In Memoriam (January 2021)

            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

ACKERMAN, JAMES LLOYD REV., Sept. 27, 1928, Mullan, Idaho, to Aug. 15, 2020, Warren, Mich.; son of Chris and Elizabeth (Blotter) Ackerman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957.  Served 1957-1993.  Ministries/Parishes: Herrington, Kan.; Muskegon, Detroit, Mich.  Retired 1993.  Preceded in death by his wife Justine (Poggendorf) Ackerman.  Survivors: daughters: Janyce Hoffman, Julie Clark, Joleen Bushalski, Jeri Ogle, Jennifer Briggs.  Funeral: Aug. 18, 2020, Bloomfield Hills, Mich; Interment: Macomb, Mich.

BENNINGHOFF, TIMOTHY JOHN REV., Aug. 21, 1947, Hammond, Ind., to Oct. 10, 2020, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; son of Hilton and Irene Benninghoff; graduated Springfield Seminary 1975.  Served 1975-1983, 1985-1989, 1994-2005, 2007-2014.  Ministries/Parishes: Adair, Pryor, Okla.; Wolcottville, Ind.; Janesville, Hanover, Center, Milwaukee, Hilbert, Wis.; McHenry, Ill.; Columbus, Neb. Retired 2014.  Survivors: Sharon (Thalacker) Benninghoff; sons: Timothy, Benjamin, Philip, Mark; daughters: Rebekah, Sarah.  Funeral: Oct. 17, 2020, Brown Deer, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 17, 2020, Milwaukee, Wis.

DORN, LOUIS OTTO REV. DR., July 1, 1928, Detroit, Mich., to July 16, 2020, Hazel Crest, Ill.; son of Rev. Theo and Thekla (Frederking) Dorn; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953.  Served 1953-1977, 1989-1993.  Ministries/Parishes: Philippines, Dumont, N.J.  Retired 1993.  Preceded in death by his wife Erna (Koessel) Dorn.  Survivors: sons: Rev. Peter, Martin; daughters: Margaret White, Judith.  Funeral and Interment: July 25, Country Club Hills, Ill.

EGGOLD, PAUL H. REV.,  June 12, 1936, Milwaukee, Wis., to Sept. 28, 2020, Greendale, Wis.; son of Rev. Henry and Helen (Burdorf) Eggold; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961.  Served 1961-2001.  Ministries/Parishes: Luzerne, Belle Plaine, Iowa; Wausau, Milwaukee, Wis.  Retired 2001.  Survivors: Susan (Meyer) Eggold; sons: Gregory, Bradley, Jeffrey.  Funeral: Oct. 3, 2020, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 5, 2020, Milwaukee, Wis.

ERDMAN, LEONARD ERNEST REV., Sept. 13, 1926, Willow City, N.D., to Sept. 21, 2020, Weston, Wis.; son of Ernest and Laura (Durdle) Erdman; graduated Springfield Seminary 1956.  Served 1956-1988.  Ministries/Parishes: Red Bluff, Corning, Calif.; Wausau, Aniwa, Wis.  Retired 1988.  Survivors: Pauline (Fletcher) Erdman; sons: John, Thomas, James, Peter; daughter: Mary Shuler.  Funeral: Oct. 24, 2020, Wausau, Wis.

GRANKE, WARREN A. REV., Oct. 6, 1945, LaCrosse, Wis., to Sept. 26, 2020, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; son of Eldred and Marie (Kapauke) Granke; colloquy 1989.  Served 1989-2011.  Ministry/Parish: Menomonee Falls, Wis.; South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1997-2006.  Retired 2011.  Survivors: Sharon (Stanley) Granke; son: Erick; daughters: Heidi Miller, Kirsten Lemus.  Funeral: October 1, 2020, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 1, 2020, Lannon, Wis.

HACKBARTH, LLOYD J. REV., March 21, 1936, Wausau, Wis., to Sept. 11, 2020, Wentzville, Mo.; son of Anton and Clara (Engebrecht) Hackbarth; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961.  Served 1961-2001.  Ministries/Parishes: Agar, Onida, Springfield, S.D.; Maryville, Wentzville, Mo.; Missouri District Circuit Visitor 1990-1994.  Retired 2001.  Survivors: Iris (St. Martin) Hackbarth; son: Joel; daughters: Cynthia Fish, Jill Kirk.  Funeral: September 16, 2020, O’Fallon, Mo.; Interment: Sept. 16, 2020, Wentzville, Mo.

