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
ARP, GARY M. REV., Nov. 15, 1934, Lake Park, Iowa, to March 12, 2020, Marion, Iowa; son of Adolph and Betty (Kolls) Arp; graduated Springfield Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Eldorado, Crossett, Ark.; Clarinda, Waverly, Marion, Iowa; Iowa East District President 2000-2009; Iowa East District Circuit Visitor 1991-1997. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by his daughter Lonny Larson. Survivors: Marjorie (Davis) Arp; son: Rev. Wally; daughters: Becky Lehenbauer, Christy Mayer. Funeral: March 16, 2020, Hiawatha, Iowa; Interment: March 17, 2020, Clarinda, Iowa.
BEALE, LESLIE CARLTON JR. REV., Jan. 25, 1935, Buffalo, N.Y., to March 25, 2020, Escondido, Calif.; son of Leslie Sr. and Edith (LaGrou) Beale; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Dent, South Hadley, Minn.; Hazel Park, Mich.; Anaheim, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Retired 1997. Survivors: Janet (Growvogel) Beale; sons: Paul, Stephen; daughter: Christine.
BROWN, ROBERT J. REV., May 6, 1943, Clinton, Iowa, to March 27, 2020, Odessa, Fla.; son of Wray Brown; graduated Springfield Seminary 1971. Served 1971-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Key West, Fla.; Chester, Edwardsville, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Indiana District Circuit Visitor 1990-1993. Retired 1994. Survivor: son: Joshua.
BYLER, DAVID R. REV., June 14, 1946, Muskogee, Okla., to April 8, 2020, Placentia, Calif.; son of Roger and Shirley (Vanter) Byler; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1997. Served 1997-2010. Ministries/Parishes: Paris, Tenn.; Brownsville, Texas. Survivors: Teryne (Bell) Byler; sons: John, Benjamin, Matthew, Daniel; daughters: Hannah Keeler, Janet Landt, Beth Omenhiser, Kristie Wehe.
COUNTS, ROBERT PAUL REV., April 6, 1928, Lingle, Miss., to March 24, 2020, Huntsville, Ala.; son of Rev. Fulton and Mattie (Roberts) Counts; colloquy 1990. Joined LCMS emeritus 1990. Survivors: Shirley (Ziemer) Counts; son: David; daughters: Rebecca VanderVeen, Karlena Brashers, Lisa Harmon, Shelia Kirsh. Graveside Service: March 28, 2020, Huntsville, Ala.
GASSETT, WILLIAM D. REV., Sept. 2, 1955, Tulsa, Okla., to April 16, 2020, Brandon, Miss.; son of John and Mildred (Ahrens) Gassett; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1982. Served 1982-2015. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Biloxi, Natchez, Macomb, Miss. Retired 2015. Survivors: Terry (White) Gassett; sons: Joshua, Nathanael; daughter: Richelle Tilghman. Funeral: April 21, 2020, Pearl, Miss.; Interment: April 21, 2020, Madison, Miss.
HABERKOST, JAMES PAUL REV., June 1, 1935, Akron, Ohio, to April 28, 2020, La Grange, Ill.; son of Paul and Marie (Damerow) Haberkost; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Streamwood, La Grange, Ill. Retired 2004. Survivors: Marilyn (Bleeke) Haberkost; sons: Rev. Daniel, James, Jonathan; daughter: Rebeka.
HEIN, HUGO REV., June 19, 1928, Warrick County, Ind., to March 12, 2020, Lincoln City, Ore.; son of Ewald and Christina (Heilman) Hein; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Melcher, Gladbrook, Wellsburg, Audubon, Iowa; Mt. Vernon, Edmonds, Wash.; Lewiston, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 1985-1990. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Bonnie (Moore) Hein and son Frank. Survivors: son: Kenneth, Randy. Graveside Service: Lincoln City, Ore.
HOECKER, PAUL M. REV., June 11, 1944, Wellington, Kan., to March 12, 2020, Ponca City, Okla.; son of Elmer and Ruby (Booth) Hoecker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1986. Served 1986-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Chester, Hubrell, Neb.; Brimfield, Chicago, Burlington, Ill. Retired 2001. Survivors: Kay (Myers) Hoecker; son: Eric; daughter: Heather. Funeral: March 19, 2020, Ponca City, Okla.; Interment: March 19, 2020, Blackwell, Okla.
HOFFMAN, ROBERT L. REV., June 25, 1952, Antigo, Wis., to March 24, 2020, Buffalo, N.Y.; son of Edwin and Eva (Powell) Hoffman; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 2012. Served 2012-2020. Ministry/Parish: Lockport, N.Y. Survivors: Terry (Fandre) Hoffman; daughter: Molly Miller.
