In Memoriam
Obituary information is provided by district offices to the Synod’s Office of Rosters and Statistics. Any questions about content should be referred, therefore, to the appropriate district office. — Ed.
Ordained
AUMANN, ROBERT P. REV., November 1, 1942, Chicago, Ill., to January 17, 2016, Slidell, La.; son of Delbert and Teresa (Krucek) Aumann; graduated Springfield Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2010. Ministries/Parishes: Racine, Sargeant, Sauk Centre, Minn.; Peoria, Forest Park, Ill.; Sebring, Fla.; Slidell, New Orleans, La. Retired 2011. Survivors: Sandra (Kane) Aumann; sons: Bradley, Aaron. Funeral: January 23, 2016, Slidell, La.
BICKEL, ELDOR FREDERICK REV., May 11, 1925, Birch Run, Mich., to December 21, 2015, Mequon, Wis.; son of Rev. Fred and Lydia (Hetzner) Bickel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1949. Served 1949-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Minneapolis, Minn.; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Lansing, Mich. Retired 1990. Survivors: Dorothy (Schleimer) Bickel; sons: David, Jonathan, Nathan, Timothy; daughters: Marjorie Janetzke, Lois Mytas, Kathryn Wilde, Miriam Haney. Celebration of Life: December 29, 2015, Lansing, Mich.
BROCKOPP, DANIEL CARL REV., September 7, 1934, Park Falls, Wis., to January 1, 2016, Portage, Wis.; son of Rev. William and Martha (Baumann) Brockopp; graduated Springfield Seminary 1961. Served 1961-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Villa Park, Springfield, Ill.; Valparaiso, Ind. Retired 1999. Survivors: Leona (Mau) Brockopp. Funeral: January 9, 2016, Madison, Wis.; Interment: January 11, 2016, Chicago, Ill.
DINKEL, EMIL LOUIS REV., May 17, 1931, Maysville, Ohio, to January 12, 2016, Hereford, Ariz.; son of Paul and Della (Springer) Dinkel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Bronx, N.Y.; U.S. Army Chaplain; Arlington, Minn.; Bisbee, Ariz. Retired 2015. Preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou (Trinklein) Dinkel. Survivors: sons: Stephen, Paul, Timothy; daughters: Katherine, Susan. Memorial Service: January 24, 2016, Bisbee, Ariz.
EVERETTE, STEPHEN ROSSANO REV., February 27, 1967, Munich, Germany, to January 3, 2016, Buffalo, N.Y.; son of Horace and Willie (Burris) Everette; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1994. Served 1994-2016. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Chicago, Ill.; Baltimore, Md.; Buffalo, N.Y. Survivors: Mia (Prince) Everette. Funeral: January 15, 2016, Buffalo, N.Y.; Interment: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
GEISLER, STANLEY W. SR. REV., June 16, 1939, Waco, Texas, to December 16, 2015, Ft. Worth, Texas; son of Ben and Effie (Zube) Geisler; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1965. Served 1965-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Garrison, Oskaloosa, Iowa; Del Rio, Bridgeport, Azle, Texas. Retired 2001. Survivors: Janice (Wood) Geisler; sons: Stanley Jr., Randal; daughter: Renee Howle. Funeral: December 19, 2015, Ft. Worth, Texas.
HAAK, LOEL GENE REV., April 23, 1938, St. Paul, Minn., to January 25, 2016, Sun City, Ariz.; son of Rev. William and Doris (Holten) Haak; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Phoenix, Ariz.; Seattle, Wash. Retired 2002. Survivors: Annemarie (Pfeffer) Haak; son: Lucas; daughters: Sarah Willis, Miriam Vaughn, Julia Doerr. Memorial Service: January 30, 2016, Peoria, Ariz.; Interment: January 30, 2016, Glendale, Ariz.
HEINTZ, NORMAN HERBERT REV., October 11, 1931, Nobles County, Minn., to January 12, 2016, Stuart, Fla.; son of Herbert and Lillian (Dierks) Heintz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1995. Ministries/Parishes: London, Cambridge, Sheffield, England; Grand Rapids, Lincoln Park, Mich. Retired 1995. Survivors: Cynthia (Kuhlman) Heintz; sons: Brad, Kurt; daughters: Dorcas Dunker, JoAnn Rohdes, Jill Albers. Memorial Service: January 18, 2016, Stuart, Fla.
