IN MEMORIAM (February 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
ALBERS, RONALD WALDEMAR PAUL REV., Aug. 4, 1932, Sheboygan, Wis., to Oct. 20, 2019, Milwaukee, Wis.; son of Eric and Marie (Wambsganss) Albers; graduated Springfield Seminary 1960. Served 1960-1982; 1989-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Abilene, Kan.; West Bend, Beloit, Wis.; Minnetonka, Minn.; Saginaw, Mich.; Evansville, Ind. Retired 1999. Survivors: Barbara (Bagin) Albers; sons: Paul, Matthew; daughters: Rebecca Bork, Elizabeth Hale, Amy Burian. Funeral: Oct. 26, 2019, Elm Grove, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 26, 2019, New Berlin, Wis.
BOLLING, RICHARD E. REV. DR., July 4, 1927, Omaha, Neb., to Oct. 20, 2019, Papillion, Neb.; son of William and Maude Bolling; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Three Forks, Whitehall, Mont.; Cheboygan, Mich.; Randall, Minn.; Minnesota North District Circuit Visitor 1982-1988. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his wife Dorothy (Lamphier) Bolling. Survivor: son: Dwayne. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 26, 2019, Papillion, Neb.
BREHMER, CHARLES ALVIN REV., June 10, 1937, Minneapolis, Minn., to Oct. 30, 2019, Bakersfield, Calif.; son of Alvin and Dorothy (Meier) Brehmer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1979; 1980-1999. Ministries/Parishes: NIGERIA; Pasadena, Bakersfield, Calif. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his wife Mary (Haerther) Brehmer and son Theodore. Survivors: sons: Charles, Jeremy; daughter: Juli Blanke. Memorial Service: Nov. 8, 2019, Bakersfield, Calif.
DIBELL, ROBERT ARTHUR REV., Aug. 21, 1938, Big Rapids, Mich., to Oct. 6, 2019, McAlester, Okla.; son of Gilbert Dibell and Opal (Stafford) Voss; colloquy 1984. Served 1984-1998. Ministries/Parishes: DuQuoin, Ill.; Union Lake, Mich. Retired 1998. Survivors: Lee (McClintick) Dibell; daughter: Tonya, Dawn Marshall, Tiffany Judkins. Funeral: Oct. 12, 2019, McAlester, Okla.; Interment: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
FITCHETT, CARL S. REV., June 8, 1938, Detroit, Mich., to Oct. 12, 2019, Winamac, Ind.; son of George and Dorothy (Erkfitz) Fitchett; colloquy 1980. Served 1974-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Denham, LaPorte, Wheatfield, Ind.; Indiana District Circuit Visitor 2009-2012. Retired 2014. Preceded in death by his wife Aletha (Arney) Fitchett. Survivors: Pamelea (Horon) Fitchett; son: Craig; daughters: Cinthia Bridges, Christina Trusty, Carla Rosen; stepdaughter: Josephine Allee. Funeral: Oct. 19, 2019, North Judson, Ind.; Interment: Oct. 19, 2019, Denham, Ind.
GEARY, DUANE O. REV., Sept. 25, 1938, St. Paul, Minn., to Oct. 18, 2019, Roseville, Minn.; son of Lee and Marie (Harris) Geary; graduated Springfield Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Gary, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; St. Paul, Minn.; Concord, N.C.; Detroit, Mich.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Plainfield, N.J. Retired 2001. Survivors: Clara (White) Geary; sons: Richard, Peter; daughter: Rachel. Funeral: Nov. 1, 2019, Roseville, Minn.; Interment: Ft. Snelling, Minn.
GROENKE, LLOYD EDWARD REV., May 22, 1927, Mayer, Minn., to Nov. 2, 2019, Union, Mo.; son of Arthur and Lorena (Briesemeister) Groenke; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Decatur, Ga.; Benton, Avilla, Jonesboro, Paragould, Ark.; Birmingham, Ala.; Beaufort, Trenton, Princeton, Valley Park, Bolivar, Stockton, Mo. Retired 1998. Preceded in death by his wife Grace (Niewald) Groenke. Survivors: sons: David, Dale; daughters: Karen Young, Janet Havelka. Funeral: November 9, 2019, Beaufort, Mo.; Interment: Nov. 9, 2019, Freedom, Mo.
MAIER, WALTER ARTHUR II REV. DR., June 14, 1925, St. Louis, Mo, to Oct. 24, 2019, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Rev. Dr. Walter I and Hilda (Eickhoff) Maier; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1948. Served 1949-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Elma, N.Y.; Levittown, Pa.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Springfield, Ill.; Ft. Wayne, Ind. Synod Vice-President 1973-1995. Retired 2013. Survivors: Leah (Gach) Maier; sons: Rev. Dr. Walter III, Rev. Dr. David. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 31, 2019, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
MENTINK, LEE ROBERT REV., May 31, 1933, Racine, Wis., to Nov. 3, 2019, Le Mars, Iowa; son of Loyal Mentink and Mildred (Klema) Biehn; graduated St. Paul Seminary 1964. Served 1980-1996. Ministries/Parishes: Remsen, Early, Schleswig, Iowa. Iowa District West Circuit Visitor 1985-1990. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Eleanor (Hersom) Mentink. Survivors: sons: Michael, Mark; daughters: Rachel, Rebecca Letsche, Lavonne Feather, Donna Stephen. Funeral: Nov. 7, 2019, Le Mars, Iowa; Interment: Kenosha, Wis.
