IN MEMORIAM (April 2023)
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
SCHAIBLEY, ROBERT WILLIAM REV., Feb. 21, 1946, Detroit, Mich., to Dec. 13, 2022, Plano, Texas; son of William and Frances (Wyscocki) Schaibley; graduated Springfield Seminary 1972. Served 1972-2017. Parishes/ Ministries: Naperville, River Forest, Ill.; Fraser, Mich.; Laramie, Wyo.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Colorado Springs, Colo. Retired 2017. Survivors: Eunice (Reimann) Schaibley; sons: Kevin, Dean, Christopher, Robert; daughters: Erika, Leonora. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 28, 2022, Plano, Texas.
SCHMIDT, ALVIN JOHN REV. DR., Sept. 28, 1932, Waldersee, Manitoba, Canada, to Nov. 28, 2022, St. Louis, Mo.; son of John and Lydia (Dreger) Schmidt; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1988, 1992-2012. Ministries/ Parishes: Seward, Neb.; Conover, N.C.; Springfield, Jacksonville, Ill.; Ft. Wayne, Ind. Retired 2012. Survivors: Carol (Gross) Schmidt; sons: Timothy, Mark. Funeral: Dec. 2, 2022, Ladue, Mo.; Interment: Dec. 2, 2022, St. Louis, Mo.
URBAN, OTTO HENRY JR. REV., Jan. 20, 1933, Houston, Texas, to Aug. 28, 2022, Concordia, Mo.; son of Otto Sr. and Adele (Exner) Urban; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1989. Ministries/Parishes: Sebastopol, Calif.; Lone Wolf, Okla.; Plainview, Cisco, Texas; Concordia, Mo.; Colstrip, Mont.; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1987-1988. Retired 1989. Survivors: Vonda (Green) Urban; sons: Douglas, Nathan; daughters: LeAnn, Lynette, Delisa, Natalie. Memorial Service: Sept. 11, 2022, Concordia, Mo.
VERNICK, ROGER N. REV., June 24, 1944, Cleveland, Ohio, to Dec. 11, 2022, Cleveland, Ohio; graduated 2001 Ft. Wayne Seminary. Served 2001-2017. Ministry/Parish: Parkersburg, W.V. Retired 2017. Survivors: Linda (Bauer) Vernick; son: Marc; daughters: Kristyn Prochaska, Elizabeth Baroody. Funeral: Dec. 17, 2022, Willoughby, Ohio.
WATTS, WAYNE EDWARD JR. REV., Nov. 12, 1961, Alabaster, Ala., to Nov. 11, 2022, Panama City, Fla.; son of Wayne Sr. and Sandra (Mauldin) Watts; Specific Ministry Pastor 2018. Served 2019-2022. Ministry/Parish; Panama City, Fla. Survivors: Mary (Marley) Watts; sons; Samuel, Alexander, Joshua; daughters: Elizabeth Watts-Shaver; Heather Keen. Funeral: Nov. 18, 2022, Panama City, Fla.
YOUNG, KENNETH ROBERT REV., Aug. 23, 1929, Buffalo, N.Y., to Dec. 13, 2022, Chester, Ill.; son of Arthur and Viola (Schmidt) Young; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Charleston, S.C.; Chicago, Hillside, Ill. Retired 1995. Preceded in death by his wife Mildred (Meier) Young. Survivors: sons: Kenneth, Stuart, Thomas; daughters: Alice Decker, Lois Cortell. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 19, 2022, Chester, Ill.
ZAHRTE, CARL E. REV., March 29, 1929, Hammond, Ind., to Nov. 6, 2022, Strongsville, Ohio; son of Carl and Matilda (Krause) Zahrte; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1951. Served 1955-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Lincoln, Neb.; Southgate, Mich.; Parma, Ohio. Retired 1995. Preceded in death by his wife Delores (Scherer) Zahrte. Survivors; sons: Rev. John, Paul; daughter: Ruth Miller. Funeral: Nov. 14, 2022, N. Royalton, Ohio; Interment: Hinckley, Ohio.
