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
BAKER, CLAUDE H. REV., Dec. 9, 1940, New London, Wis., to Jan. 8, 2018, Glendale, Calif.; son of Rev. Herbert and Dorothy (Soldner) Baker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2006. Ministries/Parishes: San Jose, Yuba City, Tujunga, Calif. Retired 2006. Survivors: Candice (Kinney) Baker; son: Andrew; daughter: Angela. Funeral: Feb. 7, 2018, Tujunga, Calif.
BLUHM, GEORGE DAVID REV., July 26, 1939, Cleveland, Ohio., to Jan. 18, 2018, Conover, N.C.; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985. Served 1985-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Mandata, Pa.; Statesville, Conover, N.C. Retired 2000. Memorial Service: Jan. 27, 2018, Conover, N.C.
BRUSIUS, RONALD W. REV., July 6, 1934, Oshkosh, Wis., to Jan. 17, 2018, Oshkosh, Wis.; son of Raymond and Violet Brusius; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-1996, 2000-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Seward, Bellevue, Neb.; St. Louis, Palmyra, Mo.; Cape Coral, Fla. Retired 2004. Preceded in death by his wife Betty (Weitz) Brusius. Survivors: daughters: Cathy Merrill, Ronda Baublitz, Paula Owens, Krista Stutz.
COCHRANE, ROBERT SPENCER REV., Oct. 30, 1952, Kansas City, Mo., to Dec. 28, 2017, Fenton, Mo.; son of Virginia Cochrane; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1979. Served 1979-1984, 2004-2010. Ministries/Parishes: Watonga, Hilton, Okla.; Warner Robins, Ga.; High Ridge, Jennings, Mo. Retired 2014. Survivors: sons: Joshua, Christopher, James. Memorial Service: Jan. 13, 2018, Cedar Hill, Mo.
HECKERT, JAKOB K. REV., Jan. 13, 1931, Cervenka, Yugoslavia, to Jan. 16, 2018, Ann Arbor, Mich.; son of Jakob and Krisztina (Raff) Heckert; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1963-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Wentzville, St. Louis, Mo.; Sheboygan, Oshkosh, Wis.; Ann Arbor, Mich. Retired 1998. Survivors: Illona (Jakobsons) Heckert; sons; Stephen, Mark; daughter: Paula Isakon. Funeral: Jan. 20, 2018, Hartland, Mich.; Interment: Jan. 20, 2018, Ann Arbor, Mich.
KRUEGER, HAROLD OTTOMAR REV., Feb. 5, 1926, Concordia, Mo., to Jan. 3, 2018, Barrington, Ill.; son of Rev. Ottomar and Esther (Steinwedel) Krueger; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1950. Served 1950-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Kinde, Mich.; Lake Zurich, Ill. Retired 2000. Survivors: Ruth (Grau) Krueger; sons: Mark, Paul, David; daughters: Kaye Degner, Gale Leavitt, Debra Williams. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 6, 2018, Barrington, Ill.
LAESCH, NORMAN T. REV., May 3, 1931, Brookings, S.D., to Jan. 8, 2018, Scottsdale, Ariz.; son of Arthur and Tabea (Stullich) Laesch; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-2008. Ministries/Parishes: Creston, Marengo, Oxford, Iowa; Barrington Hills, Ill.; Tucson, Ariz.; St. Louis, Mo.; Irvine, Los Angeles, Orange, Calif.; Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 1994-1995. Retired 2008. Preceded in death by his son John. Survivors: Joyce (Pohl) Laesch; daughter: Catherine Lenhart. Memorial Service: Jan. 14, 2018, Anthem, Ariz.