HUELSE, ROBERT L. REV., February 17, 1932, Milwaukee, Wis., to January 19, 2016, Lees Summit, Mo.; son of Walter and Edna (Kopp) Huelse; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Blytheville, Ark.; Independence, Mo. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Barbara (Seeber) Huelse. Survivors: son: Mark; daughters: Nancy Greer, Lois Wiedner, Kathy Fangmann, Christine Patton. Funeral: January 23, 2016, Lees Summit, Mo.; Interment: January 23, 2016, Kansas City, Mo.
KACZOR, RICHARD JOHN REV., March 27, 1939, Polk, Neb.; to January 18, 2016, Lawrence, Kan.; son of Bernhard and Irene (Juergensen) Kaczor; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Winnipeg, Inglis, Manitoba, Canada; Scott City, Hill City, Kan. Retired 2009. Survivors: Delores (Ahrendsen) Kaczor; sons: Nathan, Joel; daughter: Elizabeth Grady. Funeral: January 30, 2016, Lawrence, Kan.; Interment: January 30, 2016, Douglas County, Kan.
KEYLON, GLEN DUANE REV., July 4, 1948, Texhoma, Okla., to January 2, 2016, St. Paul, Neb.; son of Howard and Selma (Mitchell) Keylon; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1993. Served 1993-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Quimby, Marcus, Iowa; Cairo, Neb.; Retired 2014. Survivors: Blenda (Smith) Keylon; sons: Kelly, Koey, Kasey, Kameron; daughter: Kassidy Gascho. Memorial Service: January 9, 2016, Cairo, Neb.
KNIPPENBERG, KEITH JOHN REV., October 25, 1934, Grand Junction, Colo., to January 14, 2016, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Rev. John and Harriett (Adams) Knippenberg; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1985. Ministries/Parishes: Cheyenne Wells, Kit Carson, Colo.; Waterloo, Ill.; Chambers, Meadow Grove, Tilden, Hampton, Polk, Neb.; Salisbury, Mo. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by his wife Sharon (Thompson) Knippenberg. Survivors: sons: Kevin, Brent; daughter: Debra. Funeral and Interment: January 18, 2016, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
KRAUSE, PAUL EDMUND REV., August 28, 1918, Fairland, Okla., to December 19, 2015, Winfield, Kan.; son of Frank and Anna (Boettcher) Krause; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1943. Served 1943-1983. Ministries/Parishes: Mobile, Montrose, Atmore, Ala.; Waterloo, Ill.; Duluth, Elmore, Minn.; Sioux City, Iowa; Winfield, Kan. Retired 1983. Survivors: Verna (Bartles) Krause; sons: Rev. Thomas, Alan; daughters: Jean Heise, Karen, Marcie Luna. Funeral and Interment: December 28, 2015, Winfield, Kan.
KRENZKE, RICHARD LEWIS REV., July 23, 1936, Albert Lea, Minn., to December 15, 2015, Altamont, Ill.; son of Rev. Theodore and Esther (Natzke) Krenzke; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Valparaiso, Ind.; Belleville, Ill.; Eagan, Winona, Minn.; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2000. Survivors: Marlene (Ackerman) Krenzke; sons: John, Thomas; daughter: Elizabeth Trost. Graveside Service: December 20, 2015, Lakefield, Minn.; Memorial Service: January 23, 2016, Altamont, Ill.
LARSON, JAMES EVERETT REV., November 23, 1931, Minneapolis, Minn., to December 25, 2015, Wichita, Kan.; son of Everett and Viola (Bergmann) Larson; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Papua, New Guinea, Lewiston, Stockton, Minn.; Granite, Okla.; Oklahoma District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994. Retired 1995. Survivors: Marie (Olson) Larson; son: Stephen; daughters: Rebekah Wolff, Miriam Lack. Funeral and Interment: December 29, 2015, Chanute, Kan.