ZERBE, ROY M. REV., Nov. 5, 1939, Reading, Pa., to Oct. 24, 2022, Oxford, Ga.; son of Roy Zerbe; son of Roy and Sadie Zerbe; graduated Springfield Seminary 1973. Served 1973-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Churchbridge, Saskatchewan, Canada; Davenport, Iowa; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Kingsland, Ga.; Portage, Ind. Retired 2004. Survivors: Heidi (Hedwig Ladny) Zerbe; son: Philip; daughter: Christianna. Memorial Celebration: Nov. 1, 2022, Oxford, Fla.
ZIMMERMAN, JAMES G. REV., May 15, 1959, Los Angeles, Calif., to Oct. 8, 2022, Addison, Ill.; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1986. Served 1986-2021. Ministries/Parishes: Calumet Park, Oak Lawn, Troy, Addison, Ill. Retired 2021. Survivors: Robin (Winter) Zimmerman; son: Theodore. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 14, 2022, Addison, Ill.
COMMISSIONED
ALEXANDER, ROBERT MICHAEL, June 5, 1945, Kansas City, Mo., to Oct. 15, 2022, Columbia, Mo.; son of Robert and Bonnie (Miller) Alexander; colloquy 1993. Served 1993-1994. School/Ministry: Perryville, Mo. Retired 1996. Survivors: Judy (Niewald) Alexander; son: John; daughter: Cara Schwedtmann. Memorial Service: Oct. 21, 2022, Columbia, Mo.
BICKEL, ELAINE C. (PETZOLD), Dec. 16, 1947, Bay City, Mich., to Jan. 10, 2023, Ann Arbor, Mich.; daughter of Oscar Petzold; graduated River Forest 1970. Served 1973-2020. Schools/Ministries: Flint, Millington, Saginaw, Mich. Retired 2020. Survivors: James Bickel; son: William; daughter: Carol Laux. Funeral and Interment: Jan. 14, 2023, Millington, Mich.
BRUESKE, MERTICE ADELLE (SPAUDE) DEAC., June 28, 1935, Willmar, Minn., to Jan. 30, 2023, Osseo, Minn; daughter of Rev. Emil and Elvira (Ladwig) Spaude; graduated Valparaiso 1958. Survivors: Rev. Robert Brueske; sons: Patrick, Jeffrey; daughter: Tara. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 2, 2023, Alexandria, Va.
CONSOER, PAUL GERHARDT, Nov. 29, 1932, Ocheyedan, Iowa, to Nov. 3, 2022, Payson, Ariz.; son of Henry and Martha Consoer; graduated Milwaukee 1969. Served 1969-1992. Schools/Ministries: Miami, Fla.; Sioux Falls, S.D. Retired 1992. Survivors: Lorraine (Milbrath) Consoer; sons: Jeffrey, Kelly; daughters: Lori Parsons, Linda Kitchener, Amy Boeding. Memorial Service: Nov. 7, 2022, Prescott Valley, Ariz.
COOK, PRISCILLA C. (MENSING), April 8, 1934, Baltimore, Md., to Jan. 4, 2023, Alexandria, Va.; daughter of Willner and Carol Mensing; graduated River Forest 1955. Served 1973-1991. School/Ministry: Alexandria, Va. Retired 1991. Preceded in death by her husband Carl Cook. Survivors: son: Willner; daughters: Carolee White, Jean. Funeral: Jan. 9, 2023, Alexandria, Va.; Interment: Jan. 9, 2023, Easton, Md.
EBERT, JANANE FAYE, Feb. 28, 1945, Alta, Iowa, to Oct. 14, 2022, Nora Spring, Iowa; daughter of Earl and Lois (Clausen) Ebert; graduated Seward 1967. Served 1988-1999. Schools/Ministries: St. Francis, Minn.; Denver, Colo. Retired 2000. Survivors: daughters: Deborah Kadera, Denise Revis. Memorial Service: Nov. 5, 2022, Charles City, Iowa; Interment: Nov. 5, 2022, Galva, Iowa.
GREENWALD, LINDA LEE (PREUSSER), Aug. 31, 1948, St. Louis, Mo., to April 10, 2022, Lakeway, Texas; daughter of Richard and Wilma (Althage) Greenwald; colloquy 1998. Served 1998-2016. Schools/Ministries: Houston, Austin, Texas. Retired 2016. Survivors: Ted Greenwald; son: Michael; daughter: Dori Triplett. Funeral and Interment: April 19, 2022, Austin, Texas.
