IN MEMORIAM (December 2020)
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
BLAU, RONALD ERNEST REV., Nov. 10, 1934, Chicago, Ill., to July 26, 2020, Sun City, Ariz.; son of Rev. Ernest and Martha (Barre) Blau; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1996. Ministries/Parishes: San Jose, Susanville, Calif.; N. Las Vegas, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wives Enda (Scharf) Blau and Jean Blau. Survivors: sons: Stephen, Rev. Timothy; daughters: Denise Johnson, Deborah, Angela Poppert. Celebration of Life: Sun City, Ariz.
BITTER, GLENN RAY REV., July 11, 1940, Susank, Kan., to July 22, 2020, Topeka, Kan.; son of Theodore and Mollie (Schweitzer) Bitter; graduated Springfield Seminary 1967. Served 1967-1973, 1998-2016. Ministries/Parishes: Holland, Woodstock, Minn.; Bremen, Topeka, Kan. Retired 2016. Survivors: Denise (Bondy) Bitter; son: David; daughter: Renea. Funeral and Interment: July 28, 2020, Topeka, Kan.
BOYCE, ROBERT EDWARD REV., May 5, 1941, Loraine, Texas, to Aug. 22, 2020, Abilene, Texas; son of Steve Jr. and Helen (Compton) Boyce; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1982. Served 1982-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Weatherford, San Antonio, Warda, Eden, Texas; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1993-1999. Retired 2004. Survivors: Georgie (Bernstein) Boyce; daughter: Lisa Jones. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 25, 2020, Albany, Texas.
BRUENGER, ALVIN JAMES REV., April 6, 1934, Great Bend, Kan., to Aug. 12, 2020, Seward, Neb.; son of Arthur and Marie (Mauderly) Bruenger; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Cordova, Goehner, Madison, Fremont, Neb.; Oakley, Kan. Retired 1996. Survivors: Patricia (Wiltse) Bruenger; sons: Adam, Aaron, Andrew, Alex; daughter: Amy Lobmeyer. Memorial Service: Aug. 20, 2020 Seward, Neb.
HALM, DENNIS RAY REV., Jan. 26, 1941, Portland, Ore., to Aug. 4, 2020, Bend, Ore.; son of Ralph and Ann (Moeller) Halm; colloquy 1978. Served 1978-2020. Ministries/Parishes: Edina, Minn.; Irvine, Calif.; Bend, Ore. Preceded in death by his wife Darlene (Bjerke) Halm. Survivors: Jean Halm; daughters: Heather Stueve, Shawne Moore.
LANPHAR, RALPH ROBERT JR. REV., May 10, 1959, Ypsilanti, Mich., to April 15, 2020, Hartford, Conn.; son of Ralph Sr. and Carolyn (Guetschow) Lanphar; DELTO 2009. Served 2009-2020. Ministries/Parishes: Springfield, Mass.; Naugatuck, Suffield, Conn. Survivor: Susan (Miller) Lanphar. Funeral: Springfield, Mass.; Interment: Baltimore. Md.
LEE, DANIEL WING CHING REV., June 2, 1937, Hong Kong, to May 23, 2020, Hong Kong.; son of Shek Hang and Choi King (Yip) Lee; graduated Hong Kong Hong Kong. Retired 2015. Survivors: sons: Sha-Lun, Chok-Tang, Kar-Mut. Funeral: June 6, 2020, Hong Kong.
METCALF, MAX P. REV., Feb. 13, 1934, Grand Chain, Ill., to May 18, 2020, Waldport, Ore.; son of Floyd and Louise (Huebotter) Metcalf; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1960-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Atascadero, King City, Calif.; Plainfield, Ind.; U.S. Military Chaplain; Long Island, N.Y.; Iowa City, Iowa; Portland, Ore.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 2012-2014. Retired 1999. Survivors: sons: Gregory, Steven, Christopher. Interment: May 27, 2020, Portland, Ore.
RABE, GERALD L. REV., Nov. 16, 1940, McMinnville, Ore., to April 7, 2020, Rupert, Idaho; son of Floyd and Ester Rabe; colloquy 1988. Served 1988-2008. Ministries/Parishes: Cottage Grove, Estacada, Ore.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 2008. Survivors: Jane (Aaseth) Rabe; sons: Troy, Jon; daughter: Jolene Lange. Interment: April 13, 2020, Portland, Ore.
