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
BEHLING, EDWARD FREDRICH REV., November 25, 1928, Boyne City, Mich., to June 9, 2017, Fargo, N.D.; son of Harry and Gertrude (Stenke) Behling; graduated Springfield Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Beresina, Churchbridge, Saskatchewan, Canada; Foley, E. Grand Forks, Braham, Rush City, Minn.; Minnesota North District Circuit Visitor 1982-1990. Retired 1992. Survivors: Rose (Heinamaki) Behling; sons: Rev. Robert, Stephen, Peter; daughter: Lois Disterhaupt. Funeral and Interment: June 14, 2017, Park Rapids, Minn.
BETZ, JOHN HANDLEY REV., June 12, 1937, Columbus, Ohio, to May 9, 2017, Beaufort, S.C.; son of Wilbur and Irene (Handley) Betz; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1997. Served 1997-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Baltimore, Md.; Florala, Ala. Retired 2012. Survivors: Victoria (Olian) Betz; daughters: Lisa Cruz, Carolyn Gilmore, Joanna Osmond. Funeral and Interment: June 10, 2017, Beaufort, S.C.
DAVIS, JOHN HENRY REV., August 19, 1918, Flatwood, Wilcox County, Ala., to April 26, 2017, Robertsdale, Ala.; son of James and Mary (Wilson) Davis; colloquy 1985. Served 1985-1997. Ministry/Parish: Institutional Chaplain. Retired 1997. Survivors: Nancy (Whisenant) Davis; sons: John, Paul, Thomas, Michael; daughters: Teresa Whitfield, Helen, Juanita Pettway, Collene Creige, Alesia Travis, Seleene. Funeral: May 13, 2017, Mobile, Ala.; Interment: May 13, 2017, Arlington, Ala.
DIGGS, HOMER L. REV., November 1, 1936, Mobile, Ala., to May 18, 2017, Henderson, N.C.; colloquy 1984. Served 1984-1991, 1992-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Alexandria, Va.; Columbia, S.C.; Milwaukee, Wis. Retired 1998. Survivors: Mary Diggs; daughter: Rebe. Funeral: May 23, 2017, Norlina, N.C.; Interment: May 23, 2017, Louisburg, N.C.
FEHRMANN, WALTER E. REV., February 14, 1922, Youngwood, Pa., to June 19, 2017, Higginsville. Mo.; son of George and Clara (Engelbert) Fehrmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1945. Served 1945-1987. Ministries/Parishes: Cincinnati, Ohio; New Guinea, Evansville, Ind.; Altenburg, Higginsville, Mo. Retired 1987. Preceded in death by his son James. Survivors: Lois (Loesel) Fehrmann sons: John, Nathaniel; step-sons: James, Steven, Ronald; step-daughter: Lynette. Funeral: June 24, 2017, Jackson, Mo.; Interment: June 24, 2017, Altenburg, Mo.
GOEHNER, EDWARD CLARENCE REV., May 1, 1925, Leavenworth, Kan., to April 21, 2017, Franklin, Tenn.; son of Edward and Josephine (Bauer) Goehner; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1951. Served 1951-1990. Preceded in death by his wife Ellen (Hoyer) Goehner. Survivors: sons: Thomas, Joel; daughter: Sarah Tornow. Funeral and Interment: June 17, 2017, Nashville, Tenn.
HOMRIGHAUSEN, EDGAR W. REV., September 1, 1924, Glendale, Long Island, N.Y., to June 16, 2017, Slidell, La.; son of August and Annie (Schwiening) Homrighausen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1950. Served 1950-2009. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, Lacombe, La.; Cullman, Ala.; Miami, Fla.; Southern District Circuit Visitor 1955-1957; Southern District President 1957-1969. Survivors: Marjorie (Lesh) Homrighausen; sons: Edgar Jr., Paul, Timothy, Philip, James; daughters: Lois, Lydia. Celebration of Life and Interment: June 23, 2017, New Orleans, La.
KLEPATZ, HERBERT R. REV., August 25, 1932, Bedford, Ohio, to April 18, 2017, Chattanooga, Tenn.; son of Theodore and Bertha (Prenzlaf) Klepatz; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1991, 2001-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Stirum, Gwinner, N.D.; U.S. Air Force Chaplain; Jacksonville, Siloam Springs, Magnolia, Camden, Ark.; Chattanooga, Nashville, Tenn. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by his son Kurt and daughter Heidi. Survivors: Sheryl (Kimball) Klepatz; daughter: Karen Harris; step-daughter: Tracy Green. Celebration of Life: May 6, 2017, Chattanooga, Tenn.