HARRE, ALAN F. REV., June 12, 1940, Nashville, Ill., to Aug. 20, 2020, Staplehurst, Neb.; son of Adolph and Hilda (Vogt) Harre; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966.  Served 1966-2008.  Ministries/Parishes: Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.; Seward, Neb.; St. Paul, Minn.; Valparaiso, Ind.  Retired 2008.  Survivors: Diane (Mack) Harre; son: Eric; daughters: Andrea Sloup, Jennifer Serricchio.  Memorial Service: Aug. 26, 2020, Staplehurst, Neb.; Interment: Aug. 26, 2020, Seward, Neb.

HENNEMAN, HARRY CLIFFORD REV., Oct. 4, 1940, Tonawanda, N.Y., to Aug. 26, 2020, Auburn Hills, Mich.; son of Charles and Madeline (Masters) Henneman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966.  Served 1966-2002.  Ministries/Parishes: Center Point, Iowa; St. Clair, Clinton Township, Mich.  Retired 2002.  Preceded in death by his daughter Lisa.  Survivors: Dorothy (Rowold) Henneman; son: Matthew: daughter: Sarah Gothard.  Memorial Service: Aug. 29, 2020, Clinton Township, Mich.

HEIKKILA, GUNARD WILBERT REV., Nov. 24, 1941, Hancock, Mich., to Aug. 23, 2020, New York Mills, Minn.; son of Wilmer and Bertha (Kaurula) Heikkila; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965.  Served 1965-2009.  Ministries/Parishes: Manitouwadge, Ontario, Canada; Callaway, Ogema, Rosemount, Frazee, Deer Creek, Minn.; Buckley, Ill.; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1984-1990.  Retired 2009.  Survivors: Janice (Koosmann) Heikkila; sons: Thomas, Mark; daughters: Sarah Bauck, Kari Cramer.  Funeral: Aug. 29, 2020, New York Mills, Minn.; Interment: Aug. 29, 2020, Frazze, Minn.

KELM, LAWRENCE EMIL REV.,  March 22, 1939, Walburg, Texas, to Sept. 2, 2020, Houston, Texas; son of Berthold and Mary (Herzog) Kelm; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1965.  Served 1965-2009.  Ministries/Parishes: Kernersville, N.C.; Mt. Pocono, Pa.; Houston, Texas.  Retired 2009.  Survivors: Joanne (Fuerch) Kelm; daughters: Sharon Anderson, Pamela, Melissa Holland.  Funeral: Sept. 9, 2020, Houston, Texas; Interment: Sept. 14, 2020, Houston, Texas.

KIESCHNICK, ROY A. REV., Feb. 14, 1942, Nederland, Texas, to Sept. 21, 2020, Spring, Texas; son of Fred and Martha (Haverland) Kieschnick; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1969.  Served 1969-2007.  Ministries/Parishes: Brownwood, Lufkin, Spring, Texas; Springfield, Ill.; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991.  Retired 2007. Survivors: Nancy (Pitser) Kieschnick; son: Seth; daughter: Rachel Rosado.  Funeral and Interment: Sept. 26, 2020, Spring, Texas.

LEACH, RONALD DAVID REV., Jan. 4, 1934, St. Louis, Mo., to April 5, 2020, Denver, Colo.; son of Omar and Ethel (Glasby) Leach; graduated Springfield Seminary 1958.  Served 1958-1980, 2004-2020.  Ministries/Parishes: Burlington, Stratton, Colorado Springs, Longmont, Golden, Colo.; Provo, Utah, East St. Louis, Ill.  Survivors: Patricia (Hlavek) Leach; sons: David, Timothy, Michael; daughter: Angela.

RODEWALD, ALFRED WILLIAM REV., March 1, 1925, Ava, Ill., to Sept. 24, 2020, Concordia, Mo.; son of Rudolph and Blanche (Eggers) Rodewald; graduated Springfield Seminary 1953.  Served 1953-1990.  Ministries/Parishes: Lamar, Nevada, Washington, Concordia, Mo.; Missouri District Circuit Visitor 2005-2008.  Retired 1990.  Survivors: Ruth (Hanson) Rodewald; sons: Michael, John, Benjamin; daughters: Kathryn Oetting, Christine Small.  Funeral and Interment: Oct. 3, 2020, Concordia, Mo.

