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
BENKE, RICHARD REV., March 30, 1937, Milwaukee, Wis., to July 21, 2019, Peoria, Ill.; son of George and Venus (Moore) Benke; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Racine, Wis.; Baltimore, Md.; St. Louis, Mo.; East Moline, Morton, Ill. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by his son Rev. Steven. Survivors: Carlee (Mutschink) Benke; son: Mark; daughter: Dawn Conrad. Memorial Service: July 30, 2019, Morton, Ill.; cremation.
BRAEM, RICHARD GEORGE REV., Sept. 14, 1928, Turtle Lake, Wis., to July 27, 2019, Aloha, Ore.; son of Rev. Otto and Ella (Richter) Braem; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Kimberly, B.C., Canada; Cass Lake, Minn.; Aloha, Ore. Retired 1990. Preceded in death by his daughters Sheila, Jean Stacey. Survivors: Joann (Gall) Braem; sons: David, Michael, Paul, Richard; daughter: Karen. Funeral: Aug. 2, 2019, Aloha, Ore.
GLADE, EUGENE C. REV., Feb. 10, 1932, Ocheyedan, Iowa, to July 11, 2019, Mankato, Minn.; son of Erwin and Ella (Bremer) Glade; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Mankato, Minn.; Hudson, Wis. Retired 1996. Survivors: Patricia (Rupp) Glade; son: Nathan; daughters: Kimberly Tilghman, Dana. Funeral and Interment: July 15, 2019, Mankato, Minn.
GREENE, ROBERT CHARLES REV., May 15, 1938, Denison, Iowa, to July 10, 2019, Georgetown, Texas; son of Rev. Elmer and Mabel (Scheel) Greene; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1980, 1981-1998. Ministries/Parishes: Hoxie, R.I.; Chaute, Kan.; Hutchinson, Fla.; Omaha, Neb.; Austin, Texas. Retired 1998. Preceded in death by his son David. Survivors: Donna (Doehrman) Greene; son: Steven; daughter: Diane Edwards. Memorial Service and Interment: July 19, 2019, Walburg, Texas.
HAKE, ROGERS KENNETH REV. DR., Aug. 16, 1932, St. Louis, Mo., to July 29, 2019, South Bend, Ind.; son of John and Ruth (Schaefer) Hake; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1968, 1985-1988, 1989-1994, 2006-2007. Ministries/Parishes: Lagrange, Ill.; Oskaloosa, Iowa; Battle Creek, Mich.; Mequon, Wis.; Little Rock, Prairie Grove, Ark. Retired 2007. Survivors: Barbara (Tiebout) Hake; sons: Kelvin, Jon, Matthew, Timothy; daughters: Holly Harris, Sara. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 3, 2019, South Bend, Ind.
HENDERSON, BRIAN THOMAS REV., Aug. 20, 1959, Pewaukee, Wis., to July 8, 2019, San Diego, Calif.; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2007. Served 2008-2019. Ministry/Parish: San Diego, Calif. Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 2015-2018. Survivors: Malia (Nguyen) Henderson. Funeral: July 16, 2019, San Diego, Calif. Interment: July 17, 2019, San Diego, Calif.
HOFT, THEES C. REV., Oct. 9, 1948, to Jan. 12, 2019; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1974. Served 1974-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Belding, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, St. John, Clinton Township, Mich.; U.S. Navy Chaplain; Hamlin, N.Y. Retired 2013. Survivors: Margaret Hoft. Funeral: Jan. 18, 2019, Fraser, Mich.
JENKINS, DONALD F. REV., Aug. 18, 1934, Maquoketa, Iowa, to July 19, 2019, Edison, Neb.; son of Stanley and Emelia (Gnade) Jenkins; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Deerfield, Ulysses, Kan.; Forrest City, Ark.; Craig, Mound City, Corning, Forest Green, Mo. Retired 1999. Survivors: Carol (DiGiovanni) Jenkins; sons: Michael, Mark, Martin, Matthew, Myron, Marvin. Memorial Service and Interment: August 3, 2019, Arapahoe, Neb.
JUNGKUNTZ, FREDERICK H.O. REV., Aug. 24, 1929, Milwaukee, Wis., to July 16, 2019, Milwaukee, Wis.; son of Paul and Florence (Lahmann) Jungkuntz; colloquy 1985. Served 1985-2000. Ministry/Parish: Watertown, Wis. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his wife Rennette (Kriofske) Jungkuntz and son Jonathan. Survivors: daughter: Becky Boutch. Funeral and Interment: July 23, 2019, Milwaukee, Wis.
