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
BAUDER, HAROLD J. REV., Dec. 15, 1934, Bethune, Colo., to Jan. 19, 2019, Vancouver, Wash.; son of Herman and Hulda (Schlichenmeyer) Bauder; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-2006. Ministries/Parishes: Philippines; Springfield, Ore.; Tacoma, Seaview, Wash.; Kimberly, Idaho. Retired 2006. Survivors: Mary Alice (LeMaster) Bauder; son: John; daughters: Susan Veis, Sophia Yorke, Sigrid Rule. Funeral: Feb. 2, 2019, Vancouver, Wash.
BAXTER, JAMES JEFFREY REV., March 27, 1953, East Cleveland, Ohio, to Jan. 15, 2019, Houston, Texas; son of James and Barbara (Kiernan) Baxter; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1986. Served 1986-1995, 2012-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Alma, Mich.; Champaign, Macomb, Ill.; Palacious, Texas. Retired 2013. Survivor: son; Daniel. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 24, 2019, Houston, Texas.
FRERKING, KENNETH LEE REV., Feb. 22, 1932, Amarillo, Texas, to Jan. 12, 2019, Columbia, Mo.; son of Horace and Lucille (Tieman) Frerking; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Columbus, Ohio; Columbia, Mo. Retired 1997. Survivors: Ethelyn (Crawford) Frerking; daughter: Joanna McDowell. Funeral: Jan. 18, 2019, Columbia, Mo.
FROEHLICH, CHARLES D. REV., May 7, 1927, Goose Creek, Texas, to Jan. 9, 2019, Wharton, Texas; son of Rev. Anton and Ada (Baepler) Froehlich; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1997. Ministries/Parishes: St. Louis, Mo.; River Forest, Ill. Retired 1997. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 14, 2019, Wharton, Texas.
GAUGER, REUEL CARL REV., Nov. 25, 1931, Milwaukee, Wis., to Dec. 22, 2018, Olney, Texas; son of Emil and Ella (Kasten) Gauger; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Olney, Texas; Lidgerwood, Binford, Cooperstown, Hope, N.D. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his daughter Hope. Survivors: Janice (Jeske) Gauger; sons: Timothy, Benjamin; daughter: Amanda Ja’el. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 27, 2018, Olney, Texas.
GEHRS, GERHARD ARTHUR JR. REV., June 19, 1935, Chicago, Ill., to Jan. 9, 2019, Riverside, Calif.; son of Rev. Gerhard Sr. and Martha (Drebes) Gehrs; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1960-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Los Angeles, Riverside, Calif. Survivors: sons: William, James; daughters: Tracy, Pamela. Funeral: Jan. 14, Corona, Calif.; Interment: Jan. 14, Riverside, Calif.
KATH, HARVEY GERALD REV., June 2, 1938, Pequot Lakes, Minn., to Oct. 30, 2018, Plymouth, Minn.; son of Gerald and Erna (Bruns) Kath; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Papua New Guinea; Hamburg, Merrill, Wis.; Glencoe, Minn. Retired 2002. Survivors: Norita (Willner) Kath; son: Jonathan; daughters: Rachel Dvorak, Kristina. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 5, 2018, Glencoe, Minn.
LECKBAND, ROYCE CONRAD REV., May 1, 1930, Ocheyedan, Iowa, to Nov. 18, 2018, Lakefield, Minn.; son of Harold and Eleanor (Bremer) Leckband; graduated Springfield Seminary 1964. Served 1964-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Farmingdale, Pleasant Plains, Ill.; Spring Valley, Marshall, Tracy, Wheaton, Fulda, Minn.; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 1995. Survivors: sons: Thomas, Daniel, Rev. Jerome; daughter: Elizabeth Patterson. Funeral: Nov. 26, 2018, Lakefield, Minn.; Interment: Nov. 26, 2018. Ocheyedan, Iowa.
LEDER, RONALD L. REV., July 29, 1930, Corvallis, Ore., to Jan. 23, 2019, Oakridge, Ore.; son of William and Hulda (Winterstein) Leder; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-2005, 2011-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Carlyle, Wordsworth, Saskatchewan, Canada; Flin Flon, The Pas, Manitoba, Canada; Sunnyside, Wash.; Burley, Idaho; Oakridge, Eugene, Ore.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994. Retired 2012. Survivors: Jeanne (Toedter) Leder; son: Brian; daughters: Marlys, Sharon. Memorial Service: Feb. 2, 2019, Portland, Ore.
