In Memoriam (May 2022)

IN MEMORIAM (May 2022)

             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, RICHARD E. REV., Nov. 16, 1935, Shawano, Wis., to Dec. 29, 2021, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Eric and Marie (Wambsganss) Albers; Colloquy 2000.  Served 2000-2002.  Ministry/Parish: Round Mountain, Nev.  Retired 2002.  Survivor: Esther (Rosenthal) Albers.  Funeral: Jan. 4, 2022, Lincoln, Neb.; Interment: Jan. 4, 2022, Harbine, Neb.

BAERWALD, REUBEN CARL MARTIN REV., Oct. 24, 1925, Horicon, Wis., to Dec. 31, 2021, Aurora, Ill.; son of Rev. Charles and Amanda (Quandt) Baerwald; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1949.  Served 1950-1990.  Ministries/Parishes: Geneva, N.Y.; Alton, Carbondale, Chicago, St. Charles, Ill.  Retired 1990.  Survivors: Martha Baerwald; sons: Charles, John, Mark; daughter: Susan.  Celebration of Life: Jan. 8, 2022, St. Charles, Ill.

BERNHARDT, ROBERT HERBERT REV., March 10, 1931, Fond du Lac, Wis., to Jan. 23, 2022, Chippewa Falls, Wis.; son of Herbert and Louise (Sutter) Bernhardt; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956.  Served 1956-1993.  Ministries/Parishes: Greensburg, Buklin, Ashland, Kan.; LaCrosse, Plymouth, Mequon, Wis.; South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1966-1970, 1974-1982, 1986-1988.  Retired 1993.  Survivors: Ardis (Kaufmann) Bernhardt; sons: Kenneth, Wayne; daughter: Rosemary Plautz.  Funeral and Interment: Jan. 31, 2022, Mequon, Wis.

BODE, ARTHUR JOHN REV., March 12, 1953, New Ulm, Minn., to Jan. 24, 2022, Gould City, Mich.; son of Wilmer and Marie (Gurgel) Bode; graduated Fort Wayne 1988.  Served 1988-2021.  Ministries/Parishes: Howard Lake, Minn.; Shelby, Engadine, Germfask, Mich.  Retired 2021.  Survivors: Jody (Pettengill) Bode; sons: Kiel, Jeffrey; daughters: Bree, Adrienne Goldstein.  Celebration of Life: Jan. 28, 2022, Engadine, Mich.

BOTSFORD, MICHAEL DUANE REV., March 16, 1949, Lansing, Wis., to Jan. 12, 2022, Kaukauna, Wis.; son of Ronald and Betty (Ginter) Botsford; colloquy 1998.  Served 1998-2013.  Ministries/Parishes: Maple, Superior, Wis.; Whittemore, Iowa.  Retired 2013.  Survivors: Jill (Barnett) Botsford; son: Steven; daughter: Heather Freiberg.  Funeral: Feb. 19, 2022, Rhinelander, Wis.

BRANDT, DENNIS ARNOLD REV., July 6, 1945, Alton, Ill., to Jan. 24, 2022, Alton, Ill.; son of Alfred and Martha (Teakert) Brandt; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985.  Served 1985-1994.  Ministry/Parish: Thornton, Ill.; Northern Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1988-1991.  Retired 2014.  Preceded in death by his daughters Katherine and Laura.  Survivors: Jane (Fichtel) Brandt: sons: Alexander, Jeffrey; daughter: Cynthia.  Funeral: Jan. 31, 2022, Alton, Ill.; Interment: Jan. 31, 2022, Bethalto, Ill.

DOCKERY, DANIEL LAWRENCE REV., Jan. 26, 1949, Traverse City, Mich., to Feb. 19, 2022, Traverse City, Mich.; son of Anthony and Marguerite Dockery; SMP certified 2016.  Served 2016-2021.  Ministry/Parish: Glen Arbor, Mich. Retired 2021.  Survivor: Lois (Dorn) Dockery.  Funeral: Feb. 25, 2022, Traverse City, Mich.; Interment: Traverse City, Mich.

