kevin Bacon and his wife Kirstin (Patzwaldt); Cherished Pa of Isabella Wren and Jack Kutchek and Sophia and Olivia Bacon.
He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Harold and Ruth (Brehman) Bacon, and siblings Robert, Bradley, and Ruthann Bacon Jacobsen.
He is also survived by his caring mother-in-law, Doris Kats, and brothers and sisters-in-law David and Ona Kats, Jack and Cindy Kats, Len and Char Kats, Peggy Sullivan, Carole Bacon, Jeff Jacobsen, and Laura Bacon. He also leaves his legacy with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Ross was born January 24th, 1952 and grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He enjoyed and excelled in sports, but his true passion in life was for following Jesus, so much so that it transformed his life at the age of 19, where he changed his pursuit of a professional baseball career in order to serve the Lord as youth, assistant, associate and senior pastor of LaGrange Bible Church for 42 years, and in retirement he continued to serve and preach at Marion Hills Bible Church of Darien these past three years.
Arrangements: Visitation on Friday, February 11th, 2022, from 4-7PM at LaGrange Bible Church, 850 S. 7th Avenue, LaGrange, Illinois, 60525. Memorial Service on Saturday, February 12th at 1PM will also be held at LaGrange Bible Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to LaGrange Bible Church (850 S. 7th Avenue, LaGrange, IL, 60525) or Marion Hills Bible Church (142 Plainfield Road, Darien, IL 60561).
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!…always pointing everyone to Him! You will be missed here on Earth, already looking forward to the moment we get to see you again!
His service to the Lord meant so much to me and my children. He also helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life.
I always found him to be so patient and sensitive and kind, it just never seemed to run out.
God has blessed us all in many different ways through Ross’s life,
I’m so sorry for the pain he suffered and so happy he now has his joy on Heaven.
I’ll look forward to seeing him again with great anticipation.
Praying for you and the family. God bless you all.
Always a wonderful smile would greet me when I ran into pastor Ross. God bless you. My condolences to those who knew Him better than I did.
Pastor Ross married Dee and I. He was always an example of grace, discipline, organization and love for people.
He will be missed.
Met Ross when he was 8 and I was 9 and we were on the same baseball team. Became great friends and played wiffle ball,football and hockey along with our brothers as kids. Played against each other in the state playoffs in high school. Rest in peace brother 🙏
He was a true man of God! He touched so many peoples lives. He will be missed!
My prayers and my heart go out to the Bacon/Kats family for the loss of such a wonderful, kindhearted, loving family member. He will be missed by the many people who’s lives God was able to touch through him. So thankful that he is with our Lord and Savior now. We will miss him!
Pastor Bacon never wanted to be know as a great man, but as a man given A NEW LIFE BY A GREAT GOD.
He lived out this in his family, community and ministry. I learned so much from him both in leadership, communication, oversight of a large and involved church and most of all in being and living what he preached. As Randy stated above, the thing I shall remember always is: “ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS, JESUS, JESUS.” Welcome HOME, the best part of eternity has begun for you and I shall see you again. And to Karen and his wonderful family, know that you will be continually upheld before the Throne of Grace. JOY and LOVE dear friend, pastor and mentor, Don Wood
Truly a remarkable example of being a servant to the Lord. Now he follows Jesus to the heavenly reward he emotionally preached of. God bless the family and all those friends from the congregation who will certainly miss his heart and his smile.
As I battled mental illness through the years Pastor Bacon treated me with dignity, respect, empathy, and most of all love. He was just a stunningly great example for Christ. “Jesus loves you and so do I”. Thank you my friend for loving your neighbor as yourself. May God bless Karen, the Bacon family, LaGrange Bible Church, and Marion Hills Bible Church.
Karen and family,
I am heartbroken and sad for all of you! Ross was a blessing in my life and I felt the strength and courage I needed through difficult times bc of his strong faith and conviction.
Pastor Ross has been my famlies spirtual leader & friend for 35 years. He lived for Christ and that was the reason he connected to so many. On this side of heaven he will be missed until we meet again. Love to Karen & family.
Ross. I am a better husband, father, grandfather and friend because of you. Thank you for all that you taught me. I love you, man!