MUELLER, JAMES WALTER REV., May 29, 1943, Waseca, Minn., to Nov. 8, 2019, Concordia, Calif.; son of Rev. Walter and Agnes (Wessler) Mueller; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2008. Ministries/Parishes: Lewisville, Texas; Concord, Calif. California/Nevada/Hawaii District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994. Retired 2008. Survivors: Carolyn (Grau) Mueller; daughters: Michelle Venables, Robyn Ward. Funeral: Nov. 16, 2019, Concord, Calif.
OSTGREN, STANLEY M. REV., Sept. 10, 1935, Holdrege, Neb., to Oct. 27, 2019, Fairbury, Neb.; son of Morris and Lucille (Burger) Ostgren; colloquy 1993. Served 1993-1997. Ministry/Parish: Argonia, Kan. Retired 1997. Survivors: Maralyn (Krause) Ostgren; sons: Michael, Mark, Brent; daughter: Becky Manning. Funeral: Nov. 1, 2019, Fairbury, Neb.; Interment: Nov. 1, 2019, Jansen, Neb.
PETERSEN, REYNOLD B. REV., June 27, 1930, Denison, Iowa, to Oct. 29, 2019, Wall Lake, Iowa; son of Jurgen and Katherine (Kuhl) Petersen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1973. Served 1973-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Upham, N.D.; Garner, Iowa. Retired 1992. Survivors: Joan (Wilken) Petersen; daughters: Linda Bromley, Debra Husebye, Pamela Tovar. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 1, 2019, Wall Lake, Iowa.
PULLMANN, CARL EMIL REV., May 21, 1930, Wausa, Neb., to Oct. 18, 2019, Austin, Texas; son of Rev. George and Hilda (Bender) Pullmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Neligh, Elgin, North Platte, Neb.; Anoka, Minn. Retired 1995. Survivors: Mary (Schwartz) Pullmann; sons: Dwight, Michael; daughters: Carla Nuckols, Monnie Hicks. Funeral: Oct. 26, 2019, Austin, Texas.
QUINN, DANIEL BRIAN REV., July 21, 1956, Streator, Ill., to Oct. 9, 2019, The Woodlands, Texas; son of Elvin and Marilyn (Dzuris) Quinn; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1990. Served 1990-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Greeley, Colo.; Marcus, Iowa; Racine, Wis.; The Woodlands, Texas. Survivors: Melony (Greenman) Quinn; sons: Timothy, Zachary; daughters: Erin Mrozinski, Katie, Laura. Funeral: Oct. 13, 2019, The Woodlands, Texas.
REDMANN, LOUIS JOHN REV., April 23, 1930, Bottineau, N.D., to Oct. 10, 2019, San Antonio, Texas; son of George and Adeline (Volbrecht) Redmann; colloquy 1985. Served 1986-1990. Ministry/Parish: San Antonio, Texas. Retired 1990. Survivors: Eunace (Stadtlander) Redmann; sons: Jeffrey, Steven, Terence. Funeral: Oct. 17, 2019, San Antonio, Texas; Interment: Arlington, Va.
REIMNITZ, CHARLES AUGUST GOTTLIEB REV., May 30, 1929, Chester, Neb., to Nov. 6, 2019, Omaha, Neb.; son of Rev. Carl and Emma (Ortmann) Reimnitz; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1996. Ministries/Parishes: New Baltimore, Mich.; Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska District Vice-President 1991-1994. Retired 1996. Survivors: Betty (Acker) Reimnitz; sons: John, Joel, Jess, James. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 12, 2019, Omaha, Neb.
SCHINKEL, NORMAN H. REV., Aug. 26, 1933, Jansen, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA, to Oct. 17, 2019, Tallmadge, Ohio; son of Henry and Wilhelmine (Brehm) Schinkel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1960. Served 1960-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Mitchell, ONTARIO, CANADA; Beaver Dam, Wis.; Warren, Ohio. Survivors: Audrey (Ricketts) Schinkel; son: David; daughters: Sara Lytle, Ruth Gebele. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 21, 2019, Warren, Ohio.
SCHMIDT, PAUL RICHARD REV., Aug. 14, 1925, Wichita, Kan., to Sept. 9, 2019, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Carl and Eva (Cramer) Schmidt; graduated Springfield Seminary 1950. Served 1950-1973; 1976-1989. Ministries/Parishes: Franklin, Bloomington, Wood River, Cairo, Nebraska City, Crete, Lincoln, Neb.; Indio, Calif.; New Orleans, La. Retired 1989. Survivors: Margaret (Wulf) Schmidt; son: Martin; daughter: Angela Drevo. Funeral: Sept. 16, 2019, Lincoln, Neb.; Interment: Sept. 16, 2019, Eagle, Neb.