HENKE, STEPHEN MICHAEL JR., Sept. 27, 1944, Granite City, Ill., to Sept. 22, 2022, Houston, Texas; graduated River Forest 1966. Served 1966-2006. Schools/Ministries: Marengo, Ill.; Harlingen, Houston, Texas. Retired 2006. Survivors: Carol (Meseberg) Henke; sons: Todd, Eric, Chad, Joshua.
HENSLEY, DOUGLAS DEWIGHT, July 18, 1942, Portland, Ore., to Nov. 12, 2022, Bend, Ore.; son of Wayne and Irene (Ott) Hensley; graduated River Forest 1964. Served 1964-2004. School/Ministry: Long Beach, Calif. Retired 2004.
HIMMLER, MARVIN MAX, April 12, 1933, Wenona, Ill., to Oct. 19, 2022, Shelby Township, Mich.; son of Rev. Herbert and Ella (Strauch) Himmler; graduated River Forest 1955. Served 1955-1995. Schools/Ministries: LaPorte, Ind.; Utica, Macomb, Mich. Retired 1995. Survivors: Margaret (Ream) Himmler; son: Gary; daughters: Sharon Reband, Laura Rink. Funeral: Oct. 22, 2022, Utica, Mich.
KNAUFT, RAYMOND H., Oct. 11, 1928, McIntosh, Minn., to Nov. 21, 2022, Woodburn, Ore.; son of Charles and Martha Knauft; graduated River Forest 1951. Served 1951-1990. Schools/Ministries: St. Louis, Mo.; Spokane, Snohomish, Wash.; Whittier, San Diego, Calif. Retired 1990. Preceded in death by his wife Donna (Warneke) Knauft. Survivors: sons: Terry, Rev. Jess; daughter: Paula Moore.
KROLL, DAVID LEE, June 5, 1974, Grand Rapids, Mich., to Nov. 27, 2022, Marietta, Ga.; son of Michael and Jong Kim (Ang) Kroll; graduated River Forest 1996. Served 1996-2002, 2007-2010. Schools/Ministries: Lansing, Mich.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Marietta, Ga. Survivors: Renee Kroll; son: Joshua. Memorial Service: Dec. 3, 2022, Sandy Springs, Ga.
LORENZ, DONALD WALTER, March 6, 1927, Detroit, Mich., to Oct. 20, 2022, Fremont, Calif.; son of Walter and Florence Lorenz; graduated River Forest 1947. Served 1948-1971. Schools/Ministries: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; Detroit, Mich. Retired 1987. Survivors: Margaret (Bauleke) Lorenz; sons: Jonathan, Daniel, James, Andrew; daughter: Karen Bethke. Funeral: Portland, Ore.
MARTENS, EDMUND R., Nov. 30, 1928, Buhl, Idaho., to Oct. 27, 2022, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Rudolf and Henrietta (Becher) Martens; graduated Seward 1941. Served 1941-1991. Schools/Ministries: Seward, Columbus, Neb.; Orange, Calif. Retired 1991. Preceded in death by his wife Ruth (Schnackenberg) Martens. Survivors: son: Sean; daughters: Allegra Koehler, Melanie, Renee Nolte, Ronda Wescott. Funeral: Nov. 3, 2022, Lincoln, Neb.; Interment: Nov. 3, 2022, Seward, Neb.
NIEMAN, ANNA ELLA (KANNING), Aug. 3, 1935, Churdan, Iowa, to Jan. 11, 2023, Roseville, Mich.; son of Otto and Ella (Goerke) Kanning; graduated Seward 1957. Served 1973-1996. School/Ministry: Utica, Mich. Retired 1998. Survivor: Orville Nieman. Funeral: Jan. 20, 2023, Utica, Mich.
