After an eight-month battle with cancer, our beloved athletic director and high school physical education teacher, Don Ward, went home to be with the Lord Saturday evening, November 12. Shortly after Don and his wife, Katie, were married in August 1974, they began teaching in Christian schools. They have taught in Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia. They eventually returned to BJU and BJA where Katie has taught at BJA and Don taught at both BJU and BJA. Don was also BJA’s athletic director and coached the boys varsity basketball team. They have two children, Don, who is on our middle school faculty and is married to Roshena, and Heidi Egerdahl, who is married to Dan. Several of Don and Katie’s grandchildren also attend BJA. Don was known for his love of teaching physical education and coaching as well as his love for children, including his very special love for his seven grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at Heritage Bible Church on Tuesday, November 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral will be at Heritage Bible Church on Wednesday, November 16, at 2 p.m.
In deference to the faculty and students who are impacted by this loss and who wish to attend the funeral, we will have an altered schedule on Wednesday. The CDC will have a regular day. The elementary level (K3 through grade 6) will have a half-day of school, with regular half-day pick-up times (11:30 for K3 and K4; 11:45 for K5; 11:50 for grades 1 through 6). The secondary level (grades 7 through 12) will not have school or any after-school events on Wednesday. Hot lunch will not be served on Wednesday.
In order to provide for our Academy families who have need of child care through grade 8, staff will be available for complimentary child care beginning after the half-day of school for grades K3 through K5 at the Primary Center and grades 1 through 6 at the Elementary Main; and beginning at 7:30 a.m. for grades 7 and 8 at the middle school building. Late stay, and associated charges, will begin at the regular times.
The middle and high school will have a special tribute service in honor of Coach Ward on Tuesday, November 22, at 11 a.m. in the Academy Auditorium. Guests are welcome.
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