How our family loved our Pastor Bacon! Ross truly lived the verse “the JOY of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10. He always had a genuine smile, word of encouragement, and timely wisdom. How deeply he will be missed, but how awesome that his legacy is simply and clearly- JESUS, JESUS, JESUS! To God Be the Glory for his beautiful life on earth and now in Heaven.
our love and prayers to all Ross’ family as they wait to see him again in Paradise💜🙏
love from troy and kristin philipps
Karen and Family: I miss Ross too. He was a gift from God. 40 years ago, He married me to my wonderful wife. After we moved away from LaGrange, and would come back to LaGrange Bible to visit, Ross would take time to talk to us and greet us with SINCERE interest in how we how our life was going. His premarital counseling he gave us, helped us along our marriage journey. I will always remember ROSS BACON. He was a blessing to us…and to so many others. GREAT MAN….his friendship with my father in law…Bob Jones was such a gift to Bob. The world is a better place because of God’s work through Ross. Thank you God for Ross.
BOB FITE
Although we haven’t seen you in many, many years, we have fond memories of our kids playing together and attending school together. Karen, Jenny and Kevin, our thoughts and prayers are with you as you celebrate the life of your husband and father. May God give you comfort and peace .
Pastor Ross was a guiding light and such a beautiful example of God’s love! He was there for our family in moments of joy and when we needed comfort! We miss him already but know he will be waiting for us with a smile in Heaven! Prayers of peace and love for Karen, Jenny, Kevin and the whole family! Thank you for loving us! ~Cheryl, John, Ethan, and Elyse xo
Karen, our condolences are with you and your family. Our remembrances of Pastor Bacon are all so positive, the picture of a Man of God who walked the walk and talked the talk. The King of King, Jesus himself, will now console you and your children and grandchildren and give you the strength needed to remain here on earth until it is time for you to join him in heaven. We’re sorry for the agony all of you have suffered during Pastor’s illness. Just keep holding the hand of Jesus and He will be your strength and guide. Norm and Arlene Focht
I got saved 13 years ago and I met Pastor Bacon. Pastor was a very gentle man and so glad to have been saved at La grange Bible Church. Pastor Bacon was a true warrior for God.
Carol and I live in Mesa, Arizona. About 3 years ago, we came to La Grange for a visit with Carol’s Aunt Elizabeth and Cousin Jan Wheatley. On Sunday we visited Marion Hills Bible Church with them. Dr. Bacon was ministering at Marion Hills as an interim pastor at that time. We were privileged to meet him, along with Karen, and enjoyed a time of fellowship with both of them.
Karen, our condolences are with you and your family. We are sure Dr. Bacon has heard our Saviour’s greeting, “Well done, good and faithful servant”!
Karen, My condolences to you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I am so sorry. What a Godly example of a life lived for others.
Even though I was going only at LaGrange Bible for 10 years, they were 10 of the best years of my life. I still have the program for his ordination. I considered Ross first and foremost a friend. We had a running joke. I called him Crispus (Bacon) and he called me Gaius. We were both quiz coaches for several years, as he put a know-nothing about teens or quizzing with a great group of teens (Tim, Fern, Hope, Robin, Dean, and others). He was also always the teacher. He was not afraid to bring in theological terms & concepts. He believed in the intelligence of his class / congregation to grasp these concepts. But the goal was the heart, not the head. “Revelation demands a response” was something I heard often. He wanted to to see people join him in the journey of growth. Goodnight my friend. Not goodbye. I will see you in the morning.
Karen,
My condolences to you and your family. Lot’s of wonderful memories of Ross a man who dedicated his life to the Lord and lived a faithful life. May all of your memories comfort you. Sending Love and Prayers.
Our ministries have crossed paths through the past 43 years in many ways. We were both youth pastors during the same time period. Shortly after Pastor Ross moved up to the Sr. Pastor position at La Grange Bible Church, I became Pastor at Summit Bible Church. Ross was a dear fellow servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a very stable counsel to me through many years.
Our friendship caused me to seek membership at La Grange Bible Church in 2009, while I was director of BRM. Eventually, after retiring form LGBC, while dealing with painful illness, Ross and Karen graciously accepted an ongoing ministry with Marion Hills Bible Church. He reminded me many times that he was working under Bible Related Ministries “umbrella.” But I truly owe the encouragement to continue in my ministry to Ross’ wise, Godly counsel in key moments of my life. Ross is a dear friend and remained MY Pastor, even after he “retired” from LGBC.
I sorrow today, and will miss Ross greatly on earth, but soon we will be united in a perfect relationship with our Savior we both love. So long, dear friend, we love you!
