IN MEMORIAM (January 2024)
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
CLAYCOMBE, HOWARD EARL JR. REV., May 12, 1928, Pittsburgh, Pa., to Sept. 23, 2023, Morrisville, Pa.; son of Howard Sr. and Helen (Overbeck) Claycombe; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1975; 1995-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Chambers, Neb.; Pontiac, Sandusky, Mich.; Port Credit, Ontario, Canada; Lawrence, N.J.; Havertown, Pa. Eastern District Circuit Visitor 1997-1999. Retired 2003. Preceded in death by his wife Grace (Edwards) Claycombe and daughter Helen. Survivors: sons: Howard III, John, Peter; daughter: Miriam Kornacki. Funeral: Sept. 29, 2023, Lawrenceville, N.J.; Interment: Oakmont, Pa.
HINZ, THOMAS P. REV., March 14, 1924, Long Prairie, Minn., to Oct. 6, 2023, West Allis, Wis.; son of William and Hulda (Scharff) Hinz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1951. Served 1951-1989. Ministries/Parishes: Standish, AuGres, Bay City, Mich.; Beloit, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Wis. South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor. Retired 1989. Preceded in death by his wife Eunice (Nicolaus) Hinz and daughter Susan. Survivors: daughters: Corinne Steinbrenner, Christine, Kathleen Moravec. Funeral: Oct. 15, 2023, West Allis, Wis.; Interment: Oct. 16, 2023, Milwaukee, Wis.
HOLSTEIN, ROBERT W. REV., May 19, 1932, Osmond, Neb., to Oct. 9, 2023, Sun City, Ariz.; son of Rev. Erich and Louise (Cluever) Holstein; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Jasper, Hinton, Edson, Alberta, Canada; Grand Forks, Thompson, N.D.; Red Bud, Ill.; Phoenix, Ariz. Retired 1994. Survivors: Lucille (Beckman) Holstein; son: Robert; daughter: Lisa. Memorial Service: Oct. 30, 2023, Sun City West, Ariz.
KALLIO, JOHN MICHAEL REV., March 22, 1940, Forest Lake, Mich., to Sept. 15, 2023, Stillwater, Minn.; graduated Springfield Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2003. Ministries/Parishes: McGregor, McGrath, Virginia, Gilbert, White Cloud, Owatonna, Minn.; Berrien Springs, Mich. Retired 2003. Survivors: Marilyn (Brink) Kallio; son: Paul; daughters: Joelle, Christelle Hagen. Funeral: Sept. 20, 2023, Stillwater, Minn.
LEHENBAUER, VICTOR H. REV., March 4, 1928, Ludell, Kan., to June 11, 2023, Chula Vista, Calif.; son of Rev. George and Elizabeth (Kisseauw) Lehenbauer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1954. Served 1954-1991. Ministries/Parishes: St. Paul, Loup City, Neb.; Wenona, Ill.; Beeville, Three Rivers, Texas; Alma, McFarland, Kan.; Poway, Banning, Calif.; N. Las Vegas, Nev.; Southern California District and Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 1988-1991. Retired 1995. Preceded in death by his wife Ramona (Rayborn) Lehenbauer. Survivors: sons: Douglas, Jeffrey; daughters: Lynne Haman; Kay Attanasio; Kin Kovac.
MORALES, CHRISTIAN GEORGE REV., Dec. 21, 1946, New Orleans, La., to Oct. 1, 2023, Chesapeake, Va.; son of Paul and Florence (Saltarrelli) Morales; colloquy 1978. Served 1978-1997; 1998-2023. Ministries/Parishes: DeWitt, Ark.; Foley, Ala. Preceded in death by his son Peter. Survivors: Elizabeth Morales; sons: Nathan, Adam; daughters: Ann McGowen, Renee. Funeral: Oct. 6, 2023, Chesapeake, Va.; Interment: Oct. 6, 2023, Suffolk, Va.
NIERMANN, JOHN FRANCIS REV., Oct. 7, 1933, Sterling, Colo., to Sept. 28, 2023, Kansas City, Kans.; son of Rev. Henry and Edna (Krumm) Niermann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Phillipsburg, Wichita, Overland Park, Kan.; Bowie, Md.; Ft. Wayne, Ind. Kansas District Circuit Visitor 1986-1991. Retired 2003. Survivors: Sally (Nielsen) Niermann; sons: John, Thomas, Micah. Celebration of Life: Dec. 3, 2023, Kansas City, Mo.
OREA-CORIA, HIRAM REV., Sept. 22, 1949, Mexico City, Mexico, to June 15, 2023, Dallas, Texas; son of Rev. David Orea Luna and Dora Orea-Coria; colloquy 1993. Served 1993-2012. Ministry/Parish: Dallas, Texas. Retired 2019. Survivors: Blanca (Valencin) Orea-Coria; daughters: Lubianka, Kerem. Funeral: June 23, 2023, Dallas, Texas.