LAURENT, GULFREY NEWTON REV., December 23, 1914, Mansura, La., to December 31, 2015, Carson, Calif.; son of Martin and Mary (Lehman) Laurent; graduated Greensboro Seminary 1941. Served 1943-1986. Ministries/Parishes: Winston-Salem, N.C.; E. St. Louis, Ill.; Compton, Calif.; Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 1993-1994. Retired 1986. Survivors: Gwen (Brown) Laurent; daughter: Cheri. Funeral: January 15, 2016, Long Beach, Calif.
MCMILLAN, WHITFIELD MOUNGER REV., January 17, 1929, Houston, Texas, to January 10, 2016, Houston, Texas; son of Henry and Lucille (Doyle) McMillan; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1983-1993. Ministries/Parishes: U.S. Army and Navy Chaplain; Temple, San Antonio, Texas; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1960-1962. Retired 1993. Survivors: Lois (Meyer) McMillan; sons: Paul, John; daughters: Deborah Ledbetter, Anne Everett. Funeral: January 14, 2016, San Antonio, Texas.
MISCH, CHARLES BENJAMIN REV., February 4, 1929, Harlowton, Mont., to September 9, 2015, Chandler, Ariz.; son of Rev. Otto and Erna (Kath) Misch; graduated Springfield Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Greenville, Turk Lake, Mich.; Cloquet, Grand Lake, Minn.; Casa Grande, Coolidge, Ariz.; Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 1993. Survivors: Thelka (Malotky) Misch; sons: Steven, Frederick. Funeral and Interment: December 30, 2015, Casa Grande, Ariz.
OESTMANN, VERNON E. REV., January 2, 1948, Arkansas City, Kan., to January 21, 2016, Aurora, Colo.; son of Ernest and Martha (Plumer) Oestmann; colloquy 1979. Served 1979-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Hannibal, Mo.; Garden City, Mission, Kan.; Vacaville, Calif.; Kansas District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994. Retired 2015. Survivors: Deborah (Richard) Oestmann; sons: Andrew, David, Philip, Timothy. Funeral: January 27, 2016, Centennial, Colo.
PETERSON, GERALD R. REV., June 23, 1927, Minneapolis, Minn., to January 6, 2016, Plainview, Minn.; son of Hjalmer and Edith (Johnson) Peterson; colloquy 1980. Served 1980-1993. Ministry/Parish: Plainview, Minn.; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1990-1997. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his wife Julia (Egler) Peterson. Survivors: sons: Brian, Lee. Funeral: January 11, 2016, Elgin, Minn.; Interment: January 11, 2016, Minneapolis, Minn.
REDER, FRANK DONALD REV., July 27, 1927, Chicago, Ill., to December 21, 2015, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; son of Frank and Katherine (Maurer) Reder; colloquy 1978. Served 1978-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Chicago, Ill.; Jennings, Mo. Retired 1992. Survivors: Sara (Kaste) Reder; sons: David, Mark; daughters: Deborah Augustine, Sharon Jasper. Cremation
REITER, CARL C. REV., February 11, 1932, St. Louis, Mo., to January 12, 2016, San Antonio, Texas; son of Carl and Ethel (Kerley) Reiter; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1989. Ministries/Parishes: Oxon Hills, Md.; U.S. Air Force Chaplain; Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho; Ft. Worth, Texas; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1987-1988. Retired 1989. Survivors: Mary (Dierker) Reiter; sons: Carl, Robert; daughters: Deborah, Tamara, Kristina. Funeral: January 18, 2016, San Antonio, Texas; Interment: February 5, 2016, San Antonio, Texas.
RUSSERT, MARTIN LOUIS II REV., May 21, 1922, Dubuque, Iowa, to January 14, 2016, Norfolk, Neb.; son of Rev. Martin Ist and Frieda (Garbe) Russert; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1948. Served 1948-1987. Ministries/Parishes: Ukiah, Calif.; U.S. Air Force Chaplain; Osage, Iowa; Norfolk, Neb.; Retired 1987. Preceded in death by his wife Bernice (Mussell) Russert and sons Martin III and Paul. Survivors: son: David; daughters: Pamela Floetke, Natalie Alewel, Tina Austin. Funeral and Interment: January 18, 2016, Norfolk, Neb.
