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
DUEKER, ARTHUR CHARLES REV., March 6, 1933, Chicago, Ill., to January 29, 2017, Rochester, N.Y.; son of Arthur and Hermina (Loots) Dueker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Cando, Engeland, N.D.; Rochester, N.Y.; North Dakota Circuit Visitor 1960. Retired 2010. Survivors: Betty (Zoellick) Dueker; sons: Todd, Rev. Kirk, Scott; daughters: Robin, Jill Stojkovic. Funeral: February 4, 2017, Rochester, N.Y; Interment: February 4, 2017, Pittsford, N.Y.
FISCHER, ARNOLD EMIL REV., July 13, 1931, Milbank, S.D., to January 31, 2017; son of Ewald and Martha (Buerkle) Fischer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1996. Ministries/Parishes; Fortuna, Crosby, Plentywood, N.D.; Power, Fairfield, Mont.; Howard, S.D.; Lander, Cody, Wyo.; Rushville, Hay Springs, Neb.; Wyoming District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 1996. Survivors: Marjory (Stengrimson) Fischer; daughters: Debbie Trennepohl, Kristi Beam. Funeral: February 6, 2017, Great Falls, Mont.; Interment: February 6, 2017, Fairfield, Mont.
FRIEDRICH, ORVAL DANIEL REV., September 2, 1922, Elma, Iowa, to January 11, 2017, Des Moines, Iowa; son of Ernest and Alinda (Rimrodt) Friedrich; graduated Dubuque Seminary 1968. Served 1968-1981. Ministries/Parishes: Kathryn, N.D.; Craig, Marshalltown, Iowa; Kingsville, Texas; Chillicothe, Mo. Retired 1985. Survivors: Arlene (Grimm) Friedrich; son: Daniel; daughters: Lynette Donner, Brenda, Karen Barshinger. Funeral: January 16, 2017, Elma, Iowa.
LEHMANN, WILLIAM H. JR. REV., September 15, 1926, Darfur, Minn., to February 7, 2017, Vancouver, Wash.; son of William Sr. and Muriel (Fischer) Lehmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1951. Served 1955-1993. Ministry/Parish; River Forest, Ill. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his daughter Ann. Survivors: Carol (Austin) Lehmann; son: William III.; daughters: Liesa, Ruth, Anne, Amy, Margaret, Gretchen. Funeral: February 18, 2017, Vancouver, Wash.
LINDEMANN, ALBERT H. REV., April 19, 1913, Birmingham, Ala., to February 10, 2017, Osage Beach, Mo.; son of Albert and Anna (Meyer) Lindemann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1936. Served 1942-1983. Ministries/Parishes: Hannibal, Mo.; U.S. Airforce Chaplain; Burkburnett, Texas. Retired 1983. Preceded in death by his wife Viola (Malone) Lindemann. Survivors: sons: Michael, Marty, David, Mark. Funeral: February 18, 2017, Lake Ozark, Mo.
MATTHIESSEN, DONALD WILLIAM REV., April 24, 1929, Persia, Iowa., to February 3, 2017, Sterling, Ill.; son of William and Lillie (Martens) Matthiessen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1975. Served 1975-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Hamill, Winner, Clearfield, S.D.; Gresham, Neb.; Sterling, Ill. Retired 1994. Survivors: Rosemary (Mortensen) Matthiessen; sons: George, Robert; daughter: Amy Morrison. Celebration of Life: February 16, 2017, Rock Falls, Ill.; Interment: February 17, 2017, Elk Horn, Iowa.
MORTHOLE, DONALD G. REV., July 5, 1931, Culbertson, Neb., to February 10, 2017, Hurlock, Md.; son of George and Amelia (Schnabel) Morthole; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Philippines; Seaford, Del.; Catonsville, Md.; South Eastern District Circuit Visitor 1988-1991. Retired 1997. His wife Beverly (Shelton) Morthole was Called to Glory the following day February 11, 2017. Survivors: sons: John, George, Thomas, Andrew; daughter: Lorene.
PIPER, MICHAEL GREG REV., July 4, 1962, Hancock, Mich., to February 7, 2017, Bridgeton, Mo.; son of Walter and June (Lassila) Piper; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1988. Served 1988-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Beecher, Ill.; New Melle, Mo. Survivors: Kay (McDonald) Piper; sons: Joshua, Robert, Thomas; daughter: Natalie. Funeral and Interment: February 11, 2017, New Melle, Mo.
PLACKNER, JAMES JOHN REV., June 7, 1941. St. Paul, Minn., to January 12, 2017, Champlin, Minn.; son of Lloyd and Louise (Schultz) Plackner; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1967. Served 1967-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Perrysburg, Ohio; Charlevoix, Mich.; Northbrook, Winfield, Ill. Retired 2003. Survivors: Carol (Impola) Plackner; son: Andrew; daughter: Sara Frankwick. Funeral: January 17, 2017, Anoka, Minn.