LEWER, RICHARD FREDERICK REV., April 27, 1937, Raymondville, Texas, to Jan. 17, 2018, Indianapolis, Ind.; son of Fred and Olga (Fette) Lewer; graduated Springfield Seminary 1974. Served 1974-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Columbia, Tenn.; Wathena, Kan.; Forrest City, Lafe, Ark.; Kansas District Circuit Visitor 1985. Retired 2000. Survivors: Nancy (Buhrdorf) Lewer; son: Steve; daughters: Cheryl, Janice. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 19, 2018, New Palestine, Ind.
OLSEN, CLIFFORD T, REV., March 15, 1926, Brooklyn, N.Y., to Jan. 28, 2018, Georgetown, Texas; son of Tollef and Martha (Thorsen) Olsen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1964. Served 1965-1984. Ministries/Parishes: Midway, Huntsville, Texas. Retired 1984. Preceded in death by his wife Evelyn (Zschiesche) Olsen. Survivors: son: Mark; daughter: Susan Ault. Funeral: Feb. 3, 2018, Georgetown, Texas; Interment: Feb. 5, 2018, Killeen, Texas.
TEACHENOR, MONROE S. REV., Dec. 3, 1925, Eagle Rock, Calif., to Dec. 22, 2017, Castro Valley, Calif.; son of Monroe and Martha (Thomas) Teachenor; graduated Springfield Seminary 1952. Served 1952-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Sonora, Tuolumne, Livingston, Los Banos, Atwater, Berkeley, Calif. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Agnelsa (Kjergaard) Teachenor. Survivors: son: Karl; daughters: Elsa Keaton, Anna Kempf, Mary. Funeral: Jan. 14, 2018, Hayward, Calif.: Interment: Jan. 14, 2018, Oakland, Calif.
UFFENBECK, WILLIAM J. REV., May 19, 1945, Portage, Wis., to Jan. 5, 2018, Clinton, Wis.; son of William and Marie (Allen) Uffenbeck; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1971. Served 1971-2011. Ministries/Parishes: Golden, Ill.; Madison, Oconomowoc, Clinton, Wis. Retired 2011. Survivors: Elaine (Musick) Uffenbeck; sons: William, David, Michael. Funeral: Jan. 13, 2018, Clinton, Wis.; Interment: Jan. 13, 2018, Portage, Wis.
WESENER, DONALD OTTO REV., July 10, 1930, Sheboygan, Wis., to Jan. 12, 2018, Plymouth, Wis.; son of Otto and Marie (Haack) Wesener; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Holstein, Neb.; Milwaukee, Glenwood City, Boyceville, Tigerton, Gleason, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Bentonville, Ark. Retired 1992. Survivors: Doris (Gothberg) Wesener; sons: David, Jonathan; daughters: Barbara Nelson, Cynthia Gould. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 19, 2018, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
COMMISSIONED
FRANZEN, ARLYN D., Aug. 23, 1936, Leigh, Neb., to Jan. 29, 2018, Springfield, Ill.; son of Arthur and Elsa (Beecher) Franzen; graduated Seward 1962. Served 1962-1967, 1997-2005. Schools/Ministries: Springfield, Ill. Retired 2005. Preceded in death by his wife Janice (Winkleman). Survivors: Vicki (Nass) Franzen; daughter: Nancy Richards; step-daughters: Erica Scott, Heather Scott. Memorial Service: Feb. 3, 2018, Springfield, Ill.
FRESE, ARTHUR EDGAR, Sept. 26, 1935, Trenton, Neb., to Dec. 7, 2017, La Quinta, Calif.; son of Edgar and Augusta (Lampe) Frese; graduated Seward 1962. Served 1962-2003. Schools/Ministries: Grand Island, Neb.; Orange, Irvine, San Francisco, Calif. Retired 2003. Survivors: Pamela (Holmes) Frese; sons: David, Mark, Bret; daughters: Pamela, Kathryn, Jennifer. Funeral: Jan. 27, 2018, San Francisco, Calif.