DUTZMANN, INGO ROLF REV., Jan. 11, 1947, Braunschweig, Germany, to Jan. 15, 2022, Harpswell, Maine; son of Rolf and Liselotte Dutzmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1980.  Served 1981-2019.  Ministries/Parishes: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Monte Verde, Fla.; Taunton, Boston, Mass.; New England District Circuit Visitor 1993-1997.  Retired 2019.  Survivors: Daria (Manchuk) Dutzmann; son: Alexander; daughters; Allegra, Mercedes, Dominique.  Celebration of Life: Jan. 22, 2022, Boston, Mass.

FISHER, GARY LEE REV., Feb. 10, 1942, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., to Dec. 13, 2021, Baltimore, Md.; son of Ernest and Irene (Haferman) Fisher; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1968.  Served 1968-2006.  Ministries/Parishes: Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville, N.C.; Baltimore, Md.; Southeastern District Circuit Visitor 1988-1989.  Retired 2006.  Survivors: sons: Atticus, Douglas; daughter: Heidi.

FRERICHS, DONALD L. REV., May 1, 1937, Hastings, Neb., to Jan. 5, 2022, Stow, Ohio; son of Wert and Helen (Rhem) Frerichs; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968.  Served 1969-2003, 2005-2011, 2015-2016.  Ministries/Parishes: Canby, Minn.; Mesa, Pasco, Wash.; Portland, Florence, Ore.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 2011-2015.  Retired 2016.  Preceded in death by his wife Eileen (Helm) Frerichs.  Survivors: sons: Luke, Rev. Paul, Matthew; daughter: Lois Hughey.  Funeral: Jan. 19, 2022, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Interment: Stow, Ohio.

HESS, ROBERT M. REV., April 7, 1928, Goshen, Ind., to Jan. 22, 2022, Cary, Ill.; son of Arnold and Lucinda (Schlundt) Hess; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953.  Served 1953-2003.  Ministries/Parishes: Sulphur, La.; Cary, Ill.  Retired 2003.  Preceded in death by his wife Amalia (Melcher) Hess.  Survivors: son: Charles; daughters: Dorothea Chianakas, Rebeca Crossley.  Funeral and Interment: Jan. 31, 2022, Cary, Ill.

KENNEDY, LOWELL ESTES REV. DR., June 28, 1931, Russellville, Ark., to Oct. 5, 2021, Hillsboro, Mo.; son of Calvin and Vida Kennedy; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959.  Served 1959-1974.  Ministries/Parishes: Nigeria, Westcliffe, Colo.  Retired 2017.  Preceded in death by his wife Norma Kennedy and son Charles.  Survivors: sons: Daniel, Timothy; daughters: Catherine DeRoos, Linda.  Funeral and Interment: Oct. 17, 2021, Hillsboro, Mo.

MOORE, LEONARD ALFRED REV., May 21, 1965, Glen Cove, N.Y., to Nov. 12, 2021, Sun City, S.C.; son of Leonard and Lois Moore; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2000.  Served 2000-2007.  Ministry/Parish: Corinth, Miss.  Memorial Service: Nov. 23, 2021, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Interment: Dec. 4, 2021, Farmingdale, N.Y.

NIEMOELLER, MARK ALLEN REV., Nov. 6, 1952, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jan. 20, 2022, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Irvin and Caroline (Schmidt) Niemoeller; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1979.  Served 1979-1996, 2009-2022.  Ministries/Parishes: South Bend, Indianapolis, Vincennes, Ft. Wayne, Ind.  Preceded in death by his wife Marilyn (Shrote) Niemoeller.  Survivors: sons: Stephen, Andrew; daughter: Deborah.  Memorial Service: Jan. 27, 2022, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

PARKS, ALLEN EUGENE REV., March 14, 1937, Ulysses, Neb., to Jan. 31, 2022, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Charles and Ann (Schultze) Parks; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963.  Served 1963-1998.  Ministries/Parishes: Newberry, Germfask, Mich.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.  Retired 1998.  Survivors: Marilyn (Rott) Parks; son: Douglas; daughter: Denise Gendron.  Funeral and Entombment: Feb. 6, 2022, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

