Gockel's goodbye

After three years and 10 months of dividing his time between Ohio and Indiana, Stan Gockel is stepping down as interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Portland.

“I’m tired of living in two places,” said Gockel, who has had an apartment in Portland while his wife Libby continued to live in their home in Springboro, Ohio — south of Dayton — where she taught fourth grade.

“This Sunday is my last Sunday,” he said this week.

Gockel, who will turn 64 this month, was originally ordained in the American Baptist Church in the U.S.A. He served a number of Baptist churches in Indiana before becoming chaplain at a Presbyterian-related retirement community.

“That got me in with the Presbyterians,” he said. “And I felt right at home.”

He also felt right at home at the Portland church.

“My wife’s family was all from here,” he said.

Libby’s grandparents were Glen and Emma Stanton, while Don and Sue Ayers were her uncle and aunt.

So when First Presbyterian was in need of an interim pastor, it was a natural and comfortable fit.

Now, however, it’s time to enter a new phase. “I’ll be partially retired,” said Gockel.

His wife has now retired after 31 years of teaching in both Indiana and Ohio.

Gockel will be followed at the Portland church by a “bridge pastor” from another area Presbyterian church.

“It’s kind of up in the air, but they’re working on it,” he said.