SCHULTZ, WILLIAM MEYER REV., May 2, 1922, Mapleton, Minn., to Oct. 14, 2019, St. Cloud, Minn.; son of Rev. W.C. and Elna (Meyer) Schultz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1947. Served 1947-1984. Ministries/Parishes: Igloo, S.D.; Oberlin, Kan.; Monte Vista, Colo.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; St. Cloud, Albany Township, Minn. Preceded in death by his wife Ethel (Hildenstein) Schultz and son Jonathan. Survivors: sons: William, David, Martin; daughter: Ellen Wagner. Funeral: Oct. 18, 2019, St. Cloud, Minn.; Interment: Oct. 18, 2019, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
STUCKWISCH, DON RICHARD SR. REV., April 20, 1941, Seymour, Ind., to Nov. 5, 2019, Watseka, Ill.; son of Carl and Beulah (Steltenpohl) Stuckwisch; colloquy 1980. Served 1980-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Wood River, McCook, Neb.; Milford, Ill. Nebraska District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 2006. Survivors: Sandra (Helmer) Stuckwisch; sons: Don Jr., Paul; daughters: Dorisa Polk, Dawn Fisher. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 11, 2019, Milford, Ill.
COMMISSIONED
BOERGER, FRED LOUIS JR., Nov. 14, 1929, The Grove, Texas, to Oct. 13, 2019, McCook, Neb.; son of Rev. Fred Sr. and Lena (Mayer) Boerger; graduated Seward 1952. Served 1952-1994. Schools/Ministries: Allen Park, Utica, Mich.; Denver, Colo.; Okarche, Okla.; Chicago, Ill. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Lois (Wehmeier) Boerger. Survivors: son: Michael; daughters: Cindy, Beth Sonntag, Karen Roland. Funeral: Oct. 18, 2019, McCook, Neb.
HARMAN, RONALD VERN, July 29, 1932, Milwaukee, Wis., to Nov. 8, 2019, Phoenix, Ariz.; son of Harold and Mildred Harman; graduated River Forest 1955. Served 1956-1997. Schools/Ministries: Springfield, Danville, Ill.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Phoenix, Ariz. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his wife Evelyn (Krentz) Harman and son Nicholas. Survivors: sons: Anthony, Gregory, Rev. Vincent; daughter: Gretchen Surridge. Funeral: Nov. 16, 2019, Phoenix, Ariz.; Interment: Nov. 16, 2019, Scottsdale, Ariz.
HEUTON, EUGENE WALTER, May 2, 1949, Austin, Minn., to June 10, 2019, St. Paul, Minn.; son of Russell and Margaret (Rossow) Heuton; graduated St. Paul 1979. Served 1979-2014. School/Ministry: St. Paul, Minn. Retired 2014. Survivors: Lynne (Olson) Heuton; son: Kyle; daughter: Hillary Sawyer. Funeral: June 15, 2019, St. Paul, Minn.; Interment: June 18, 2019, Austin, Minn.
HONIG, LUCY BIRD (SCHANEFELT), Feb. 20, 1936, McFarland, Kan., to Sept. 30, 2019, Seward, Neb.; daughter of Alzie and Lucy (Harris) Schanefelt; graduated Seward 1984. Served 1984-1995. Schools/Ministries: Vernon Center, Minn.; Chicago, Ill. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by her husband Martin Honig. Survivors: son: James; daughters: Vicki Woebbecke, Valerie Mikles, Virginia Gray. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 18, 2019, Seward, Neb.
LATZKE, HENRY RAYMOND, July 3, 1931, Janesville, Wis., to Oct. 22, 2019, Arlington Heights, Ill.; graduated River Forest 1956. Served 1956-1999. Schools/Ministries: Selma, Ala.; Los Angeles, Calif.; River Forest, Ill. Retired 1999. Survivors: Laura (Rahe) Latzke; son: Rev. Steven; daughters: Brenda Heinze, Elaine Hackman. Funeral: Nov. 1, 2019, Melrose Park, Ill.
SIMS, CAROLYN CHRISTINE (STROEBEL), Aug. 24, 1944, Montebello, Calif., to Oct. 7, 2019, Laguna Hills, Calif.; daughter of Herman and Lyla Stroebel; graduated Seward 1966. Served 1991-2013. School/Ministry: Lake Forest, Calif. Retired 2013. Preceded in death by her husband Lynn. Survivor: daughter: Kathryn Hardt. Interment: October 24, 2019, Whittier, Calif.; Memorial Service: Oct. 26, 2019, Lake Forest, Calif.
ZACHEK, KAREN ANN (BORCHARDT), April 30, 1942, Milwaukee, Wis., to May 28, 2019, Neenah, Wis.; daughter of Gerhard and Erna (Worm) Borchardt; graduated River Forest 1964. Served 1980-2005. School/Ministry: Menasha, Wis. Retired 2005. Survivors: Lee Zachek; sons: Brian, Matthew. Funeral: Aug. 4, 2019, Menasha, Wis.