HOWANITZ, DARRELL KEITH REV., May 14, 1950, Key West, Fla., to March 20, 2020, Eden, Texas; son of Puriegton and Geraldine (Matson) Howanitz; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1993. Served 1993-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Nassau, Bahamas; Ortonville, Mich.; Alamo, Longview, Eden, Menard, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Chuluota, Fla. Retired 2019. Survivors: Wanda (Thomas) Howanitz; son: Keith; daughters: Heather Alvaraz, Hilary. Interment: March 21, 2020, Eden, Texas.
KIM, CHANG SOO REV., Feb. 1, 1957, Korea, to April 14, 2020, Cumming, Ga.; son of Doo Sil and Chun Hee Kim; colloquy 1997. Served 1998-2020. Ministries/Parishes: San Diego, Garden Grove, Calif.; Alpharetta, Cumming, Ga. Survivors: son: Joo Suk; daughter: Bi Chuy.
KNOLL, PARKER ALAN REV., Dec. 1, 1951, Peoria, Ill., to April 10, 2020, Indianapolis, Ind.; son of Glenn and Joyce Knoll; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1977. Served 1977-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Indianapolis, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Retired 2013. Survivors: Linda Knoll; son: Jonathan. Funeral and Interment: Indianapolis, Ind.
KRUECKEBERG, DAVID REV., Jan. 27, 1943, Oak Park, Ill., to April 20, 2020, Elmhurst, Ill.; son of Ernst and Ruth (Schultz) Krueckeberg; graduated Springfield Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2020. Ministry/Parish: Chicago, Ill. Funeral and Interment: Elmhurst, Ill.
PFLUEGER, IRVIN E. M. REV., March 18, 1927, Hannastown, Pa., to Aug. 8, 2019, Boynton Beach, Fla.; son of Adolph and Clara (Kroger) Pflueger; graduated Springfield Seminary 1955. Served 1956-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Mahwah, Secaucus, Cliffside Park N.J. Retired 1990. Preceded in death by his son Irvin. Survivors: Catherine (Wood) Pflueger; daughters: Clara, Theresa, Fia. Funeral: Nov. 23, 2019, Cabot, Pa.; Interment: Nov. 23, 2019, Butler, Pa.
WARTICK, KENT GRAY REV., March 13, 1958, Quincy, Ill., to April 26, 2020, Clintonville, Wis.; son of Rev. Joseph and Esther (Gray) Wartick; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985. Served 1986-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Tobias, Neb.; San Angelo, Texas; Kouts, Gary, Ind.; Holyoke, Mass.; Kent. Ohio. Retired 2015. Survivors: Ruth (Crosmer) Wartick; son: Joseph; daughter: Rebekah Weber. Interment: Camp Point, Ill.
WESTPHAL, LEROY R. REV., July 18, 1932, Bowen, Ill., to April 18, 2020, Midland, Mich.; son of John and Adelaide (Schoening) Westphal; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Lisbon, N.D.; Bellwood, Ill.; Auburn, Mich. Retired 1996. Survivors: Carol (Manthei) Westphal; sons: Nathan, Jonathan, David; daughter: Natalie.
COMMISSIONED
BARG, ESTHER M., Aug. 10, 1954, Shawano, Wis., to April 26, 2020, Yulee, Fla.; graduated St. Paul 1996. Served 1997-1998, 2000-2008. Schools/Ministries: Prior Lake, Minn.; Atchison, Kan.; Defiance, Ohio; Melbourne, Fla. Survivors: son: Christopher; daughter: Katika Boggs.
HERZOG, GUENTHER K., Jan. 13, 1928, Fort Wayne, Ind., to May 23, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind; son of Kurt and Margarete Hezog; graduated River Forest 1950. Served 1950-1992. Schools/Ministries: Fort Wayne, Ind. Retired 1992. Survivors: Norma (Bradtmueller) Herzog; sons: Philip, Paul. Funeral and Interment: May 27, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.
MILLS, ELLEN K. (BAKER), July 16, 1950, Adrian, Mich., to March 9, 2020, Redford, Mich; daughter of Andrew and Beth (Bower) Baker; graduated River Forest 1972. Served 1973-1978, 1987-2016. Schools/ Ministries: Malverne, N.Y.; Louisville, Ky.; Reed City, Redford, Mich. Retired 2016. Survivors: Paul Mills Jr.; sons: Jonathan, Christopher; daughter: Carrie. Funeral: March 14, 2020, Redford, Mich.; Interment: March 14, 2020, Livonia, Mich.
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