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
BEHNKEN, KENNETH WAYNE REV., October 29, 1927, Houston, Texas, to March 15, 2017, Reno, Nev.; son of Rev. John and Hilda (Grassmuck) Behnken; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1954-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Long Beach, Mill Valley, Capistrano Beach, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Great Bend, Kan. Retired 1990. Survivors: Eunice (Frick) Behnken; daughters: Sandra Clark, Susan Dittli, Amy Sabatino. Memorial Service and Interment: March 20, 2017, Reno, Nev.
BIAR, HENRY HAROLD REV., September 8, 1935, Thorndale, Texas, to March 12, 2017, San Antonio, Texas; son of Henry and Hannah (Symank) Biar; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1960-1961, 1966-2005. Kermit, Monahans, San Antonio, Texas; Sparta, Ill. Texas District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994, 1997-2012. Retired 2005. Survivors: Shirley (Grefe) Biar; sons: Henry Jr., Andrew; daughters: Karisa Schepmann, Kathryn Schweninger. Funeral: March 17, 2017, San Antonio, Texas.
BOETTCHER, DAVID N. REV., July 10, 1941, Shawano, Wis., to February 17, 2017, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; son of Norbert and Mabel (Sumnicht) Boettcher; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1967. Served 1967-2007. Ministries/Parishes: Nigeria, Milwaukee, Oconto, Green Bay, Wis. Retired 2007. Survivors: Ruth (Boelter) Boettcher; daughters: Joy Utzinger, Jill Dehne. Memorial Service: February 25, 2017, Jackson, Mo.
COLLIER JOHN S. REV., April 9, 1932, Jersey City, N.J., to February 20, 2017, Rochester, N.Y.; son of Charles and Hazel (Staffer) Collier; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Oak Hill, Spencerport, Olean, Rome, Sylvan Beach, Glen Falls, Sayville, N.Y.; Bordentown, N.J.; Eastern District Circuit Visitor 1991-1996. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Pat Collier. Survivors: sons: Mark, Jonathan; daughters: Kathleen, Jennifer, Erin. Funeral: February 24, 2017, Spencerport, N.Y.
DINDA, RICHARD JOHN REV., March 30, 1927, Cleveland, Ohio, to February 28, 2017, Austin, Texas; son of John and Emma (Helmkamp) Dinda; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1951. Served 1951-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Paris, Clarksville, Austin, Texas. Retired 1992. Survivors: Laura Dinda; daughter: Elissa. Memorial Service: March 11, 2017, Austin, Texas.
HANSEN, DONALD G. REV., June 4, 1932, Finlayson, Minn., to March 8, 2017, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; son of Jorgen and Ella (Schoenrock) Hansen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1960. Served 1960-1982. Ministries/Parishes: Cocoa Beach, Fla.; Kenosha, Sun Prairie, Wis. Morristown, Minn.; Hacienda Heights, Long Beach, Calif. Retired 1997. Survivors: Mercedes (Boss) Hansen; sons: Timothy, Matthew; daughter: Mary Johnston. Funeral and Interment: March 21, 2017, Riverside, Calif.
HARMANN, ELDOR JAMES REV., July 2, 1936, Milwaukee, Wis., to March 19, 2017, Waco, Texas; son of Elmer and Dora (Schachtschneider) Harmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1961-2007. Ministries/Parishes: Martinsville, Ind.; Kingsport, Tenn.; Elkhart, Hugoton, Preston, Kan.; Janesville, Mayville, Wis.; Brenham, Texas. Retired 2007. Preceded in death by his son Paul. Survivors: son: Craig; daughters: Carla Wrigley, Sarah Farrell. Funeral: March 24, 2017, Hewitt, Texas; Interment: March 25, 2017, William Penn, Texas.
HILGENDORF, HILBERT P. REV., April 22, 1931, Dickinson, N.D., to March 21, 2017, Fond du Lac, Wis.; son of Theodore and Gertrude (Zuberbier) Hilgendorf; graduated Springfield Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Hill City, Remer, Minn.; Sheboygan, Appleton, Milwaukee, Shawano, Fond du Lac, Wis. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Marian (Schedler) Hilgendorf. Survivors: Gertrude (Huesmann) Hilgendorf; son: Mark; daughters; Lynne Paba, Terri Stone, Lori Reid. Funeral: March 26, 2017, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Interment: March 27, 2017, Fond du Lac, Wis.
