Bob Koonce

Bishop Bob Koonce, (1930 -) grew up in the rolling hills of central Illinois. He was one of 11 children, 2 died in childbirth.

He finished #2 in his High school graduating class. He gave his heart to Jesus at 17 years of age. He attended the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bob married Eileen Ingram August 24, 1952. She passed away March 31, 2013. He is the father of 6 children, Roy, Karen, John, Gayla, Cheryl and Kent. The Bishop married Violet, a sweetheart from his early evangelist days in August 18, 2014. She passed away in Oct. 25, 2016.

Bob still lives in the ranch style house he had built for his family in 1965.

He served as pastor of several churches in central Illinois until moving to Gibson City, Illinois in 1961, God led him to start a church there, which he did in July, 1963. He served as the Pastor for 31 years there until 1994, when he was elevated to Bishop.

He founded the Apostolic Author's Association and the very successful prison ministry; The Prisoner's Friend Ministries, both ministries thriving under his very capable leadership.

Bob Koonce never did anything halfway or halfhearted. He expected anyone with him to work just as hard as he did.

In 1980, Bob had an opportunity to garden additional plots of ground in town. He had a small spot to use on his property and 3 huge plots of ground borrowed from a business. In all, there were 8 garden plots of various sizes to plant, weed, water and harvest. Every day that it was possible to work, he was there, as were his 'volunteers.' He worked; they worked and the gardens produced. It was this work ethic that has propelled him through life.

He is a leader of leaders. As Superintendent of the Illinois District, ALJC for ten years, he led a thriving and exciting district. The district camp meetings were always the highlight of the year and those who attended still remember with fondness and longing for those days.

While he is a serious student of the Word of God, which reveals itself in his reference works, he also has a unique sense of humor, which has a touch of romance in it. Years ago, he had a ventriloquist dummy called Dillon. Bob was good as one could really be led to believe it was the dummy actually speaking. Dillon, the dummy always flirted with the little girls of course.

Before Eileen passed away, he would leave love notes every evening, reminding her to wake him up at 7 AM. He also created a character named Ralph. Every morning she would read the latest adventure. Often the story centered around a play on words. His mama did all the work, but Ralph wanted to make sure Mama had all the latest equipment that would make her job easier. Eileen said she could hardly wait to read the stories Bob would write for her.

The reference works that he has written are thoroughly researched and well thought out before pen met the paper. Hours were spent pouring over his manuscripts to be sure of accuracy before he presented them for publication.