By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Julius Caesar once famously declared, “I came, I saw, I conquered,” after a significant victory. This timeless expression often marks the triumph of great minds over struggles, long sufferings, and obstacles. Similarly, when a remarkable person like Pa Ishmael Onumadu Nwachukwu passes, it’s fitting to remember him as one who overcame life’s challenges through perseverance and hard work.
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the heavens will blaze with the commemoration of the late Elder Ishmael Nwachukwu, who will be laid to rest at his country home in Iferife Ntighauzo, Isiala Ntighauzo Autonomous Community, Obingwa LGA, Abia State. Born on October 20, 1933, to Elder Ben Nwachukwu Onu and Hannah Oyiridiya Nwachukwu, Pa Ishmael’s life spanned 92 years, with his passing on June 30, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.
Pa Ishmael’s rise to greatness was not a result of privilege but of relentless hard work. Shakespeare once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Pa Ishmael belongs to the category of those who achieved greatness through sheer effort and dedication. Along with his brother Johnson, he was among the first students at SDA High School, Ihie, in 1953. After completing his studies, he worked as a nurse at Ahoda Hospital, having graduated from the Ile-Ife Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital.
It was at Ile-Ife that Pa Ishmael met Okechi Ngozi Enyinna, whom he married on March 6, 1966. Their church wedding followed on April 22, 1967. Soon after their marriage, he traveled to Danville, Virginia, to attend The Memorial Hospital’s School of Anaesthesia. He graduated in 1969, returning to Nigeria after the Civil War to work at the Baptist Medical Center in Ogbomosho. Their first child, Iheukwumere Hope Nwachukwu, was born there in 1971.
In January 1972, Pa Ishmael moved his family to the United States in search of better opportunities. His daughters, Uchechi Adanma Nwachukwu and Ijeoma Chinyere Nwachukwu, were born in the US in 1972 and 1975, respectively. Throughout the 1980s, he helped his younger brothers, Okey, Nwaeze, and Udo, settle in California, creating opportunities for them to excel and raise their families. He also brought his father and elder brother to visit the US.
Pa Ishmael’s professional career flourished as he worked in various hospitals across the US. In 1981, he earned his Associates of Arts Degree from Los Angeles City College and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University, Los Angeles.
His commitment to service was unwavering, especially in his final years, when he dedicated himself to the University Seventh-Day Adventist Church and other affiliated churches as an Elder and Sabbath school teacher. He consistently reminded his fellow church members of the importance of preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Pa Ishmael’s life was a testament to service to humanity, echoing the sentiment of Eldon Tanner that “service to humanity is the rent we pay for living on earth.” His philanthropic nature mirrored Mark Twain’s words: “Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
As we reflect on Pa Ishmael’s legacy, we are reminded of the profound impact of his life on his family, his community, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him. His gentle spirit will continue to rest in the Lord, until the day we meet to part no more.
May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