PFINGSTEN, MICHAEL D. REV., March 20, 1962, Racine, Wis., to Feb. 6, 2022, Milwaukee, Wis.; son of Melvin and Dorothy (Crisp) Pfingsten; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1988.  Served 1988-2022.  Ministries/Parishes: Jonesville, Ind.; Harvard, Ill.; Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Northern Illinois District Circuit Visitor 2006-2013; South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 2020-2022.  Survivors: Diana (Wenndt) Pfingsten; sons: Michael, Jonathan, Robert Lunak. Funeral: Feb. 13, 2022, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Interment: Feb. 14, 2022, Racine, Wis.

REEDER, THOMAS NICHOLAS SR. REV., March 29, 1938, Philadelphia, Pa., to Feb. 10, 2022, Terre Du Lac, Mo.; son of Thomas and Marie (Everth) Reeder; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968.  Served 1968-2006.  Ministries/Parishes: Port Arthur, Texas; Kansas City, Ballwin, Houston, Excelsior Springs, Bonne Terre, Mo.  Retired 2006.  Survivors: Joan (Werner) Reeder; sons: Rev. Thomas Jr., Steven; daughter: Dawn.  Funeral: Feb. 16, 2022, DeSoto, Mo.; Interment: Feb. 17, 2022. St. Louis, Mo.

SPARLING, PAUL W. REV., June 25, 1929, Adair, Iowa, to Jan. 28, 2022, Morris Plains, N.J.; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954.  Served 1954-1994.  Ministries/Parishes: Glenwood, Iowa; Greystone Park, Morris Plains, N.J.; Iowa District West Circuit Visitor 1960-1961.  Retired 1994.  Preceded in death by his son Joel.  Survivors: Sally (Benson) Sparling; son: Rev. Daniel: daughter: Elizabeth.  Funeral: Feb. 4, 2022, Morris Plains, N.J.

WILKENS, JAMES DONALD REV., Sept. 15, 1936, Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Jan. 29, 2022, Omaha, Neb.; son of Rev. Walter and Louise (Fischer) Wilkens; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961.  Served 1962-2014.  Ministries/Parishes: Edmond, Okla.; U.S. Army National Guard Military Chaplain; Granville, Hebron, Ohio; Amherst, Omaha, Neb.  Retired 2014.  Survivors: Laurie (Jones) Wilkens; sons: Paul, John.

YEADON, TIMOTHY R. REV. DR., June 27, 1959, Glen Cove, N.Y., to Jan. 16, 2022, Barkhamsted, Conn.; son of Ray and Margaret Yeadon; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985.  Served 1985-2022.  Ministries/Parishes: New Hartford, Conn.; Springfield, Mass.; New England District Circuit Visitor 1987-1991; New England District President 2012-2022.  Survivors: Ruth (Schumacher) Yeadon; sons: Jonathan, Daniel.  Funeral: Jan. 30, 2022, Bristol, Conn.

COMMISSIONED

ADLER, RICHARD WEBSTER, Jan. 28, 1939, Minneapolis, Minn., to Jan. 24, 2022, St. Louis, Mo.; son of Albert and Evelyn (Webster) Adler; graduated River Forest 1962.  Served 1962-1981, 1983-1997.  Schools/Ministries: Papua, New Guinea; St. Louis, Mo.  Retired 1997.  Survivors: daughters: Jennifer Bess, Krista Young.  Celebration of Life: Feb. 5, 2022, Brentwood, Mo.; Interment: St. Louis, Mo.