KRAMER, JAMES FREDERICK REV., Feb. 27, 1948, La Jolla, Calif., to June 6, 2019, San Jose, Calif.; son of Herbert and Wilma (Sheldon) Kramer; graduated Springfield Seminary 1975. Served 1975-1984, 1986-2011. Ministries/Parishes: Vincennes, Ind.; San Jose, Calif. Retired 2011. Funeral: June 29, 2019, San Jose, Calif.
PETERSON, CARL L. REV., Nov. 17, 1938, Denver, Colo., to July 19, 2019, Columbus, Ga.; son of Kermit and Iola (smith) Peterson; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1989. Served 1989-2008. Ministries/Parishes: Battle Creek, Iowa; Columbus, Ga. Retired 2008. Preceded in death by his wife Lois (Kilburn) Peterson. Survivors: sons: Kevin, Jeffrey; daughters: Lisa Arnholt, Wendy Leavitt Keefe, Rebecca Leavitt. Funeral: July 24, 2019, Columbus, Ga.
PREISINGER, DONALD CLAUSSEN REV., Nov. 20, 1924, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to July 6, 2019, San Diego, Calif.; son of Rev. Arthur and Lillian (Claussen) Preisinger; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1948. Served 1948-1989. Ministries/Parishes: Edmonton, Alda, Canada; Cahokia, Ill.; Leavenworth, Kan.; Santa Clara, Calif. Retired 1989. Preceded in death by his wife Evelyn (Wehrs) Preisinger and sons Rev. Paul and Matthew. Survivors: Mary Ann (Braun) Preisinger; son: Mark; step-daughters: Susan Howard, Kristin Bales. Funeral and Interment: July 29, 2019, Santa Clara, Calif.
SCHOLZ, ALFRED GUSTON REV., March 19, 1927, Adell, Wis., to July 1, 2019, Houston, Texas; son of Paul and Gertrude (Huebner) Scholz; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1952. Served 1952-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Muskogee, Okla.; Olney, Wichita Falls, Pasadena, Texas. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Lois (Reimnitz) Scholz. Survivors: sons: Daniel, Thomas, John; daughters: Rebecca Hudson, Miriam Fields. Memorial Service: July 7, 2019, Houston, Texas. Interment: July 6, 2019, Webster, Texas.
SCHRANK, ROBERT J. REV., May 19, 1928, Wittenberg, Wis., to June 13, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah; son of Alfred and Constance (Helgeson) Schrank; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Puerto Barrios, Antigua, Guatemala; Caribbean; El Paso, Texas; Juarez, Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah. Retired 1993. Survivors: sons: Stephen, Michael, Robert, Andrew; daughter: Dorel. Funeral: June 21, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah.
SKOV, FREDERICK ANDREW REV., April 1, 1931, Brooklyn, N.Y., to July 22, 2019, Aurora, Colo.; son of Bunde and Emma (Mueller) Skov; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Onida, Agar, S.D.; Slater, Mo.; Lawrenceville, Milan, Ill. Retired 1993. Survivors: Norma (Breitenstein) Skov; son: Steven; daughter: Sharon McManus. Memorial Service: Aug. 10, 2019, Aurora, Colo.
STRASEN, LUTHER G. REV., Sept. 22, 1933, Nagercoil, India, to June 25, 2019, Fort Wayne, Ind.; son of Rev. Bernhard and Henriette (Ziegfeld) Strasen; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Clintonville, Wis; Greenwood, Ft. Wayne, Ind. Retired 1996. Survivors: sons: Timothy, Michael; daughters: Sarah Jacobs, Catherine Gastineau, Laura Hill. Funeral and Interment: July 16, 2019, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
COMMISSIONED
HERRING, LOUIS BENJAMIN, March 14, 1936, Uniontown, Mo., to June 30, 2019, North Judson, Ind.; son of John and Edna (Heimbecher) Herring; graduated River Forest 1959. Served 1959-1999. Schools/Ministries: Ulm, Stuttgart, Ark.; Higginsville, Mo.; Ft. Wayne, North Judson, Ind. Retired 1999. Survivors: Patricia (Kirchoff) Herring; son: Paul; daughters: Sharon McDonald, Shirley Cronauer, Sandra Shimono. Funeral: July 14, 2019, North Judson, Ind. Interment: July 14, 2019, Denham, Ind.
KNITTEL, JAMES LEE, May 10, 1941, Newton, Kan., to June 12, 2019, Seattle, Wash.; son of Erhardt and Hulda (Walz) Knittel; graduated Seward 1963. Served 1963-2001. School/Ministry: Seattle, Wash. Retired 2001. Survivors: Jeralee (Henke) Knittel; sons: Timothy, David; daughter: Elizabeth Guzman. Memorial Service: June 29, 2019, Seattle, Wash.