KAEDING, HUGO C. REV., January 6, 1928, Brooklyn, N.Y., to February 13, 2017, Hilliard, Ohio; son of Helmut and Lena (Althaus) Kaeding; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Decatur, Quincy, Ill.; Burlington, Iowa; Iowa East District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 1993. Survivors: Irene (Pelletier) Kaeding; sons: Christopher, Konrad; daughters: Susan, Sabrina.
MARCIS, ALBERT M. REV., March 14, 1928, Tarentum, Pa., to March 24, 2017, Winter Springs, Fla.; son of Michael and Margaret Marcis; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Blue Island, Ill.; Parma, Ohio; SELC District President 1972-1997. Retired 1997. Survivors: Sylvia (Karjalaine) Marcis; son: Michael; daughters: Ruth, Lois, Karen Springer. Funeral: March 28, 2017, Oviedo, Fla.
POPP, MILTON NORMAN REV., August 25, 1921, Perryville, Mo., to February 28, 2017, Rimrock, Ariz.; son of William and Paula (Frentzel) Popp; graduated Springfield Seminary 1950. Served 1950-1988. Ministries/Parishes: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada; Japan; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Danville, Ill.; Tucson, Prescott, Ariz. Retired 1988. Survivors: Aida (McCartney) Popp; sons: David, Daniel; daughters: Christi Tallent, Cheryl, Stephanie, Kathleen. Funeral: March 10, 2017, Cottonwood, Ariz.; Interment: March 10, 2017, St. Louis, Mo.
WISE, RODNEY ALAN REV., November 27, 1956, Springfield, Ill., to March 16, 2017, St. Louis, Mo.; son of Wilbert and Mary (Lacey) Wise; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1999. Served 1999-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Overland, Glendale, Mo. Survivors: Julie (Atwood) Wise; sons: Clark, Evan. Funeral: March 25, 2017, Glendale, Mo.; Interment: March 25, 2017, St. Louis. Mo.
Commissioned
KIRCHHOFF, W. JAMES DR., December 29, 1935, Indianapolis, Ind., to March 1, 2017, Naperville, Ill. son of William and Agnes (Kettler) Kirchhoff; graduated River Forest 1957. Served 1957-2002. Schools/Ministries: Chicago, Park Forest, Naperville, Ill. Retired 2002. Survivors: Loretta (Meyer) Kirchhoff; son: John; daughters: Lisa Miller, Karen Kutz. Memorial Service: March 18, 2017, Lisle, Ill.
RADKE, MERLE L. DR., February 25, 1922, Aurelia, Iowa., to March 8, 2017; son of Fred and Marie (Winterhof) Radke; graduated Seward 1943. Served 1943-1993. Schools/Ministries: St. Johns, Mich.; Twin Falls, Idaho; River Forest, Ill. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his wife Ruth (Huebner) Radke. Survivors: daughters: Charlyne Berens, Jeaninne Meyer. Memorial Service: April 8, 2017, River Forest, Ill.
SOEKEN, RICHARD W., March 22, 1944, Lyons, Kan., to March 14, 2017, Evansville, Ind.; son of Raymond and Leota (Galliart) Soeken; graduated Valparaiso Seminary 1967. Served 1968-2010. Schools/Ministries: Ft. Wayne, Evansville, Ind.; Saginaw, Mich.; Salina, Mission, Kan. Retired 2010. Survivors: Rita (Gaertner) Soeken; daughters: Leela Voges, Nicole. Memorial Service: March 24, 2017, Evansville, Ind.
WENGERT, DEAN DWIGHT, September 2, 1933, State Center, Iowa, to March 14, 2017, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Roland and Lillian (Bernard) Wengert; graduated Seward 1956. Served 1956-1988. Schools/Ministries: Alma, Mo.; Ft. Wayne, Huntington, Ind. Retired 1988. Preceded in death by his wife Ruth (Hachmeister) Wengert. Survivors: son: Kevin; daughters: Cynthia Echelbarger, Kimberly Stickell. Funeral and Interment: March 20, 2017, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