BLIESE, ELIZABETH DOROTHY (STEVENSON), June 3, 1931, Kodiakanal, India, to Jan. 10, 2022, Milwaukee, Wis.; daughter of Rev. Duncan II and Esther (Nagel) Stevenson; graduated River Forest 1981.  Served 1981-1994.  School/Ministry: Greenfield, Wis.  Retired 1994.  Preceded in death by her husband Richard Bliese.  Survivors: sons: Jonathan, David; daughters: Lisa Darling, Amy Tausz.  Funeral: Jan. 17, 2022, Greenfield, Wis.; Interment: Jan. 17, 2022, Oak Creek, Wis.

BOETTNER, MARTIN R., April 17, 1951, Sheboygan, Wis., to Jan, 1, 2022, Plainville, Conn.; graduated River Forest 1974.  Served 1974-2016.  School/Ministry: New Britain, Conn.  Retired 2016.

BURTNER, CAROL ANN (SPITZER), March 29, 1936, Kensal, N.D., to July 23, 2021, Kensal, N.D.; daughter of William and Alma (Ronholm) Spitzer; graduated River Forest 1958.  Served 1973-1981, 1983-1997.  Schools/Ministries: Anaheim, Brea, Calif.  Retired 1997.  Survivors: Roger Burtner; daughter: Pamela.  Memorial Service: Aug. 28, 2021, Anaheim, Calif.; cremation.

CLUVER, DANIEL DAVID, July 26, 1947, Watseka, Ill., to Nov. 20, 2021, Watseka, Ill.; son of Paul and Jeanette (Nielsen) Cluver; graduated Seward 1973.  Served 1974-2014.  Schools/Ministries: Wanconia, Minn.; Hoyleton, River Grove, Sterling, Buckley, Milford, Ill.; Bel Air, Md.  Retired 2014.  Preceded in death by his wife Ellen (Stole) Cluver.  Survivors: son: David; daughter: Jan Lavicka.  Funeral and Interment: Nov. 30, 2021, Watseka, Ill.

DANZ, SHIRLEY MARIE (WALENTER), Aug. 23, 1941, Evanston, Ill., to Nov. 30, 2021, Frankenmuth, Mich.; daughter of Thomas and Helena (Marco) Walenter; graduated River Forest 1963.  Served 1973-2002.  Schools/Ministries: Detroit, Frankenmuth, Mich.  Retired 2002.  Preceded in death by her husband Harry Danz.  Survivors: stepsons: Richard, Karl; stepdaughter: Kathleen. Cremation.

ERBER, GLENN RALPH, July 5, 1931, Glenburn, N.D., to Jan. 28, 2022, Jackson, Mich.; son of Henry and Gladys (Loveland) Erber; graduated Seward 1954.  Served 1954-1994.  Schools/Ministries: Tobias, Columbus, Neb.; Jackson, Mich.  Retired 1994.   Survivors: Lois Erber; son: Rev. David; daughters: Julee Shaw, Amee Boettcher, Betsy Stolarczyk.  Funeral and Interment: Feb. 3, 2022, Jackson, Mich.

GREGORY, DAHLAS ANN, Sept. 5, 1950, to Oct. 27, 2021, W. Chicago, Ill.; graduated River Forest 1972.  Served 1973, 1985-2009.  Schools/Ministries: Wichita Falls, Texas; W. Chicago, Ill.  Retired 2014.  Funeral: W. Chicago, Ill.

KUHLMAN, DAVID WALTER, July 25, 1940, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jan. 2, 2022, Tempa, Ariz.; son of Walter and Della (Landwehr) Kuhlman; graduated River Forest 1963.  Served 1963-1983, 1997-2022.  Schools/Ministries: Nigeria, W. Africa; Melrose Park, Ill.  Survivors: Sharryn (Hutfilz) Kuhlman; son: Erich; daughters: Heidi, Julie Schneider.  Celebration of Life: March 14, 2022, Mesa, Ariz.

LOESEL, ALVIN E., Jan. 27, 1930, Birch Run, Mich., to Nov. 30, 2021, Arlington Heights, Ill.; son of Walter and Laura (Bender) Loesel; graduated River Forest 1952.  Served 1952-1992.  Schools/Ministries: Morton Grove, Skokie, Chicago, Ill.  Retired 1992.  Survivors: Mary (Gruenhagen) Loesel; daughter: Amy Scott.  Funeral and Interment: Dec. 4, 2021, Arlington Heights, Ill.

