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
BEKEMEIER, LUTHER W. REV., March 1, 1927, Berkley, Mich., to November 26, 2016, Kirkland, Wash.; son of Rev. R. H. and Renata (Fuelling) Bekemeier; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1952. Served 1952-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Park Forest, Ill. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Lois (Huber) Bekemeier. Survivors: sons: Daniel, William, James; daughters: Christine, Elizabeth. Funeral: December 11, 2016, Lakewood, Wash.
BLECH, RANDOLF DERRICK REV., August 15, 1943, E. Cleveland, Ohio, to December 13, 2016, Plymouth, Wis.; son of Donald and Elzabeth (Miller) Blech; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1981. Served 1981-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Gilmanton, Modena, Wittenburg, Weyauwega, Wis. Retired 2004. Survivors: Betty (Bruss) Blech; daughters: Kristiana, Rebecca NeSmith. Funeral: December 18, 2016, Plymouth, Wis.; Interment: December 19, 2016, Brillion, Wis.
GERHARDT, ARTHUR H. REV., March 6, 1917, Willimansett, Mass., to November 17, 2016, Guilderland, N.Y.; son of John and Catherine (Young) Gerhardt; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1941. Served 1942-1979. Ministries/Parishes: Fullerton, Monroe, Neb.; Troy, Albany, N.Y. Retired 1979. Preceded in death by his wife Edith (Bender) Gerhardt and daughter Grace. Survivors: sons: Stephen, David; daughters: Jocelyn Hamblett, Lois Wilke, Dorcas Maione. Celebration of Life: November 28, 2016, Albany, N.Y.; Interment: November 28, 2016, Holyoke, Mass.
HAVEKOTTE, ALAN W. REV., January 17, 1942, Philadelphia, Pa., to September 2, 2016, Hudson, Fla.; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1982. Served 1982-1986, 2003. Ministries/Parishes: Freedom, Pa.; Ann Arbor, Mich. Retired 2012. Survivors: Patricia Havekotte; sons: James, Daniel, Paul. Funeral: September 10, 2016, Spring Hill, Fla.
HOFFMANN, DONALD H. REV., October 27, 1929, Menomonee, Wis., to December 29, 2016, Menomonee, Wis.; son of Rev. Otto and Ella (Baumann) Hoffmann; graduated Springfield Seminary 1953. Served 1959-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Elizabeth, Winfield, Walnut, Lena, Ill. Retired 2003. Survivors: Marion (Ristow) Hoffmann; son: Rev. Gregory; daughter: Holly Quinn. Celebration of Life and Interment: January 3, 2017, Lena, Ill.
SCHOENBORN, ERNEST F. REV., December 26, 1928, Rugby, N.D., to November 12, 2016, San Antonio, Texas; son of Emil and Adolfina (Degner) Schoenborn; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1981, 1984-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Albany, Sagerton, San Antonio, Texas; Durham, N.C.; U.S. Air Force Chaplain. Retired 1993. Survivors: Virginia (Weiser) Schoenborn; son: Dean. Funeral and Interment: November 23, 2016, San Antonio, Texas.
STEIN, JONATHAN P. REV., April 25, 1935, Chillicothe, Mo., to December 20, 2016, Cary, N.C.; son of Rev. Frederick and Irene (Kroggel) Stein; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1960-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Howard City, Amble, Flint, Mich., Seward, Neb.; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2004. Survivors: Sandra (Dillon) Stein; sons: Jeffrey, Mark; daughters: Susan, Sharon. Funeral and Interment: December 28, 2016, Cary, N.C.
Commissioned
BRUENGER, ARTHUR KENNETH, April 28, 1929, Hutchinson, Kan., to November 25, 2016, Redford, Mich.; graduated Seward 1952. Served 1952-1991. Schools/ Ministries: Kansas City, Kan.; Detroit, Mich. Retired 1991. Survivors: Angeline (Lepyesh) Bruenger; sons: John, James. Celebration of Life: December 1, 2016, Livonia, Mich.; Interment: Merrillville, Ind.
DOHRMANN, AARON C., July 24, 1929, Latimer, Iowa, to November 24, 2016, Frankenmuth, Mich.; son of August and Emma (Pralle) Dohrmann; graduated River Forest 1953. Served 1953-1991. Schools/Parishes: Cheney, Kan.; Reese, Mich. Retired 1991. Preceded in death by his wife Miranda (Hessler) Dohrmann. Survivors: sons: John, Jim; daughter: Janice Heindl. Funeral and Interment: November 28, 2016, Reese, Mich.
NEIDHOLD, FREDERICK WILLIAM, October 18, 1934, Chicago, Ill., to December 8, 2016, Spokane, Wash.; graduated Seward 1961. Served 1961-1981, 1987-1996. Schools/ Ministries: Battle Creek, Neb.; Lakewood, Colo.; Austin, Minn.; Chula Vista, Calif.; Spokane, Seattle, Wash. Retired 1996. Survivors: Eunice (Rolf) Neidhold; sons: Thomas, Matthew; daughter: Elizabeth Warrick. Memorial service and Interment: December 12, 2016, Spokane, Wash.
ZIMMER, RICHARD ALLAN, March 29, 1930, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to November 9, 2016, Arlington Heights, Ill.; son of Peter and Phyllis (Meyer) Zimmer; graduated River Forest 1954. Served 1954-1995. Schools/ Ministries: Lynwood, Calif.; Skokie, River Forest, Ill. Retired 1995. Survivors: Carol (Eckert) Zimmer; sons: Mark, Marty, Michael. Memorial Service: November 19, 2016, Melrose Park, Ill.