MORIARITY, DANIEL THOMAS REV., June 13, 1948, Indianapolis, Ind., to May 25, 2017, Blair, Neb.; son of Daniel and Bernice (Gentry) Moriarity; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1974. Served 1974-2008. Ministries/Parishes: St. Louis, Mo.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Torrance, Calif. Retired 2008. Survivors: Linda (Herrmann) Morarity; son: Daniel; daughter: Rebecca Medley. Funeral: May 31, 2017, Blair, Neb.; cremation.
OESCH, EUGENE A. REV., April 2, 1930, Valentine, Neb., to June 5, 2017, Houston, Texas; son of Rev. Adalbert and Anna (Batterman) Oesch; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Farwell, Houston, Texas. Retired 1996. Survivors: Margaret (Burgdorf) Oesch; son: Jonathan; daughters: Rebecca Parsons, Marci Bahr, Paula Clinton, Kristen Stubbs, Katie. Funeral: June 8, 2017, Houston, Texas; cremation.
ROGERS, EDWARD BARRETT REV., November 14, 1929, Danielsville, Ga., to April 27, 2017, Ozark, Ala.; son of James and Elizabeth (Jackson) Rogers; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1984. Ministries/Parishes: Marion, N.C.; U.S. Army Chaplain; Dothan, Ala. Retired 1984. Survivors: Merilyn (Stibbe) Rogers; sons: Mark; daughters: Deanna, Angela, Pamela. Funeral and Interment: April 27, 2017, Ozark, Ala.
SCHROETER, HAROLD WALTER REV., December 23, 1927, Effingham, Ill., to June 17, 2017, San Antonio, Texas; son of Rev Walter and Augusta (Beccue) Schroeter; graduated Springfield Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1984. Ministries/Parishes: Okauchee, Sheboygan, Wis.; Garland, San Antonio, Texas. Retired 1986. Survivors: Carol (Kaddatz) Schroeter; sons: James, Alan; daughter: Judith Gallagher. Funeral: June 21, 2017, New Braunfels, Texas; Interment: June 21, 2017, San Antonio, Texas.
WIDMANN, RICHARD W. REV., October 22, 1932, Iona, Minn., to June 17, 2017, San Diego, Calif.; son of Rev. Elmer and Jeanette (Happel) Widmann; graduated Springfield Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1997. Ministries/Parishes: New Berlin, Wis.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; San Diego, Calif. Retired 1997. Survivors: Eileen (Kane) Widmann; son: Jonathan; daughters: Jeanette Marks, Rachel Wohlfeil, Mary Rochester, Faith LaKomp.
COMMISSIONED
KONETZKI, ELLE LUCINDA LOUISE (SALEK), April 17, 1957, to May 8, 2017, Sheboygan, Wis.; daughter of Leonard and JoAnn (Vitek) Salek; graduated Ft. Wayne 2017. Served 2017. Ministry/Parish: Sheboygan, Wis. Survivors: Alan Konetzki; sons: Maxwell, Stanton. Funeral: May 16, 2017, Sheboygan, Wis.
NITSCHKE, FREDERIC A., June 16, 1925, Mankato, Minn., to May 31, 2017, Rochester, Minn.; son of Arthur and Alwina (Mueller) Nitschke; graduated Seward 1946. Served 1946-1985. Schools/ Ministries: Janesville, Minneapolis, Rochester, Minn.; Elyria, Ohio; Great Bend, Kan. Retired 1985. Survivors: sons: Peter, Paul, Joel. Funeral and Interment: June 8, 2017, Rochester, Minn.
SNYDER, RONALD A., August 1, 1933, Columbus, Ind., to June 21, 2017, Red Bud, Ill.; son of John and Lillian (Brawand) Snyder; graduated River Forest 1955. Served 1955-1998. School/Ministry: Red Bud, Ill. Retired 1998. Survivors: Eunice (Koch) Snyder; sons: Timothy, Joseph, Mark, David; daughters: Paula, Rachel, Mary. Funeral and Interment: June 27, 2017, Red Bud, Ill.
SONSTROEM, ROLLAND R., August 10, 1928, Bristol, Conn., to June 6, 2017, New Berlin, Wis.; son of Gustave and Elfrieda (Jabs) Sonstroem; graduated River Forest 1957. Served 1957-1994. Schools/Ministries: Detroit, Mich.; Hales Corner, Wis. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Gwendolyn (Koss) Sonstroem. Survivors: son: Jed; daughter: Gretchen Parks. Celebration of Life: June 10, 2017, Hales Corner, Wis.
