Michael R. Quimby

Rev. Michael Ray Quimby, 71, of Bradley, Illinois entered into eternal rest with his Savior on March 23, 2026. He died as he lived, at peace, with a smile on his face and surrounded by family. He was born on March 31, 1954, to Floyd and Beverly Quimby of Craig, Missouri. He was the older brother to four siblings: Chris, Pam, Kevin, and Paula. He often shared fond memories of growing up on the farm, working and playing alongside his dad, siblings and cousins. Mike attended grade school and high school with the love of his life, Rebecca Snider. He unsuccessfully asked her out numerous times, but it took him asking a different girl to Homecoming before she finally realized her own affection for him. Mike and Becky wed on May 31, 1975, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage last year. Mike and Becky have four children: Heather, Stephanie, Deanna, and David. He was a devoted, loving father, always prioritizing time with them, their spouses and grandchildren. They remember him as full of love, encouragement, and laughter, always present at their music, sports, theater and other events. Mike knew he was supposed to be a pastor from the age of 14. However, it wasn’t until age 30 that he surrendered to that call, left a successful sales career, sold everything he had, and packed up his family to move across the country to attend Nazarene Bible College. But as Mike often said, “God never wastes time – even when we think we’re running.” He credited the lessons God taught him as a young businessman as part of the success he had leading churches in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Nebraska. His first church, a new plant in Spring Hill, Florida, was recognized by Grow Magazine as one of the 35 fastest-growing Nazarene churches in the United States. He’s launched and been the lead administrator for a church daycare, led two major capital campaigns, developed a church assimilation and care ministry that’s been adopted in multiple states, and spoke or led music for numerous revivals across the country. Following his fulltime pastoral ministry, he worked as the national director of childcare bus sales for Midwest Transit Company, and he supply pastored at churches in Illinois and Indiana. Mike’s greatest joy, however, has always been relationships with people. He had a knack for quickly connecting, counseling, celebrating, weeping, and journeying with broken people from all walks of life, pointing them to the love of Jesus. He was particularly passionate about encouraging and mentoring young pastors as they pursue their call to ministry. In retirement, Mike continued to bring light, laughter, and hope to everyone he encountered, whether that was nurses, teenagers at church, or random strangers at a restaurant. People loved Mike, and he sincerely loved them. He viewed loving his children and grandchildren into Heaven as his final and ultimate ministry. Michael is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Snider); siblings Chris (Kim) Quimby, Pam (Kevin) Wilson, Kevin (Amy) Quimby and Paula (Jerry) Sollars; children Heather (Robert) Day, Stephanie (Ben) Kumor, Deanna (Andy) Mize and David (Rebecca Cann) Quimby; grandchildren Katie (Rob) Dearth; Caleb, Thane, Luke, Titus, Lydia, Jacob, Peter and Chloe Kumor; Emma and Jackson Day; Joshua and Brooklyn Mize; Levi and Kyla Quimby; and great grandson James Dearth. He is proceeded in death by his father, Floyd Ray Quimby, his mother, Beverly (Winslow) Quimby and one unborn sibling. He also has five unborn grandbabies: Kolbe, Louis, Eden, Jesse and Jude; and one great grandbaby, Maggie, meeting him in Heaven. Visitation will be held Friday, March 27, 2026, from 4pm to 7pm at Manteno Church of the Nazarene. The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 9:30am at the Manteno Church of the Nazarene. Burial will immediately follow at Elmwood Cemetery, Manteno.