Voyager Chapel History
The Voyager RV Resort began in 1984. Owners, Ike and Blanche Isaacson, felt it was important for
Voyager residents to h,ive a place to worship in an interdenominational church service to be held
from November through April.
Several individuals talked with then Activity Director Joan Fogge, and in agreement they asked Don
Modisher to be the chaplain. Don and Carolyn were visiting the park after just two years of
retirement and starting a new ministry was not in Don's plans, so he did not give an immediate
answer. However, the following year in 1986, he felt led to answer the call. A Chapel Committee of
five members was formed and the first service was held on January 12, 1986.
For the first service, items were borrowed from Catalina UMC in Tucson. Don spoke from a music
stand and the borrowed hymnals didn"t have all the pages. There were 47 people in attendance. The
offering was 546.00.
The first choir consisted of seven members singing acapella. Ifs been said that as they sang their
first number they were so off key that their director, Bob Hankey, h;:id to stop them to enable a
fresh, melodic start. In contrast, today we are blessed to have an average of 80 to 00 people
singing in the choir and talented people from which to draw for special music, accompanists, and
hymn sing leaders. Doris Peterson is one choir member who has been continuously active since 1989.
Attendance continued to grow that first year, averaging 105 people for each service with an average
offering of $150. For the following two years the choir was directed by Ario Booth. Elaine Brown
volunteered in 1988 and directed until her resignation in 2001. Her brother, Daryl Wonderly, took
over and led until his retirement in 2019. Currently our choir serves under the direction of Ken
Clinton. Since 2009 the overall planning of music has been done by coordinator, Dorothy $colt.
Musical instruments for the worship service started with a small electric organ, followed by the
purchase of a Hardman Grand piano that was listed in the nr,wspaper for sale at an estate sale. The
Chapel Committee was able to purchase it for $1,500. The trnde-in of the Hardman, whose value
rem;:iined the same, together with funds from the Chapel and Voyager Management made possible
purchase of the Yamaha Digital piano ($3,686) that we use today Another piano in the Catalina Room
was donated by Elaine Brown in memory of her husband, Gordon.
In 1992 a used organ was purchased by $5,995 to replace the original electric organ, and in 2005
the Chapel Committee purchased our present Allen CSc organ for
$21,767. Walt Myers, the first organist, served until 1988, followed by Millie Hutt, who for the
next eleven years was both organist and choir accompanist. Ann Winegar and Dorothy Scott presently
share the position as organists.
The Chapel choirs have been enhanced with accomplished pianists over the past 35 years. Ellen
Warren was the first through 1986 and 1987, followed by Elaine Brown in 1988. Jan Stephenson played
in 2001-2002, followed by Norma Harmer, Barbara Osborne, and Walt McCandless. Currently, choir
accompaniment is provided by Nancy Riddle, who joined our staff in the spring of 2012. and by Ann
Winegar.
In 2020, a second Yamaha Electric piano was donated so that Nancy Riddle could be joined by Dawn
Voreis to play 4-hand piano preludes.
Choir risers were purchased by the Chapel Committee from a school district in South Dakota and
transported by Eddie Bun\s in his RV in 1992. Those risers, which served us well, were replaced by
a new set in 2014 at a cost of $4,383. Other items have been purchased or donated over the years:
the lovely stained glass hangings, donated by stained glass personnel in 1993, colorful banners by
the quilters, and beautiful pulpit furniture donated anonymously in 1999. Eighty hymnals were
purchased in 1987 and added to through the years. The Chapel Committee replaced those with our
current hymnal in 2011, purchased for $4,264.
Faithful volunteers have run the sound for our services: Eddie Burks, Bob Miller, Gerry Manwell,
Jack Green, Wendell Carlson, Dick Pierce, currently Bob Winegar and Eldon llsver. Pete Magnasco
videotapes our services.
Over the years. bulletins have been compiled by volunteers: Georgianna Meyers, Joanne and Glenn
Kruger, Karen and Bob McCord, Walt Harmer, Sandra Kraii, and now Donna Burman. Printing has also
been done by volunteers: John Lewski, Larry and Mary AJlen, Betty Gibbs, and Lynn Helgeson.
The Voyager Chapel will always be remembered for its spiritual influence in the community and the
generosity of its people. In 1987 the Chapel donated S350 to each of three charities. We curren�y
sponsor five charities. Our charitable giving for the 2019-2020 Chapel year amounted to over
$89,000.
Don Modisher started the Thursday night Bible study program his first year in 1986
,:md it has continued, led for many years by Jack Gaines, more recently by Jim Smith and Ken
Kolenbrander. A Friday morning study for women, begun by Martha Burgess in 2004, is currently led
by Ann Kolenbrander.
The spiritual leadership of the Chapel program is through its chaplains. Don Modisher {Carolyn}
served from 1986 until 1995. Merris Brady (Barbara) served from 1995 until 2,000, followed by
interim chaplain, Bill Denlinger, for November and December, 2000. Norm Stephenson {Jan) then took
over until 2002. Ray Burgess (Martha) began ministering in 2002 until retirement in 2018. Our
current pastor. David Pace, began sharing the pulpit with Ray Burgess in 2018. Since the beginning
of the 2019 season Pastor David has continued to provide us with strong leadership and insightful
messages. Voyager Chapel has been enriched and continues to be enriched by the ministry of these
good shepherds.