I met Tim, but didn't get the chance to know him very well. I used to put notes of encouragement with Bible verses in random IWU student's mailboxes. One day, I noticed that someone posted on the IWU Secret Admirer's Page on Facebook saying thank you to whoever had put a note in his mailbox and was asking to see who had done it. Tim was the one who posted, so I contacted him and he thanked me for the note. I remember the Bible verse that I had sent him said: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6)

We had met at some point in person briefly and I often saw him walking around IWU, especially when I was giving tours. I would always say "Hi, Tim!" when I saw him walk by. He always smiled and said "hi" back. He seemed like such a nice person. He was the only person I know who went out of his way to say thank you for a note of encouragement. To his family, you are all in my prayers.

I had the joy of having Tim in two theology classes at Indiana Wesleyan. He had a heart for God and a love for truth that I admired greatly. He always had questions and didn't suffer easy answers to difficult questions, theological or otherwise. He had a strong independent streak in thinking, but always in a thoughtful and respectful way. I loved that he was always more concerned about learning than about grades. As a student I wished more students were like Tim. 

I am devastated to hear about Tim. You are in my prayers. 

Pax Christi,

Chris Bounds
Professor of Theology
Indiana Wesleyan University

May God be with you and give you peace. My heart goes out to all the family and friends. God has you in his arms.

Barb Sloboda

I never knew him, but he sounded like a bright young man on fire for the Lord and what he had for him.  This is just another reminder how precious life is and to not take it for gannet.  My you not look on what could have been, but remember the good from the past with the reassurance he is now at peace in the loving arms of our Lord and savoir Christ Jesus.

We can't imagine your pain and loss but are praying for you. May the Lord give you strength for each moment ahead.   Bob and LeeAnn Varga and family

We send our deepest condolences. Words fail us except that Jesus understands and is in control, even now during this tragedy. We continue to pray for the whole family for you to get through this and have His enduring peace. We will remember Tim always.
In Him, 
Jim and Hilde Ebinger

Tim was a smart, driven, and witty guy whose passion for truth fueled each and every interaction he had with people. Whether it was philosophy, theology, psychology, or another field, Tim not only knew the facts, but could apply head knowledge to the heart. As a ministry student who worked with Tim on a semester-long project in a theology class, I got to see His resourcefulness and prowess in the field at work. Tim's desire for companionship paired with his pursuit of Truth were the marks of a man who deeply wanted to see God...and now I believe He has. I know a great many of our classmates will miss dear Tim. I am happy I got to know Him for a short while and I will see Him again. I wonder what Tim's blessed, inquiring mind is saying about God now

Grace and Peace Tim, thank you for your impact on my life.

Let me tell you about a friend named Tim Gutai. I wont pretend like I know Tim well, but I know him as a friend and brother. A friend I continue to care deeply for.

Tim transferred to IWU a year before I did. We were on the same unit my first year in 2013 and were both communication students. He was one of the first people I got to know at the school. I was in a suite with seven other transfer students that year. Tim came over to the suite on nearly a daily basis. I got to know him pretty well that year. While many people on campus seemed to have a shallow understanding of Christianity, Tim was one of the few I found I could talk to deeply about faith. I also remember listening to him tell us about his time he spent in Japan. He loved it.

Throughout that first year, I cant say how often we played Smash Bros. Melee. He was Ganondorf, I was Shiek. For the most part, we were fairly evenly matched. He was a bit better and got really into it every time. The trick to beat him was to be super obnoxious in the first minute so that he would get annoyed and drop his guard. He didnt like that. Eitherway, neither of us could ever claim to be better than my suitemate, Isaac. We used to train so we could beat Isaac. It was super cheesy and a ton of fun. Those two would also play a modified version of Smash Bros. Brawl called Project M, but Tim always destroyed me in that, I stuck with Melee. It helped me feel like I fit in at the new school.

More importantly, Tim longed to find and understand God both within and beyond his own beliefs. He studied Church History, yes, but he read so much more. At a Protestant school, most students don't even realize that the Catholic Bible has a few different books (the Apocrypha) than the Protestant Bible. I was talking to him about a passage in Tobit and quickly found out that he had read all of the additional books as well as 1 & 2 Enoch, additional Ethiopian Orthodox books, the Quran and a number of other religious texts from various religions and denominations. I dont know anyone else his age who had read that many religious works. He truly wanted to know God. He was often unsure of what to believe, but had a broader understanding than most of us ever will. No matter how unsure he was, he wanted to learn more about who God is. I shared in this religious purgatory, uncertain of where I stood but longing for Christ. I learned from him in this regard.

He never liked Ecclesiastes. He thought it was far too depressing and that it didnt belong in the Bible. He searched more for hope in dark places. Its because of this that he loved the band Fireflight. Their spiritual lyrics on depression, brokenness and redemption helped him through some difficult moments. I think they helped remind him that he is not alone facing struggles. I hope he knew how much everyone stood with him, even if in the distance.

He had so much wisdom to share ahead. Now were left learning from his absence.
Tim, Im not going to pretend to know where you are now, but we all wish you well. If you didnt know it in life, I pray you know now that we all care. We miss you. I pray so much we see you again, this time in a place without pain and emptiness. I also want a rematch in Melee.

Until then, thanks for the memories.


To the Gutai family: I dont know you, but I know you are not alone in grieving. You have all the thoughts, prayers, and thanksgiving we can give. We love you. See you soon.

Tim was a very insightful and professional young journalist with this incredible energy and talent that one can immediately detect. He wrote a beautiful, powerful piece in IWU's school paper about physics at Indiana Wesleyan University which, I believe, helped move the process of getting a physics major at IWU. When he was interviewing me for the piece, I said to myself, "What a pleasure to work with such a very personable and talented journalist!" Please accept my profound condolences. I knew him briefly but he left a great impression on me.

Roberto Ramos

Tim's article is at http://www.iwusojourn.com/society-of-physics-students-hosts-event-major-also-in-works/

Mark- My deepest condolences to you and your family. Your Son and your family will be in my prayers
Jim Linsley

Sending our condolences to all the Gutai family. May God cover you all with his love at this difficult time and days to come. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I would like to have gotten to know Tim. Mark Caudill, News Journal

Dear Mark & Gail and family, my heart aches for your loss. Words are inadequate. 
Just know that God is with you . You are in my thoughts and prayers..
Peace,
Paul Keiper

Mark and Family - Words can not express how deeply sorry I am for your loss.  My heart breaks for you.  May his memory be eternal.  

Peggy Ciritovic

I enjoyed many hours talking with Tim about the Scriptures and his savior, Jesus.  We also discussed church history, politics, Biblical Creation, the global flood of Noah's day and the shortcomings of Darwinian Evolution.  I learned much from Tim as he had such a brilliant mind and wealth of knowledge.  We had some good laughs over many Saturday morning breakfasts together.  Tim was devoted to his savior Jesus, so it is by God's grace through Tim's faith IN Jesus that  his soul is now safe with God!   I look forward to seeing him again one day and he can show me around God's throne-room!

Eric Robinson

Dear Mark and Family,
Words cannot express the sorrow and pain I feel for the loss of your son Tim.  My
heart and prayers go out to you and your family at this most difficult time.
With my deepest sympathy, Kathie Collins-Schroll

OBITUARY

Tim Gutai

September 7, 1990 – May 19, 2015

Wappner Funeral Directors Mansfield

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