LUHRS, DAVID J. REV., Jan. 16, 1944, Hutchinson, Minn., to Dec. 10, 2018, Green Bay, Wis.; son of Alvin and Ella (Elbert) Luhrs; graduated Springfield Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Harvel, Ill.; Hillman, Mich.; Eau Claire, Forestville, Wis. Retired 2013. Survivors: Janice (Jacot) Luhrs; sons: Karl, Ryan. Funeral: Dec. 20, 2018, Green Bay, Wis.
MAKI, DAVID W. REV., April 7, 1955, Perham, Minn., to Jan. 17, 2019, St. Croix Falls, Wis.; son of Melvin and Mary Lee (Ollie) Maki; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1982. Served 1982-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Dorchester, Mondovi, Wis.; Gallatin, Tenn.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Arden Hills, Minn. North Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994, 1995-1997. Survivors: Debra (Monson) Maki; sons: Ryan, Matthew, Joel. Memorial Service and Interment: Jan. 25, 2019, New York Mills, Minn.
MARTIN, THEODORE A. REV., June 15, 1915, Manchester, N.H., to Dec. 27, 2018, Worcester, Mass.; son of Rev. Louis and Emma (Artz) Martin; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1939. Served 1946-1985. Ministries/Parishes: Holyoke, Clinton, Mass. Retired 1985. Preceded in death by his wife Rita (Partridge) Martin. Survivors: sons: Theodore Jr., Paul. Celebration of Life and Interment: Jan. 3, 2019, Clinton, Mass.
NELSEN, RAYMOND E. REV., Feb. 28, 1935, Belview, Minn., to Jan. 5, 2019, Gresham. Ore.; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1977. Served 1977-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Mt. Angel, Ore.; Chehalis, Wash. Retired 2000. Survivors: Barbara Nelson; sons: David, Mark; daughters: Diana, Deborah. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 2, 2019, Portland, Ore.
RATHGEBER, DOUGLAS DWIGHT REV., March 9, 1944, Wichita Falls, Texas, to Dec. 20, 2018, Beaumont, Texas; son of Carl and Laverne (Kuehn) Rathgeber; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Selma, Ala.; Beaumont, Texas. Retired 2017. Survivors: Karen (Liermann) Rathgeber; son: Paul; daughter: Wendy. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 29, 2018, Beaumont, Texas.
SAEGER, LAWRENCE W. REV., July 8, 1943, Quincy, Ill., to Jan. 22, 2019, Quincy, Ill.; son of William and Arlene (Meyerand) Saeger; graduated Springfield Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Texhoma, Boise City, Okla.; Freeport, Texas; Bloomingdale, Vandalia, Ill.; Central Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 2005. Survivors: Susan (Diener) Saeger; daughters: Laura Dison, Debra Gatewood. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 26, 2019, Quincy, Ill.
SCHLEGEL, RONALD JOHN REV., Nov. 16, 1933, Beloit, Kan., to Dec. 19, 2018, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; son of Rev. Albert and Luella (Siggs) Schlegel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1998. Ministries/Parishes: St. Louis, Mo.; Baltimore, Md. Retired 1998. Survivors: Enid (Esterly) Schlegel; sons: John, Paul; daughters: Joy, Faith.
SCHREIBER, WILLIAM HALGREN REV., Feb. 5, 1932, Alta, Iowa, to July 24, 2018, Boulder City, Nev.; son of Edward and Amy (Halgren) Schreiber; graduated Columbus Seminary 1967. Served 1984-1993. Ministry/Parish: Hanford, Calif. Funeral: August 13, 2018 Henderson, Nev.; Interment: Aug. 13, 2018, Las Vegas, Nev.
SIESS, KENNETH JOSEPH REV., Oct. 2, 1931, Seymour, Ind., to Aug. 27, 2018, Edina, Minn.; son of Rev. Clarence and Marie (Dau) Siess; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Milford, Mich.; St. Louis, Mo.; Minneapolis, Minn. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Eleanor Siess. Survivors: sons: Timothy, Jonathan, Matthew, Daniel; daughter: Elizabeth. Funeral: Sept. 8, 2018, Minneapolis, Minn.
STAUDACHER, THEODORE LOUIS REV., March 28, 1937, Saginaw, Mich., to Dec. 20, 2018, Pingree Grove, Ill.; son of Rev. Raymond and Gladys (Steffens) Staudacher; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Dundee, Thornton, Mt. Prospect, Ill.; Topeka, Kan. Retired 2000. Survivors: Carol (Hochsprung) Staudacher; sons: Timothy, David, Mark; daughter: Teri Evans. Funeral: Jan. 3, 2019, East Dundee, Ill.; Interment: Jan. 3, 2019, Leland Township, Mich.