SCHOENROCK, HARLAN RAY REV., Feb. 7, 1944, Minneapolis, Minn., to Oct. 12, 2020, Rockledge, Fla.; son of Ralph and Lillie (Korpi) Schoenrock; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1970.  Served 1998-2012.  Ministry/Parish: Melbourne, Fla.  Retired 2012.  Survivors: Diane Schoenrock; sons: Michael, Timothy; daughter: Rebecca.  Celebration of Life: Nov. 7, 2020, Rockledge, Fla.

SCHROEDER, PAUL R. REV., Aug. 16, 1933, Davenport, Iowa., to Sept. 9, 2020, Lady Lake, Fla.; son of Rev. Walter and Hilda (George) Schroeder; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958.  Served 1958-2015.  Ministries/Parishes: Godfrey, Ill.; Watertown, Greendale, Wis.  Retired 2015.  Survivors: Sylvia (Wolfsberger) Schroeder; son: Rev. Douglas; daughter: Dana Ruland.  Funeral: Oct. 24, 2020, Greendale, Wis.; cremation.

STEVENS, DAVID JEREMY REV., Feb. 11, 1978, Appleton, Wis., to Oct. 11, 2020, Lake Mills, Wis.; son of Don and Lorraine (Messer) Stevens; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2004.  Served 2004-2016.  Ministries/Parishes: Sheboygan, Waupun, Watertown, Wis.; Bessemer, Bergland, Mich.  Survivors: Leesl (Bahr) Stevens; daughter: Bethany.  Funeral: Oct. 16, 2020, Germantown, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 16, 2020, Milwaukee, Wis.

WIED, HENRY CLAY SR. REV., Nov. 19, 1951, Houston, Texas, to Aug. 31, 2020, Houston, Texas; son of Henry and Georgia (Sibley) Wied; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1993.  Served 1993-2019.  Ministries/Parishes: Mineral Wells, Tomball, Winchester, Waller, Texas.  Retired 2019.  Survivors: Debra (Langston) Wied; son: Henry Jr.; daughters: Cherie Arendse, Misty Ugerte.  Funeral: Sept. 13, 2020, Houston, Texas; cremation.

WITTMAIER, GERALD LEE REV., Dec. 6, 1944, St. Ann, Mo., to Aug. 30, 2020, Rolla, Mo. son of Roman and Olga (Meyr) Wittmaier; graduated Springfield Seminary 1971.  Served 1971-2009.  Ministries/Parishes: Lexington, Ky.; Nokomis, Ill.; Wayside, Wis.; Poplar Bluff, Rolla, Mo.  Retired 2009.  Survivors: Mary (Pahlmeyer) Wittmaier; sons: Matthew, Jonathan, Nathan; daughters: Jennifer, Sarah Shanks, Suzanne Cowan.  Funeral and Interment: Sept. 3, 2020, Litchfield, Ill.

COMMISSIONED

DOERING, RUTH ELEANOR (MICHALK), Aug. 26, 1926, Galveston, Texas, to Feb. 1, 2020, San Marcos, Texas; daughter of Rev. Adolph and Emilise (Woelfel) Michalk; graduated River Forest 1947.  Served 1973-1985.  School/Ministry: Galveston, Texas.  Retired 1985.  Preceded in death by her husband Curtis Doering.  Survivors: sons: Rev. Martin, Rev. Allen; daughters: Cathy Ashcraft, Carol Boerger, Patty Mitschke, Rebecca Peterson.  Memorial Service and Interment: Feb. 17, 2020, Giddings, Texas.

FOUNTAIN, JOSEPH CLARK, Aug. 26, 1946, Big Lake, Minn., to Aug. 10, 2020, Glencoe, Minn.; son of Forest and Downing Fountain; graduated St. Paul 1968.  Served 1969-2019.  Schools/Ministries: Sacramento, Calif.; Des Moines, Iowa; Glencoe, Minn.  Retired 2019.  Survivors: Jacqueline (Carson) Fountain; daughters: Sara Berg, Amber Generally, Gabrielle.  Funeral and Interment: Aug. 14, 2020, Glencoe, Minn.

HESSLER, EDWARD AUGUST, Aug. 14, 1941, Wyandotte, Mich., to Sept. 30, 2020, Horicon, Wis.; son of Rev. Edward and Ruth (Lichtsinn) Hessler; graduated River Forest 1964.  Served 1973-1996, 2001-2003.  Schools/Ministries: Horicon, Mayville, Wis.  Retired 2003.  Survivors: Janet (Blasé) Hessler; son: Jonathan; daughters: Michelle Buescher, Lisa Switalla.