OFFERMANN, GLENN W., May 20,1936, Wartburg, Ill., to Jan. 15, 2023, St. Paul, Minn.; son of Armin and Luella (Dann) Offermann; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1958-2000. Schools/Ministries: Atkins, Iowa; Chicago, Ill.; St. Paul, Minn. Retired 2000. Survivors: Marilyn (Wirth) Offermann; son: Brian; daughters: Brenda Trunkhill. Funeral: Jan. 24, 2023, Roseville, Minn.; Interment: Jan. 24, 2023, Minneapolis, Minn.
RIES, CHRISTINE CHARLOTTE (EGGERT), Feb. 26, 1940, Lockwood, Mo., to Dec. 23, 2022, White Bear Lake, Minn.; daughter of Rev. Fred Eggert; graduated Seward 1963. Served 1990-1995. School/Ministry: Eagan, Minn. Retired 1995. Survivors: David Ries; sons: Daniel, Jonathan; daughters: Catherine, Stephanie. Funeral: Jan. 6, 2023, White Bear Lake, Minn.
SCHEPMANN, DARRELL WILLIAM, March 22, 1941, Great Bend, Kan., to April 3, 2022, Houston, Texas; son of Walter and Esther Schepmann; graduated River Forest 1962. Served 1962-2006. Schools/Ministries: St. Louis, Mo.; Houston, Texas. Retired 2006. Survivors: Dorothy (Malvitz) Schepmann; sons: David, Daniel, Dennis. Funeral: April 8, 2022, Houston, Texas.
SCHLUETER, KENNETH EUGENE, Feb. 9, 1935, Orange, Calif., to Oct. 12, 2022, Orange, Calif.; son of Arthur and Clara (Beckman) Schlueter; graduated Seward 1957. Served 1957-1997. Schools/Ministries: San Diego, Orange, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo. Retired 1997. Survivors: Mary (Lowke) Schlueter; sons: Brian, Robert; daughter: Kathryn. Celebration of Life: Oct. 22, 2022, Santa Ana, Calif.
SCHORR, CHARLENE H. (HUNSICKER), Nov. 10, 1954, to Dec. 25, 2022, N. Braddock, Pa.; daughter of Charles and Dolores (Matusik) Hunsicker; graduated Bronxville 1976. Served 2004-2016. School/Ministry: Pittsburgh, Pa. Survivors: James Schorr; daughter: Casey Cmar-Antolik.
STUEBER, DAVID J., April 19, 1946, Clyman, Wis., to Oct. 28, 2022, St. Paul, Minn.; son of Ewald and Ruth (Christian) Stueber; graduated Seward 1968. Served 1968-2010. Schools/Ministries: Detroit, Mich.; Rockford, Ill.; St. Paul, Minn. Retired 2010. Memorial Service: Nov. 30, 2022, St. Paul, Minn.; cremation.
TEWES, WILBUR G., May 10, 1934, Greenleaf, Kan., to Dec. 7, 2022, Lincoln, Neb.; graduated Seward 1956. Served 1956-1997. Schools/Ministries: Spokane, Wash.; Des Plaines, Ill.; Haven, Overland Park, Kan.; Seward, Lincoln, Neb. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his wife June Tewes. Survivors: sons: Mark, Tim, Doug; daughter: Tammy. Funeral: Dec. 27, 2022, Lincoln, Neb.
WEGNER, WILHELM RUDOLPH, April 10, 1931, Billings, Mont., to Oct. 11, 2022, Great Falls, Mont.; son of Rudolph and Amalia Wegner; graduated Milwaukee 1971. Served 1971-1993. Schools/Ministries: Devlaven, Wis.; Great Falls, Harlowton, Troy, Mont. Retired 1993. Survivors: sons: David, Rudy, Alan, Mark; daughter: Karen Spicer. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 5, 2022, Great Falls, Mont.
ZILL, STEVEN EDWIN, Jan. 3, 1954, Ann Arbor, Mich., to Oct. 6, 2022, Hemlock, Mich.; son of Edwin and Helen (Wackenhut) Zill; graduated River Forest 1976. Served 1977-2016. Schools/ Ministries: Lincoln Park, Allen Park, Saginaw, Mich.; Kalispell, Mont. Retired 2016. Survivors: Julie (Priehs) Zill; sons: Steve, Mike, Scott; daughter: Elizabeth Pruinsky. Celebration of Life: Oct. 12, 2022, Saginaw, Mich.
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