SCHOOLER, EUGENE E. REV., September 8, 1936, Lanesville, Ind., to December 22, 2015, Vancouver, Wash.; son of William and Elizabeth (Taylor) Schooler; graduated Springfield Seminary 1961. Served 1961-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Auburn, Peru, Neb.; Petoskey, Mich.; The Dalles , Ore.; Sunnyside, Wash. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his daughter Karin Holdaway-Lehman; Survivors: Janet (Buchanan) Schooler; sons: David, Steven, Daniel, Scott. Funeral: January 10, 2016, Vancouver, Wash.
STEENBOCK, ELMER G. REV., November 19, 1925, Persia, Iowa, to January 4, 2016, Sweet Home, Ore.; son of Henry and Meta (Ehlers) Steenbock; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Bottineau, Willow City, Hillsboro, Grandin, N.D.; Coos Bay, Ore.; North Dakota Circuit Visitor 1971-1975. Retired 1990. Survivors: sons: Mark, Brian; daughters: Sondra Latt, Sally Dierefeld, Vicki Meyer, Greta Patterson, Heidi Burbery. Funeral: January 7, 2016, Sweet Home, Ore.
SUEHS, ARNOLD VICTOR REV., October 13, 1922, Lebanon, Wis., to January 21, 2016, Hillsboro, Mo.; son of Gustave and Anna (Matthias) Suehs; graduated Springfield Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1967, 1977-1985. Ministries/Parishes: Westcliffe, Colo.; Manawa, Wittenberg, Wis.; Prior Lake, Webster, Minn.; Otto, Mo. Preceded in death by his wife Fern (Wyatt) Suehs. Survivors: daughters: Connie Fortnam, Cindy Buckley, Leah Moses. Funeral and Interment: January 25, 2016, St. Louis, Mo.
THEISS, PAUL DAVID REV., January 24, 1950, Houston, Texas, to December 21, 2015, Bay City, Mich.; son of Rev. Harold and Corrine (Stahlecker) Theiss; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1977. Served 1977-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Superior, Tilden, Neb.; Bay City, Neb.; Michigan District Circuit Visitor 1989-1993. Survivors: Leeta Theiss; daughters: Tamara Youmans, Andrea Warren, Christa. Funeral: December 28, 2015, Bay City, Mich.
WELMER, MICHAEL FREDRICK REV., October 6, 1947, Indianapolis, Ind., to December 17, 2015, Houston, Texas; son of Lester and Marybelle (Rigney) Welmer; graduated Springfield Seminary 1973. Served 1973-2016. Ministries/Parishes: Shreveport, New Orleans, La.; Houston, Texas. Survivors: Jill (Wibben) Welmer; sons: Aaron, Donald, Patrick; daughter: Michelle. Funeral: December 21, 2015, Houston, Texas; Interment: December 23, 2015, New Orleans, La.
ZIPAY, NICHOLAS JR. REV., July 24, 1927, Sharon, Pa., to October 27, 2015, Wanatah, Ind.; son of Nicholas Sr. and Anna (Majdan) Zipay; graduated Springfield Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1976. Ministries/Parishes: Central City, Pa.; Detroit, Mich.; Cudahy, Wis.; Lorain, Ohio. Retired 1989. Preceded in death by his wife Dorothy (Chester) Zipay. Survivors: sons: Nicholas, Mark, Rev. Joel; daughters: Ruth, Rebecca. Funeral and Interment: October 31, 2015, Wanatah, Ind.
Commissioned
BERGMAN, FRED ERNEST, May 19, 1928, Sebewaing, Mich., to August 4, 2015, Orange, Calif.; son of Henry and Mrs. Bergman; graduated River Forest 1950. Served 1950-1993. Schools/Ministries: Campbell Hill, Ill.; Dearborn, Detroit, Mich.; Pasadena, Orange, Costa Mesa, Anaheim Hills, Calif. Retired 1993. Survivors: Marlene (Pflug) Bergman; sons: Paul, John, Mark, James, Peter; daughters: Susan Walker, Jane. Memorial Service: August 8, 2015, Orange, Calif.