HOLLIDAY, ROBERT DOYLE, Oct. 3, 1938, Houston, Texas, to March 27, 2020, Spring, Texas; son of James and Estelle (Frasure) Holliday; colloquy 1973.  Served 1973-2001.  Schools/Ministries: Los Angeles, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.  Retired 2001.  Survivors: Jo Ann Holliday; son: Michael; daughter: Heather. Memorial Service and Interment: Oct. 3, 2020, Pflugerville, Texas.

JACOB, NORMA BERTHA (WOLFF), Sept. 1, 1927, Cushing, Okla., to Oct. 5, 2020, Kansas City, Kan.; daughter of Julius and Martha Wolff; graduated Seward 1960. Served 1973-1989.  School/Ministry: Kansas City, Kan.  Retired 1989.  Preceded in death by her husband Theodore Jacob.  Survivors: Stepson: Paul; stepdaughter: Kathy Nolan. Celebration of Life: Oct. 9, 2020, Kansas City, Kan.

OHLMANN, MARGARET RUTH (SCHORZMAN), Jan. 29, 1930, Freeman, S.D., to April 27, 2020; daughter of Jacob and Ruth (Mayer) Schorzman; graduated Seward 1951.  Schools/Ministries: Omaha, Neb.; Galena, Texas; Leavenworth, Kan.  Retired 1992.  Preceded in death by her husband Karl Ohlmann.  Survivors: sons: Timothy, Paul; daughters: Cynthia Welsh, Alison Strubberg, Susan Nunn.  Funeral: May 4, 2020, Atchison, Kan.; Interment: May 4, 2020, Leavenworth, Kan.

ROBBINS, KENNETH LEIGH, Feb. 15, 1947, Stoughton, Wis., to Dec. 10, 2019, Houston, Texas; graduated Seward 1969.  Served 1969-2019.  Schools/Ministries: Topeka, Kan.; Hollywood, Fla.; Harper Woods, Mich.; Seward, Neb.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Houston, Texas.  Survivors: sons: Stephen, Nathan; daughters: Kimberly Stark, Kelley.  Memorial Service: Dec. 16, 2019, Pasadena, Texas.

ROSE, RICHARD R., April 20,1951, New York, N.Y., to Aug. 23, 2020, Maywood, Ill.; son of Frederick and Doris (Kiefer) Rose; graduated River Forest 1975.  Served 1975-2020. School/Ministry: Melrose Park, Ill.  Survivors: Kathleen (Rather) Rose; son: Frederick II; daughter: Samantha.  Funeral: Aug. 29, 2020, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Interment: Au.t 30, 2020, Sheridan, Ill.

RUTHERFORD, WILLIAM DANE, July 25, 1935, Graham, Texas, to May 19, 2020, Spring, Texas; son of Dane and Ethel (Cox) Rutherford; graduated Seward 1961.  Served 1961-1998.  Schools/Ministries: Elgin, Ill.; Austin, Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Hong Kong.  Retired 1998.  Preceded in death by his wife Nancy Rutherford.  Survivors: daughters: Dana Meeks, Sharon Russell. Interment: May 22, 2020.

STEGALL, BOBETTE LOIS (KELLY), Sept. 23, 1944, Houston, Texas, to Dec. 11, 2019, Arlington, Texas; daughter of Robert and Rubie (Tschiedel) Kelly; colloquy 1996.  Served 1997-2011. Schools/Ministries: Houston, Mansfield, Texas.  Retired 2011.  Survivors: James Stegall; son: Trent; daughter: Tracey Carola.  Celebration of Life: Dec. 21, 2019, Mansfield, Texas.

VANDEMARK, STEVEN MICHAEL, Jan. 20, 1968, Decatur, Ill., to Sept. 25, 2020, Overland Park, Kan.; son of Mike and Sally Vandemark; colloquy 2014. Served 2014-2018.  School/Ministry: Overland Park, Kan. Survivors: Stacy Vandemark; son: Tony; daughter: Sara.  Celebration of Life: Oct. 2, 2020, Overland Park, Kan.

WINTERSTEIN, LUCILLE M. (BIEBERICH), Oct. 19, 1930, Bay City, Mich., to Sept. 20, 2020; daughter of Emil and Helen (Walter) Bieberich; graduated River Forest 1963.  Served 1973-1995.  Schools/Ministries: Blue Hill, Neb.; Bethel, Minn.; Hanover, Kan.  Retired 1995.  Preceded in death by her husband William Winterstein.  Survivors: daughters: Bonnie Yoder, Beth Lohse.  Funeral and Interment: Sept. 24, 2020, Beatrice, Neb.