IN MEMORIAM (October 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
BOENING, DALE DAVID REV., Dec. 5, 1950, Berlin, Wis., to July 7, 2023, Berlin, Wis.; son of Harold and Ruth (Moldenhauer) Boening; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 2003. Served 2003-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Royalton, Foley, Minn.; Montello, Neshkoro, Westfield, Wis. Retired 2014. Survivors: son: Chris; daughter: Rebecca. Funeral and Interment: July 21, 2023, Neshkoro, Wis.
BURKEY, RICHARD DAVID REV. DR., June 11, 1959, Chicago, Ill., to July 10, 2023, La Mesa, Calif.; son of John and Edna (Johnston) Burkey; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985. Served 1985-2023. Ministries/Parishes: Camden, Ark.; Wauchula, Bartow, Fla.; La Mesa, Calif. Pacific Southwest District Secretary 2010-2022. Survivors: Sharon (McAndrews) Burkey; daughters: Laura Couvoisier, Dana Peterson. Funeral: Aug. 12, 2023, La Mesa, Calif.
FRIEDRICH, ROBERT ARTHUR REV., June 1, 1935, Willow Township, Iowa, to July 8, 2023, Willmar, Minn.; son of Rev. Walter and Alma (Thraum) Friedrich; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Stamford, Conn.; Logan, Magnolia, Iowa; Bellingham, Minn. Minnesota North District Circuit Visitor 1990-1997. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by his wife Irene (Simon Martin) Friedrich. Survivors: son: Nathan; daughters: Sylvia Brehmer, Deborah Hoffman, Jeanette Baumgarn, Grace Bergland. Funeral: July 17, 2023, Willmar, Minn; Interment: July 17, 2023, Bellingham, Minn.
HOUSKA, CHARLES L. REV., Sept. 1, 1941, Deadwood, S.D., to June 27, 2023, McKinney, Texas; son of Charles and Marth (Rautio) Houska; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1967. Served 1967-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Minneapolis, Minn.; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Blairsville, Ga. Texas District Circuit Visitor 1988-1989. Retired 2005. Survivors: Joan (Pfaff) Houska; son: Peter; daughters: Angela Bullard, Deborah Balch. Memorial Service: July 8, 2023, McKinney, Texas.
LOBER, JOHN ARNOLD REV., Aug. 21, 1937, Milwaukee, Wis., to Jan. 27, 2023, Irmo, S.C.; son of Arnold and Emma (Wolfe) Lober; graduated Springfield Seminary 1971. Served 1971-1983. Ministries/Parishes: Ventura, Iowa; Murdo, Draper, S.D.; Auburn, Wash.; Irmo, S.C. Retired 1999. Survivors: Anna (Reagan) Lober; son: Jonathan; daughters: Melissa Mathia, Amelia Eakin. Memorial Service: Feb. 2, 2023, Irmo, S.C.
LOPEZ, JOHNNY JOSEPH REV., Dec. 3, 1943, Los Angeles, Calif., to May 15, 2023, Prescott, Ariz.; son of Baldomero and Maria (Garcia) Lopez; colloquy 1987. Served 1987-2015; 2018-2023. Ministries/Parishes: Orange, Santa Anna, Calif.; Sedona, Ariz. Preceded in death by his son Joseph. Survivors: Sarah (Gates) Lopez; sons: Johnny Jr., Robert; daughters: Maria Wren, Gina. Celebrations of Life: June 10, 2023, Prescott, Ariz., and July 8, 2023, Santa Ana, Calif.
LUEKER, ERWIN LOUIS JR. REV. DR., Feb. 1, 1944, St. Louis, Mo., to May 14, 2023, Johnson City, Tenn.; son of Rev. Dr. Erwin Sr. and Anna (Schick) Lueker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1970. Served 1971-1984; 1986-1990; 1999-2023. Ministries/Parishes: Olmsted, Golconda, Ill.; St. Paul, Minn.; San Diego, Pine Valley, Delano, Wasco, Santa Maria, Calif.; Bristol, Elizabethton, Tenn. Preceded in death by his sons Brian Lueker and John Moore. Survivors: JoAnn (Leavell) Lueker; sons: Michael Moore, Martin Lueker-Boden, Matthew. Funeral: July 8, 2023, Elizabethton, Tenn.; Interment: St. Louis, Mo.
MORRISON, RODNEY LEROY JR. REV., Jan. 16, 1965, Lansing, Mich., to July 24, 2023, St. Helen, Mich.; son of Rodney Sr. and Linda Morrison; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 2008. Served 2008-2021. Ministry/Parish: St. Helen, Mich. Michigan District Circuit Visitor 2015-2021; 2022-2023. Retired 2021. Survivors: Barbara (Hahn) Morrison; son: Shawn. Funeral: July 31, 2023, Harrison, Mich.