BOEHM, JERRY R., 1941 to November 30, 2015, Libertyville, Ill.; colloquy, 1986. Served 1986-2005. Schools/Ministries: Ann Arbor, Saginaw, Mich.; Burnsville, Minn. Retired 2005. Survivors: Diane Boehm; sons: J.J., Joel, daughter: Lisa Rice. Memorial Service: December 5, 2015.
BUSSE, ROBERT L., January 9, 1928, Ft. Wayne, Ind., to January 2, 2016; son of August and Emilie (Weber) Busse; colloquy 1960. Served 1960-1993. School/Ministry: River Forest, Ill. Retired 1993. Survivors: Marilyn (Diemer) Busse; daughters: Margaret, Jennifer Laabs. Memorial Service: January 23, 2016, River Forest, Ill.
DUMLER, MARVIN J., September 7, 1921, Russell County, Kan., to October 5, 2015, Loveland, Colo.; son of Jacob and Lydia Dumler; colloquy 1960. Served 1961-1987. School/Ministry: River Forest, Ill. Retired 1987. Survivors: Esther (Wegele) Dumler; sons: Charles, Douglas; daughters: Diane, Cynthia, Cathryn. Memorial Service: October 10, 2015, Loveland, Colo.
GOEHNER, LOREN H., March 14, 1931, Hiawatha, Kan., to December 16, 2015, Bel Air, Md.; son of Ed and Josephine Goehner; graduated Seward 1957. Served 1957-1994. School/Ministry: Kingsville, Md. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his sons Jeffrey, Douglas, Bradley. Survivors: Grace (Strack) Goehner; son: Gregory; daughter: Valli. Funeral and Interment: December 21, 2015, Kingsville, Md.
KOHRS, RALPH LOUIS, October 21, 1936, St. Charles, Mo., to December 24, 2015, Brookfield, Wis.; son of Louis and Emma (Nolle) Kohrs; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1958-2002. Schools/Ministries: Milwaukee, Wis. Retired 2002. Survivors: Carole (Maier) Kohrs; sons: Stephen, Jonathan; daughter: Laura Rohde. Funeral: December 31, 2015, Milwaukee, Wis.; Interment: January 2, 2016, Brookfield, Wis.
MCNAMAR, TERRIA LYNN (PHILLPOTT), April 27, 1960, Corvallis, Ore., to January 6, 2016, Corvallis, Ore.; daughter of Margaret Phillpott; graduated Portland 1982. Served 1982-2016. School/Ministries: Inglewood, San Francisco, Calif.; Corvallis, Ore. Survivors: Daniel McNamar. Funeral and Interment: January 15, 2015, Corvallis, Ore.
SHELDON, ERNEST L., December 5, 1921, Johnstown, Pa., to January 26, 2016, Utica, Mich.; son of John and Melba Sheldon; graduated River Forest 1949. Served 1949-1985. Schools/Ministries: Detroit, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; Antigo, Wis. Retired 1985. Survivors: Ruth (Koch) Sheldon; sons: David, Mark, Rev. Barry, Gregory, Timothy; daughter: Carol. Funeral: January 29, 2016, Utica, Mich.; Interment: January 29, 2016, Macomb, Mich.
SMALLBECK, ANN C. (KINNER), October 13, 1939, Seattle, Wash., to May 27, 2015, Snohomish, Wash.; daughter of Bill and Florence Kinner; graduated Seward 1967. Served 1993-1994, 1996-1999. School/Ministry: Bellevue, Wash. Retired 1999. Survivors: Darrell Smallbeck; son: Joel; daughter: Rachel Depelo. Funeral: June 6, 2015, Bellevue, Wash.; Interment: June 6, 2015, Snohomish, Wash.
WILLIS, LINDA J. (ELLER), October 16, 1944, Alpena, Mich., to January 24, 2016, Alpena, Mich.; daughter of Victor and Geraldine (Nordstrom) Eller; colloquy 1982. Served 1982-2006. School/Ministry: Alpena, Mich. Retired 2006. Survivors: David Willis; daughters: Tracy Willis, Alison Kaiser. Funeral and Interment: January 27, 2016, Alpena, Mich.