Rev. David J. Bauer, Director of Bible Related Ministries
Psalm 16:11
RIP! Pastor Bacon
Karen,
We were so sorry to hear of Ross’ passing, we always enjoyed when he came into the office.
Sending prayers and sympathies – he will be missed.
Ross touched my life in so many ways. He led me to the Lord at age 7 following a tent meeting. He baptized me my young adulthood. He performed my first marriage. He dedicated all three of my children to the Lord. He counseled me through some troubled times. He always had a smile on his face for me, and I loved his heart. He was a great teacher and I learned a lot from his sermons. He will be missed. My condolences to the entire family – your hearts must be aching.
Dear Karen, When I told my Mom, Ann Anderson, that Ross was called home, she welled up with tears. Tender hugs, Kathy Neal
I have been attending Marion Hills Bible Church since August of 2021. I was honored and blessed to hear Pastor Bacon speak quite a few times, and he was very instrumental in my constant attendance along with other “angels” I have met at Marion Hills!! He was truly an Angel in our midst. Pastor Bacon’s preaching fueled a deep passion in my heart for my Lord and Savior, Jesus. He will surely be missed at the church, but I can just see him enjoying our Lord’s presence and smiling all over heaven!! I pray our Awesome God raise up other strong pastors like Ross Bacon!!
I am so sorry to hear that Pastor Bacon has moved on to heaven. He was the kindest most caring Godly man, I have ever known. Always a smile and a word of comfort during times of need. He will always be my Pastor and loved by so many. I am sure he is sitting at the right hand of our Papa/Father. There will never be another Pastor Ross, he was just one of a kind. Love and prayers to the entire family.
My condolences to the family. Pastor Ross bacon started a youth ministry at lagrange Bible church, I was a part of the first group of kids. He had so much love for everyone but most of all he love THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and was a perfect example to all.he will be missed very much but now he is in the hands of his loving SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Pastor you ran the race and made it to the finish line.
Karen, the last time we all saw each other was in Anna Maria Island. You both told me his diagnosis and he said he was ready to go….. you said “no, we are not ready!” I still think we are not ready but the fact that he’s no longer in pain is comforting! Im so sorry for this loss in your life! What a wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather, teacher, friend and man of God! You both have ment so much to me in my life. I would not be who I am today without Ross as my spiritual leader when i was in high school. The way he lived his life, especially your relationship that we all watched!!! The way you treated each other, the way you both raised your children, we were with you on mission trips, CYC outings, Camp Forest Springs retreats, Wintertainment weeks etc…. etc….. we learned by watching first hand how a Christian Family should live!!!! How a husband should treat his wife, honesty, faithfulness, loyalty, compassion, humbleness, giving, kindness and all in a real life, realistic enviornment. Even now to handle gossip, anger, apologies, the importantance of apologies, forgiveness and consequences. You both taught us all those things!!!! ON TOP OF JESUS and Gods love, Salvation and becoming a servant. We learned daily how to be a testimony by HOW we live our lives. We learned not to be fake, not to be one person at church and another at home. You both welcomed us into YOUR home and into your family!!!! My life and SO many other lives are forever changed by letting us get as close as you did. I Love you both so much! Ross is permanently in my head n in my heart…. always is and always will be. Karen, thank you for your role in teaching us how to be a Christian wife, supporting her husband but still a strong and independent woman at the same time. My heart aches for you that he gone, so many wonderful memories! I will pray for comfort and peace for you and your whole family. Hoping I can stop and see you when Im in town next.
Condolences to the Family of Pastor Ross. Your kind words and Wise advice has brought me closer to our Lord. Papa Father thank you for your servant. Till we met again. Pray for us here as we continue to serve and praise our Lord. Love Victor and Elizabeth
I am saddened to hear of Pastor Ross”s passing. He was such a kind man, who helped me sort through my mother’s “homecoming”, as he termed her death, with such sensitivity and kindness. I will always remember him bring an extremely gentle man. So sorry for his wife and children and all at LaGrange Bible Church who loved him.
Karen. Ruby and I learned today from classmate Robin of Ross’s home going to his Savior and Lord. I considered Ross my closest classmate while at Moody. We have fond memories of you both and are saddened by your loss.
So Sad to hear of a Wonderful Man passing. The Caveney Family praying for All.
Marce & Tim Caveney