ROBINSON, WILLIAM LEE REV., Nov. 29, 1936, Primghar, Iowa, to Aug. 14, 2020, Appleton, Wis.; son of Max and Esther (Brandt) Robinson; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1969, 1972-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Haven, Racine, Batavia, Random Lake, Wis.; South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1980-1988. Retired 2002. Survivors: Cora (Oelrich) Robinson; son: Paul; daughter: Elizabeth Berg. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 19, 2020, Random Lake, Wis.
SCHNELLE, PAUL VIRGIL REV., Dec. 29, 1930, Meinert, Mo., to Aug. 25, 2020, Carthage, Mo.; son of William and Electa (Haubein) Schnelle; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1959-1985, 1991-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Topeka, Manito, Verna, Wenona, Ill.; Spring, Texas; Crown Point, Ind.; Ellisville, Sarcoxie, Mo.; Oswego, Kan. Retired 2003. Survivors: Joan (Offerman) Schnelle; sons: Douglas, Ethan, Rev. Aaron; daughters: Kimberly Davis, Dana, Andrea Brauer, Rhonda Nelson, Rachel. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 30, 2020, Lockwood, Mo.
STOCKMAN, WILLIAM K. REV., Oct. 10, 1929, Rabbit Lake Township, Minn., to July 29, 2020, Janesville, Minn.; son of William and Lydia (Eschenbacher) Stockman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1991, 2010-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Parma, Homedale, Idaho; Cornelius, Ore.; Benson, Farmington, Miltona, Minn.; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 2014. Preceded in death by his wife Wilma (Kazeck) Stockman. Survivors: Gwen (Lemke) Stockman; sons: Reed, Wade; daughter: Jan Sater. Funeral: August 3, 2020, Alexandria, Minn.; Interment: Aug. 3, 2020, Garfield, Minn.
RASSBACH, JAMES W. REV., April 8, 1932, Chippewa Falls, Wis., to July 30, 2020, St. Louis, Mo.; son of George and Margaret (Werth) Rassbach; graduated Springfield Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Parsons, Kan.; LeMars, Iowa; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2001. Survivors: Sharon (Gall) Rassbach; son: Timothy. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 4, 2020, St. Louis, Mo.
VAN DER BLOEMEN, THOMAS G. SR. REV., April 27, 1931, Sparta, Wis., to Aug. 3, 2020, Wichita, Kan.; son of Theodore and Helen (Anderson) Van der Bloemen; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1958-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Walker, Akeley, Fergus Falls, Minn.; Detroit, Mich.; Wichita, Kan.; Helena, Mont.; Porterville, Calif. Retired 1993. Survivors: Myrtle (Kuntz) Van der Bloemen; sons: Thomas Jr., Robert; daughters: Carol Reyes, Christine Garcia. Funeral: Aug. 7, 2020, Wichita, Kan.
COMMISSIONED
BURNETT, CHARLES R., Feb. 24, 1943, Elko, Nev., to July 20, 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah; son of Chester and Lillie (Bogue) Burnett; graduated Irvine 1996. Served 1998-2020. School/Ministry: Taiwan. Survivors: sons: Ray, Matthew; daughters: Nina Ahlin, Kim Paavola. Funeral and Interment: July 29, 2020, Elko, Nev.
FRANK, REINHOLD EDWARD, July 8, 1948, Frankenmuth, Mich., to Aug. 16, 2020, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Carl and Flora (Zehnder) Frank; graduated River Forest 1971. Served 1971-2012. Schools/Ministries: Ft. Wayne, Ind. Retired 2012. Survivors: Kathy (Rice) Frank; sons: Mark, Michael; daughters: Lisa Vanek, Emilie Nelson. Funeral: August 29, 2020, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Interment: Aug. 30, 2020, Frankenmuth, Mich.