LAESCH, ROGER CLIFFORD, March 26, 1935, Granton, Wis., to May 29, 2019, Brookfield, Wis.; son of Arthur and Tabea (Stullich) Laesch; graduated River Forest 1957. Served 1957-1999. Schools/Ministries: Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Milwaukee, Wis. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his wife Jeanette (Heinzel) Laesch. Survivors: sons: Thomas, Timothy; daughter: Susan Young. Memorial Service: June 7, 2019, Milwaukee, Wis. Interment: Brookfield, Wis.
OETTING, EUGENE M., Feb. 27, 1932, Emma, Mo., to May 29, 2019, Seward, Neb.; son of Norbert and Lydia (Nierman) Oetting; graduated Seward 1954. Served 1954-1997. Schools/Ministries: Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Seward, Neb. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his wife Harriet (Pueggel) Oetting. Survivors: son: David; daughter: Shauna. Funeral and Interment: June 7, 2019, Seward, Neb.
PEEK, MARY LEE (KRAUSE), Jan, 01, 1942, Spokane, Wash., to July 12, 2019, Snohomish, Wash.; daughter of Adolf and Florence (Stolt) Krause; colloquy 1991. Served 1992-2002. School/Ministry: Seattle, Wash. Retired 2002. Survivors: William Peek; son: Michael; daughter: Lisa Nelson. Memorial Service: August 24, 2019, Snohomish, Wash.
PINGEL, MILTON JOHN, Feb. 24, 1930, Orange, Calif., to May 25, 2019, Riverside, Calif.; son of Edwin and Eleanora Pingel; graduated River Forest 1952. Served 1952-1996. Schools/Ministries: Los Angeles, Riverside, Calif. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Lois Pingel. Survivors: sons: Steven, Scott; daughters: Charon Smith, Debbie McClatchey. Funeral and Interment: June 3, 2019, Riverside, Calif.
SCHLIE, ORLYN AUGUST, March 10, 1922, Elgin, Ill., to July 8, 2019, Oviedo, Fla.; son of Henry and Augusta (Wilharm) Schlie; graduated River Forest 1943. Served 1943-1946, 1947-1984. Schools/Ministries: Jefferson City, Mo.; New Albany, Columbus, Ind.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Retired 1984. Preceded in death by his wife Dorothy (Umbach) Schlie. Survivors: sons: Stephen, Roger, Daniel; daughter: Carolyn Femovich. Funeral: July 15, 2019, Oveido, Fla.
TOENSING, DAVID WILLIAM, Oct. 3, 1943, St. Louis, Mo., to Feb. 20, 2019, Yuma, Ariz.; son of Herbert and Mildred Toensing; graduated Seward 1965. Served 1965-1980, 1981-2009. Schools/Ministries: Montebello, Calif.; Yuma, Ariz. Retired 2009. Survivors: sons: Brett, Mark; daughter: Noelle. Memorial Service and Interment: April 13, 2019, Yuma, Ariz.
UNZICKER, WILLIAM L. III, Aug. 19, 1946, Herrin, Ill., to July 24, 2019, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; son of William II and Lelle (Baker) Unzicker; colloquy 1985. Served 1985-2017. Schools/Ministries: Decatur, Ill.; Stuart, Fla.; Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Mo. Retired 2017. Survivors: Patricia (Benson) Unzicker; sons: William IV, Robert. Memorial Service and Interment: July 29, 2019, Perryville, Mo.
WERTH, GERALD JOHN, March 12, 1943, York, Neb., to July 11, 2019, Denver, Colo.; son of Gerhardt and Erma (Schaepler) Werth; graduated Seward 1966. Served 1966-2005. Schools/Ministries: Hobart, New Haven, Ind. Retired 2005. Survivors: Janet (Sporhase) Werth; son: Charles; daughter: Sarah. Funeral: July 20, 2019 Fort Wayne, Ind. Interment: July 20, 2019, New Haven, Ind.
WINTERSTEIN, JEROME ANDREW, June 6, 1945, Colby, Kan., to Nov. 2, 2018, Maricopa, Ariz.; son of Arno and Ada (Wagner) Winterstein; graduated River Forest 1968. Served 1971-2011. Schools/Ministries: Melrose Park, Forest Park, Westmont, Hinsdale, Ill.; Chandler, Ariz. Retired 2011. Survivors: Beverly Winterstein; daughter: Kristina. Funeral: Nov. 30, 2018, Chandler, Ariz. Interment: Maricopa, Ariz.