STEINKAMP, GEORGE PHILLIP REV., April 10, 1934, Hawarden, Iowa, to Dec. 3, 2018, Apple Valley, Minn.; son of Rev. George and Hilda (Baade) Steinkamp; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Courtenay, Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada; Houston, Texas; Delaware, Manchester, Iowa; Howard, S.D.; Mountain Lake, Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 1996. Survivors: Sylvia (Hilger) Steinkamp; sons: David, Mark, Matthew, G. Michael; daughter: Jennifer. Memorial Service: Dec. 15, 2018, Lakeville, Minn.
SUELFLOW, EDWIN SAMUEL REV., July 2, 1924, Freistadt, Wis., to Dec. 31, 2018, Oconomowoc, Wis.; son of Richard and Martha (Wendt) Suelflow; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1948. Served 1948-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Coloma, S.D.; Burton, Franklin, Neb.; Adell, Milwaukee, Wis.; South Wisconsin District President 1988-1994. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his daughter Denise. Survivors: Erma (Haarberg) Suelflow; son: Steven; daughter: Elyse. Funeral: Jan. 5, 2019, Sussex, Wis.; Interment: Jan. 5, 2019, Adell, Wis.
SYMMANK, CHARLES RAY REV., Oct. 27, 1931, Giddings, Texas, to Jan. 11, 2019, Medford, Ore.; son of Arnold and H. Wilhelmine (Vahrenkamp) Symmank; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Rockford, Rochelle, Ill.; Snohomish, Wash.; Medford, Ore. Retired 1997. Survivors: Joan (Wisch) Symmank; sons: Daniel, David; daughter: Celeste Allsberry. Funeral: Feb. 15, 2019, Medford, Ore.
TRAHMS, VERNON THEODORE REV., June 28, 1928, Clarksburg, W.V., to Dec. 22, 2018, Las Vegas, Nev.; son of Theodore and Ruth (Carlson) Trahms; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Mantua, Ohio; Rock Rapids, Sioux City, Iowa; Pomona, Glendale, Calif. Retired 1991. Preceded in death by his wife Esther (Dueker) Trahms and son Timothy. Survivors: son: Theodore; daughters: Deborah, Cynthia. Funeral: Jan. 12, 2019, Las Vegas, Nev.; Interment: Jan. 26, 2019, Sun City West, Ariz.
VISSER, ROBERT MARTIN REV., Aug. 12, 1920, Havillah, Wash., to Jan. 1, 2019, Citrus Heights, Calif.; son of Garritt and Martha (Duchow) Visser; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1946. Served 1946-1985. Ministries/Parishes: Ft. Scott, Kan.; Sunnyvale, Lodi, Citrus Heights, Calif. Retired 1985. Preceded in death by his wife Virginia (Vogel) Visser and son Peter. Survivors: son: Joel, Kenneth; daughters: Janet Onishi, Lynne Abraham, Claire Jackson, Jean Teske. Funeral: Jan. 8, 2019, Citrus Heights, Calif.; Interment: Jan. 8, 2019, Fair Oaks, Calif.
VOSS, THEOPHIL HERMAN REV., Aug. 1, 1922, Monitor Township, Mich., to Dec. 15, 2018, North Canton, Ohio; son of Rev. Emil and Esther (Bartels) Voss; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1946. Served 1947-1987. Ministries/Parishes: Dearborn, Mich.; Akron, Ohio. Retired 1987. Survivors: Jean Voss; sons: Timothy, Gabriel; daughter: Sharon Alderman. Celebration of Life: Dec. 21, 2018, North Canton, Ohio.
COMMISSIONED
SANDER, REED S., Aug. 8, 1948, Columbus, Neb., to Dec. 15, 2018, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Harlen and Dolores (Saalfeld) Sander; Graduated Seward 1970. Served 1970-2013. Schools/Ministries: Hamlin, N.Y.; Kearney, Fremont, Neb.; Roselle, Hillside, Ill. Retired 2013. Survivors: Sharolyn (Schomburg) Sander; son: Ty; daughter: Shanna Opfer. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 20, 2018, Seward, Neb.
SPROUSE, MICHELLE LEE (HAAS), March 7, 1966, Las Vegas, Nev., to Aug. 14, 2018, Las Vegas, Nev.; daughter of Richard and Leta Haas; Colloquy 2000. Served 2000-2018. School/Ministry: Las Vegas, Nev. Survivors: sons: Alexander, Lucas; step-son: Michael; step-daughter: Jennifer Isom. Celebration of Life: Aug. 25, 2018, Las Vegas, Nev.