RINGHARDT, WESLEY H. REV., April 21, 1929, Janesville, Wis., to August 31, 2016, Russellville, Ark.; son of Henry and Vera (Schumacher) Ringhardt; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Ballinger, Victoria, Texas; Harriman, Tenn.; Russellville, Augsburg, Clarksville, Ark.; Mid-South District Circuit Visitor 1978-1988, 1990-1991. Retired 1991. Survivors: son: Eugene; daughters: Susan Colles, Karen Johnson, Cynthia Sheely, Michelle, Sheryl Taylor.
WYSSMANN, ROBERT WILLIAM REV., May 9, 1927, Alma, Mo., to February 15, 2017, Springfield, Mo.; son of Carl and Martha (Gerken) Wyssmann; graduated Springfield Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Parshall, Ryder, Keene, N.D.; Marshfield, Diggins, Lee’s Summit Mo. Retired 1992. Survivors: sons: Rev. Gene, James; daughters: Kathy Whitworth, Mary Kuhlman, Amy Lashley. Celebration of Life: February 18, 2017, Springfield, Mo.
Commissioned
BLEEKE, JOHN HAROLD, May 18, 1929, Milwaukee, Wis., to February 1, 2017, Racine, Wis.; son of Rev. Henry and Ida (Tieman) Bleeke; graduated River Forest 1952. Served 1952-1992. Schools/ Ministries: Denver, Colo.; Racine, Wis. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Audrey (Manthey) Bleeke. Survivors: son: Jonathan; daughters: Anne Wills, Amy Lesnjak. Funeral and Interment: February 4, 2017, Racine, Wis.
EINSPAHR, GLENN CURTIS, February 18, 1926, Flager, Colo., to November 11, 2016, Seward, Neb.; son of Peter Jr. and Lillian (Lange) Einspahr; graduated Seward 1947. Served 1950-2007. School/Ministry: Seward, Neb. Retired 2007. Preceded in death by his wife Eva (Mahoney) Einspahr. Survivors: sons: Owen, Jack; daughters: Glennda Joyce, Mary McCuistion. Funeral and Interment: November 19, 2016, Seward, Neb.
GOEKE, JOHN ALBERT, January 3, 1940, Austin, Texas, to December 12, 2016, Austin, Texas; son of Albert and Helen (Horn) Goeke; graduated Seward 1962. Served 1962-2005. Schools/Ministries: San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Austin, Texas; Japan. Retired 2005. Survivors: Shirley (Lerche) Goeke; sons: Michael, Jonathan. Memorial Service: December 17, 2016, Walburg, Texas.
HELLWIG, CYNTHIA DEL, September 9, 1952, Oswego, Kan., to January 20, 2017, Davenport, Iowa; daughter of Harold and Darlene (Miksch) Hellwig; graduated River Forest 1974. Served 1974-2008. Schools/Ministries: Davenport, Iowa; Las Vegas, Nev.; Baton Rouge, La. Memorial Service: January 27, 2017, Davenport, Iowa.
LINDEMAN, MARILYN K. (KROHN), December 5, 1929, Chicago, Ill., to February 17, 2017, Park Ridge, Ill.; graduated River Forest 1971. Served 1973-1998. School/Ministry; Park Ridge, Ill. Retired 1998. Preceded in death by her husband Willis Lindeman. Survivors: son: Mark; daughter: Cathie Hansen. Memorial Service: March 4, 2017, Des Plaines, Ill.
ULMER, MARIAN E. (MCCLAUGHRY), July 31, 1931, Chicago, Ill., to January 21, 2017, Omaha, Neb.; graduated River Forest 1968. Served 1973-1993. Schools/Ministries: Omaha, Neb. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by her son Mark. Survivors: Richard Ulmer; son: Richard Jr.; daughters: Karla Haggar, Karen Samson, Karol, Kathy Wolfert, Kris Hock. Funeral: January 28, 2017, Omaha, Neb.
ZEHNDER, GEORGE F., April 21, 1930, Cleveland, Ohio, to February 16, 2017, Cedar Hill, Texas; son of Victor and Cornelia (Brueggemann) Zehnder; graduated River Forest 1953. Served 1953-1992. Schools/Ministries: Houston, Dallas, Texas; Alhambra, Calif. Retired 1992. Survivors: Carol (Donner) Zehnder; sons: Steve, Michael; daughters: Deb Jennings, Susan. Memorial Service: February 21, 2017, Waxahachie, Texas; Interment: February 21, 2017. Duncanville, Texas.