LOFMARK, GEORGE E. JR., Dec. 9, 1931, Brooklyn, N.Y., to Jan. 24, 2022, West Orange, N.J.; son of George Sr. and Alice (Boberg) Lofmark; graduated Mequon 1992.  Served 1995-2009.  School/Ministry: Closter, N.J.  Retired 2009.  Survivors: Marit (Arnes) Lofmark; son: Erik; daughters: Randi Gordon, Gloria, Vivian Ommundsen, Sandra Borland.  Memorial Service: Feb. 26, 2022, Closter, N.J.

LOOMANS, LOWELL A., Feb. 13, 1934, Portage, Wis., to Dec. 12, 2021, Portage, Mich.; son of Clarence and Gladys Loomans; graduated River Forest 1958.  Served 1958-1996.  Schools/Ministries: De Soto, St. Charles, Mo.; Elkhart, Ind.  Retired 1996.  Survivors: son: Greg; daughter: Dawn Grider.

MAURER, DIANE KAY (BENDER)  July 8, 1952, Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Dec. 19, 2021, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; daughter of Edward and Kathryn (Stiegemeyer) Bender; graduated River Forest 1974.  Served 1974-1976, 1983-2014.  Schools/Ministries: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Kansas City, Sedalia, St. Charles, St. Peters, Cape Girardeau, Mo.  Retired 2014.  Survivors: sons: Matthew, James, Andrew.  Funeral and Interment: Dec. 23, 2021, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

ROTH, EDGAR N., Oct. 13, 1928, Wittenberg, Mo., to Jan. 7, 2022, Perryville, Mo.; son of Leo and Linna (Mueller) Roth; graduated River Forest 1952.  Served 1952-1992.  Schools/Ministries: Holyrood, Kan.; Milford, Steeleville, Ill.  Retired 1992.  Preceded in death by his wife Betty (Verseman) Roth.  Survivors: sons: Royal, Randall; daughters: Lynette Biesendorfer, Jane.  Funeral and Interment: Jan. 12, 2022, Perryville, Mo.

SIEFKER, DOROTHY I. (LEMKE), Oct. 2, 1944, Detroit, Mich., to Jan. 23, 2022, Detroit, Mich.; daughter of Berwyn and Eileen Lemke; graduated River Forest 1966.  Served 1973-1977, 1979-2013.  Schools/Ministries: Detroit, Northville, Mich.  Retired 2013.  Survivors: Roy Siefker; sons: Kirk, Kevin, Joshua.  Funeral: Feb. 4, 2022, Northville, Mich.

ULMER, RICHARD B. SR., Aug. 30, 1931, Chicago, Ill., to Jan. 27, 2022, Omaha, Neb.; graduated River Forest 1953.  Served 1953-1993.  Schools/Ministries: Aliceville, Kan.; Yorktown, Iowa; Omaha, Neb.  Retired 1993.  Preceded in death by his wife Marian (McClaughry) Ulmer and son Mark.  Survivors: son: Richard Jr.; daughters: Kathie Matsumura, Kris Hock, Karen Samsom, Karol, Karla Haggar.  Funeral: Feb. 5, 2022, Omaha, Neb.

WINTERSTEIN, CHARLES ARTHUR, Sept. 25, 1949, Shelbyville, Ill., to Dec. 31, 2021, Columbus, Ind.; son of Arno and Ada (Wagner) Winterstein; graduated River Forest 1971.  Served 1975-1976, 1985-2011.  Schools/Ministries: Chesterton, Blue Island, Decatur, River Forest, Ill.; Toledo, Ohio; Ann Arbor, Mich.  Retired 2011.  Survivors: Alecia (Wittenbrink) Winterstein; sons: Timothy, Thomas; daughters: Elizabeth Tomasino, Amanda Middendorf.  Memorial Service: Jan. 14, 2022, Indianapolis, Ind.