OTTO, DANIEL DAVID REV., Feb. 24, 1936, Galva, Iowa, to Oct. 15, 2023, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; son of Rev. Arthur and Edna (Golnitz) Otto; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1961-2002. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Gary, Ind.; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Nashville, Tenn. Mid-South District Circuit Visitor 1988-1994. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by his wife Audrey (Gehl) Otto. Survivors: son: David; daughters: Naomi Manderschied, Michelle Scheffel. Celebration of Life and Interment: Nov. 4, 2023, Nashville, Tenn.
PLVAN, GEORGE DANIEL REV., Aug. 20, 1929, Cleveland, Ohio, to Sept. 6, 2023, Emporia, Va.; son of George and Susanne (Jencik) Plvan; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Emporia, Va.; Garfield, N.J. Eastern District Circuit Visitor 1978-1982. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Vera (Fabry) Plvan. Survivors: son: George; daughters: Faith, Joy Phillips, Grace. Funeral: Sept. 30, 2023, Emporia, Va.
POEPPEL, MANFRED O. REV., Feb. 11, 1952, Golsar, Germany, to Sept. 27, 2023, Erie, Pa.; son of Otto and Irmgard (Goeke) Poeppel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1995. Served 1995-2023. Ministries/Parishes: Albion, Wellsboro, Pa.; Springville, N.Y., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Eastern District Circuit Visitor 2009-2013. Retired 2023. Survivors: Janet (Lang) Poeppel; sons: Kurt, Keith, Scott. Funeral: Oct. 2, 2023, Cabot, Pa.
POOL, JOHN M. REV., April 2, 1934, Paducah, Ky., to Sept. 29, 2023, Wichita, Kan.; son of Ivan and Anna (Hilke) Pool; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Altus, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Wichita, Kan. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his wife Joyce (Mitchell) Pool and daughter Johanna. Survivors: sons: Mike, Jim, Mark. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 9, 2023, Wichita, Kan.
RUTHENBECK, NORMAN J. REV., March 21, 1940, Fairmont, Minn., to Sept. 6, 2023, Edina, Minn.; son of Rev. Lehnert and Althea (Trapp) Ruthenbeck; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1965-2005; 2008-2018. Ministries/Parishes: Garrison, Douglas, Max, N.D.; Mondovi, Wis.; Chanhassen, Minn. Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1985-1989. Retired 2018. Survivors: Bernice (Petersen) Ruthenbeck; son: Jonathan; daughters: Sarah Kolbo, Anne Preston. Celebration of Life: Sept. 23, 2023, Edina, Minn.
SCHEER, RODNEY RAY REV., Sept. 21, 1933, Fremont, Neb., to Aug. 4, 2023, San Diego, Calif.; son of Herbert and Phyllis (Sexton) Scheer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1960-1982; 1985-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Cuba, Mo.; San Diego, Calif. Retired 2000. Survivors: Lois (Siemon) Scheer; son: Michael; daughter: Faith. Funeral: San Diego, Calif.
VIESELMEYER, DEAN MARVIN. REV. DR., Sept. 11, 1948, York, Neb., to Oct. 13, 2023, Tustin, Calif.; son of Marwin and Erna (Degner) Vieselmeyer; graduated Springfield Seminary 1974. Served 1974-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Milwaukee, Wis.; Seward, Neb.; Irvine, Calif. Retired 2019. Survivors: Dian (Lofing) Vieselmeyer; sons: Brent, Brad. Memorial Service: Dec. 9, 2023, Irvine, Calif.
WERTH, LUTHER ARTHUR REV., Jan. 4, 1939, Park Falls, Wis., to Sept. 6, 2023, Union City, Calif.; son of Rev. Frank and Hildegard (Dierks) Werth; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1965. Served 1965-2006; 2013-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Tiffin, Ohio; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Shawnee Mission, Kan.; Livonia, Mich.; Livermore, Calif. Retired 2015. Preceded in death by his daughter Elizabeth. Survivors: Norma (Moerer) Werth; daughters: Rachel Mohr, Rebekah, Christina Dow. Memorial Service: Sept. 30, 2023, Fremont, Calif.
COMMISSIONED
MANGELS, HERSEY GENE, Sept. 22, 1936, Leadville, Colo., to Sept. 26, 2023, Greensburg, Ind.; son of Gilbert and Ella (Baack) Mangels; graduated Seward 1958. Served 1958-2002. Schools/Ministries: Vincennes, Seymour, Ind. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by his wife Joan (Reitmeyer) Mangels. Survivor: son: Scott. Funeral: Oct. 2, 2023, Seymour, Ind.
MATERN, JOHN H., Aug. 5, 1929, Schenectady, N.Y. to Sept. 18, 2023, Newtown, Conn.; son of William and Pearl (Booth) Matern; colloquy St. Louis 1955. Served 1955-1991. Schools/Ministries: Hollis Hills, Lockport, N.Y. Retired 1991. Survivors: Carol (Seitz) Matern, daughters: Kathryn Fisher, Jane McGrath, Mary Izzo, Deborah Graf. Funeral: Sept. 23, 2023, Newtown, Conn.; Interment: Sept. 24, 2023, Galway, N.Y.
