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Rev. Simon Yiech

June 25, 1968 - October 11, 2020

Rev. Simon Bilim Yiech, passed away October 11, 2020. A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2020 at St. Paul Lutheran Church (1100 SE Sharon Dr. Ankeny, IA 50023).
Rev. Simon Bilim Yiech was born June 25, 1968 in Jiokow, South Sudan, to his respected, reputable parents, Yiich Lual Gach and Mer Banak Bol. He spent most of his childhood living in Jiokow. Simon had four stepmothers with 14 brothers and seven sisters. His own mother had one daughter and five sons, including Rev. David Wurieng Yiech. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Yiich Lual Gach; mother, Mer Banak; and older brother, Riek Yiech. Simon is survived by his beloved, beautiful wife Rebecca Nyalam Law; their eight beautiful children, Nyajuok Bilim, Nyadoar Bilim, Rachel Bilim, Teathloach Bilim, Gachbeech Bilim, Nyamal Bilim, Roda Bilim, and Goamar Bilim; a granddaughter, Parr Bilim; and niece, Nyayiey Riek Yiech.
As a child growing up in a large family and among many siblings, Simon gained great attention from his parents and siblings for his love and kindness to all siblings and great reputation to his community at large. In 1983, Simon started his church services as Leader in Choirs at Tomoch Church in Jiokow and later on became Evangelist at Tormoch Church from 1985-1987.
He attended Itang Junior High School, from 1987-1990 and Gambella Senior Secondary School from 1990-1992. By 1992, Simon was among the Sudanese Senior Secondary School Students who left Ethiopia and migrated to Kenya. While in Kenya, Rev. Simon Yiech applied for the US Resettlement Program and was accepted to travel to US by November 1993. Once Rev. Simon was settled in the United States, he attended Concordia University for Distance Learning and DMACC in Des Moines, Iowa.
By 1997, Rev. Simon was selected by Sudanese members of Trinity Lutheran Church to lead the congregation while enrolled at Concordia University Distance Learning to become a pastor. He completed the program in six years. Rev. Simon successfully graduated from the program and was ordained in January 2006 to lead the Sudanese congregation. As soon as he was ordained, Sudanese Mission Lutheran Church was established and called Rev. Simon Yiech to pastor the new congregation. He was pastor there until his untimely passing on Sunday, October 11, 2020.
Rev. Simon Yiech was the President of the Sudanese Mission Lutheran Society from 2008-2012 where he carried out missionary work to Africa. He had traveled the world to carry out missionary work to South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Canada. He traveled 13 times to Africa for missionary work. He was the first ordained LCMS pastor among Sudanese Pastors, and the first to carry out missionary work to Africa and build Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Churches in Africa.
Rev. Simon Yiech was a great Pastor, a great leader, a wonderful husband, and great father.
He will be missed by many, may his soul rest in peace!