HAAK, CAROL LOUISE, July 31, 1948, Berwyn, Ill., to Sept. 10, 2020, Indianapolis, Ind.; daughter of Werner and Dorothy (Westphal) Haak; graduated Seward 1970. Served 1973-2012. Schools/Ministries: Velevidere, Chicago, Ill.; Hobart, Indianapolis, Ind. Retired 2012. Funeral and Interment: Sept. 14, 2020, Indianapolis, Ind.
HENNIG, SHARON FAYE (GUETZKO), March 27, 1944, Wadena, Minn., to July 23, 2020, York, Pa.; daughter of Raymond and Esther Guetzko; graduated Seward 1965. Served 1973-2011. School/Ministry: York, Pa. Retired 2011. Survivors: Arthur Hennig; daughter: Pamela. Funeral and Interment: July 28, 2020, York, Pa.
MOYO, DOREEN TARIRAI, Aug. 1, 1956, Mberengwa, Zimbabwe, to Sept. 13, 2020, Tuskegee, Ala.; graduated Seward 1996. Served 2015-2018. School/Ministry: Selma, Ala. Survivor: son: Tawonga. Memorial Service: Sept. 26, 2020, Selma, Ala. Interment: Zimbabwe Africa.
NISS, MURIEL DORIS (GOETSCH), Sept. 3, 1937, Austin, Minn., to June 2, 2019, Elgin, Ill.; daughter of Arthur and Dora Goetsch; graduated River Forest 1987. Served 1988-2010. School/Ministry: E. Dundee, Ill. Retired 2010. Preceded in death by her husband Richard Niss and daughter Deborah Unruh. Survivors: sons: Mike, Mark; daughter: Diana. Memorial Service and Interment: June 15, 2019, E. Dundee, Ill.
PETER, HERBERT E., Dec. 4, 1931, Cherokee, Okla., to Feb. 13, Overland Park, Kan.; son of Edwin and Irene Peter; graduated Seward 1953. Served 1953-1996. Schools/Ministries: Richmond, Va.; Seward, Neb.; Orange, Calif. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Marilynn (Kurth) Peter and son Bradford. Survivor: daughter: Brenda Bohaty. Celebration of Life and Interment: Feb. 18, 2020, Shawnee, Kan.
PITSCH, LELAND A., Nov. 1, 1941, Sheridan, Wyo., to Aug. 1, 2020, Ft. Smith, Ark.; son of Alex and Eunice (Mathew) Pitsch; graduated Seward 1964. Served 1964-2004. Schools/Ministries: Palmer, Alma, Leavenworth, Kan.; St. Charles, Mo. Retired 2004. Preceded in death by his daughter Lori Southern. Survivors: Della (Skiles) Pitsch; sons: Mathew, Monte, Troy. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 5, 2020, Ft. Smith, Ark.
SABOURIN, WALTER EDWIN JR., Nov. 2, 1938, Chicago, Ill., to Feb. 18, 2020, Tulsa, Okla.; son of Walter and Alice Sabourin; graduated Mequon 2011. Served 2011-2016. School/Ministry: Pryor, Okla. Survivors: Barbara Sabourin; sons: Richard, Timothy; stepson; Larry; stepdaughters: Candance Pottle, Nicole Champlin. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 21, 2020, Tulsa, Okla.
SALAS, DOLORES MARIE (PEREZ), March 23, 1954, to June 6, 2020, Dewey, Ariz.; graduated Austin 2003. Served 2006-2020. School/Ministry: Glendale, Ariz. Funeral: Glendale, Ariz.
SCHATTE, PAUL DOUGLAS, July 22, 1957, Houston, Texas, to July 19, 2020, Ponca City, Okla.; son of Edwin and Elma (Knippa) Schatte; graduated Seward 1979. Served 1979-2019. School/Ministry: Ponca City, Okla. Survivors: Shelly (Davis) Schatte; sons: Josh, Eric. Celebration of Life and Interment: July 23, 2020, Ponca City, Okla.
THEILGAARD, DIANA LYNN, April 14, 1958, Chicago, Ill., to Nov. 22, 2019, Fennville, Mich.; graduated River Forest 1984. Served 1984-1993; 1995-2008. Schools/Ministries: Chicago, Dolton, Blue Island, Ill. Retired 2013. Preceded in death by her husband Henry.