HOYE, ALLEN CARL, Sept. 6, 1942, Milwaukee, Wis., to Oct. 8, 2017, Shawano, Wis.; son of George and Marion (Liebenthal) Hoye; graduated River Forest 1970. Served 1970-2004. Schools/Ministries: Grafton, Clyman, Milwaukee, Hilbert, Wis. Retired 2004. Survivors: Barbara (Wolf) Hoye; sons: Mark, Robert, Michael; daughter: Dawn Marohnic. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 13, 2017, Stoney Hill, Wis.
MCPHERSON, DEBRA J. (KRUEGER), Nov. 6, 1953, Medford, Wis., to Dec. 21, 2017, Manitowoc, Wis.; daughter of Gilbert and Betty Krueger; graduated St. Paul 1979. Served 1987-2013. School/Ministry: Stuttgart, Ark. Retired 2013. Preceded in death by her husband Alfred McPherson. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 26, 2017, Merrill, Wis.
PASCHE, RAYMOND F., Feb. 25, 1930, Pasco, Wash., to Feb. 22, 2017, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Paul and Christine Pasche; graduated Seward 1959. Served 1959-1996. Schools/Ministries: Lafayette, Ft. Wayne, Ind. Retired 1996. Survivors: Lois Pasche; sons: Daniel, Paul, Michael, Thomas; daughter: Ruth Curtis. Funeral: Feb. 27, 2017, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Interment: Feb. 27, 2017, Lafayette, Ind.
PROCHNOW, JEAN ELLEN (KAISER), Jan.y 15, 1936, Peru, India, to Dec. 18, 2017, Seward, Neb.; daughter of Edward and Emma (Wendt) Kaiser; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1973-2002. School/Ministry: Seward, Neb. Retired 2010. Preceded in death by her husband Eugene Prochnow. Survivor: son: Michael. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 22, 2017, Seward, Neb.
RUPPRECHT, MARTHA LYDIA (JANZOW), Sept. 5, 1925, Winona, Minn., to Jan. 9, 2018, Winter Haven, Fla.; daughter of John and Martha Janzow; graduated Milwaukee 1969. Served 1973-2003. Schools/Ministries: Oak Creek, Wis.; Davie, Fla. Retired 2003. Preceded in death by her husband Gary Rupprecht and son David. Survived by four daughters. Celebration of Eternal Joy: Lakeland, Fla.; Interment: Lewiston, Minn.
SCHRAGE, PATRICIA ALICE (ZAHN), Aug. 23, 1940, Oconto Falls, Wis., to Jan. 2, 2018, Davenport, Iowa; daughter of Oliver and Alice (Bahrke) Zahn; graduated Seward 1964. Served 1975-1990. School/Ministry: Seward, Neb. Retired 1990. Survivors: Richard Schrage. Funeral: Jan. 8, 2018, DeWitt, Iowa; Interment: Jan. 10, 2018, Rock Island, Ill.
SELMEYER, DAVID A., July 3, 1947, Cincinnati, Ohio., to Dec. 23, 2017, Antigo, Wis.; son of Orville and Alice (Pflueger) Selmeyer; graduated Ann Arbor 1969. Served 1969-2009. Schools/Ministries: Pevely, Mo.; Antigo, Wis. Retired 2009. Survivors: LuAnn (Lemke) Selmeyer; son: D.J.; daughter: Heidi Emoto. Funeral: Dec. 28, 2017, Antigo, Wis.; Interment: Dec. 28, 2017, Wausau, Wis.
STALLMANN, RUTH S. (BROERMANN) DEACONESS, April 8, 1918, Evansville, Ind., to Nov. 14, 2017, Webster Groves. Mo.; daughter of Oswald and Elizabeth (Dormeier) Broermann; graduated Valparaiso 1955. Served 1973-1990. School/Ministry: Chicago, Ill. Retired 1990. Survivors: step-sons: Carl, Mark; step-daughters: Carol George, Marcia Johnson. Funeral: Nov. 17, 2017, Webster Groves. Mo.; Interment: Evansville, Ind.