NELSON, ANDREW DAVID REV., June 18, 1950, Brooklyn, N.Y., to July 2, 2023, St. Louis, Mo.; son of Herman and Jane Nelson; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1984. Served 1984-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Westwood, Verona, Ridgewood, N.J. New Jersey Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 2015. Survivors: Gretchen (Netzeband) Nelson; sons: David, Paul, Eric; daughter: Rachel Assi. Funeral and Interment: July 7, 2023, St. Louis, Mo.
PHILIPP, MONTE CHAD REV., Jan. 10, 1967, Sherman, Texas, to July 12, 2023, Gillett, Ark.; son of Harold and Carol (Hobbs) Chad; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2002. Served 2002-2023. Ministries/Parishes: DeWitt, Gillett, Ark. Mid-South District Circuit Visitor 2020-2022. Survivors: Joni (Anderson) Philipp, son: Banks; daughters: Mahalie Barnat, Kahlan. Funeral and Interment: July 15, 2023, Gillett, Ark.
REHMER, NORMAN JAMES REV., Jan. 30, 1939, Homestead, Iowa, to July 1, 2023, Goshen, Ohio; son of Roland and Alma (Meyer) Rehmer; colloquy 1986. Served 1986-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Norwood, Ohio; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Marion, Iowa. Retired 2004. Survivors: Arlene Rehmer; sons: Brian, Randall. Funeral: July 8, 2023, Milford, Ohio; Interment: July 8, 2023, Goshen, Ohio.
ROSS, GRANT JOHN REV., Nov. 10, 1942, New Orleans, La., to July 21, 2023, Covington, La.; son of Cecil and Shirley (Frey) Ross; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2005. Served 2005-2023. Ministry/Parish: Folsom, La. Preceded in death by his wife Maureen (Turner) Ross, daughter Tracy Ross, and stepdaughter Sarah Turner Sauro. Survivors: son: Sean; daughter: Maureen McKenzie. Funeral and Interment: July 24, 2023, Covington, La.
COMMISSIONED
ARNOLD, BARBARA ANN (RUTTER), Jan. 28, 1934, Perry, Okla., to Feb. 1, 2023, Wichita, Kan.; daughter of Archie and Juanita (Walter) Rutter; graduated Winfield 1954. Served 1973-2019. School/Ministry: Ponca City, Okla. Retired 2019. Preceded in death by her husband Sherman Arnold. Survivors: son: Jonathan; daughter: Alicia Taylor. Interment: Wichita, Kan.
BERRY, JEROME GAYLE, Sept. 17, 1941, Crowley, La., to May 11, 2023, Austin, Texas; son of John and Ruby (Lehmann) Berry; graduated Seward 1967. Served 1967-1976; 2000-2011. Schools/Ministries: Maspeth, N.Y.; Houston, Giddings, Texas. Retired 2011. Survivors: Peggy (Schneider) Berry; son: Kevin; daughter: Denise James. Funeral: May 20, 2023, Giddings, Texas.
BUTTS, LUJUANA PATRICIA DEVONIA (RUFFIN), Jan. 19, 1943, Washington, D.C., to May 18, 2023, Bronxville, N.Y.; daughter of Isaiah and Carrie (Holloway) Ruffin; colloquy 1996. Served 1997-2010; 2012-2023. Schools/Ministries: River Forest, Ill.; Bronxville, Queens Village, Yonkers, N.Y. Survivors: Melvin Butts; sons: Senga, Kial. Funeral: June 8, 2023, The Bronx, N.Y.; Interment: July 11, 2023, Arlington, Va.
CYPHER, HARRY J. III, March 2, 1952, New York City, N.Y., to May 25, 2023, Anaheim, Calif.; graduated River Forest 1975. Served 1975-2010. Schools/Ministries: Chicago, Ill.; Garden Grove, Inglewood, Whittier, Calif. Retired 2010. Survivors: Gail Cypher; son: Michael. Funeral: June 24, 2023, Anaheim, Calif.; cremation.
DETERLING, LILLIAN MARIE (EIFERT), Aug. 12, 1931, Giddings, Texas, to May 26, 2023, Dallas, Texas; daughter of Erich and Alma (Hohle) Eifert; graduated River Forest 1955. Served 1973-1988. School/Ministry: Dallas, Texas. Retired 1988. Survivors: Delmar Deterling; son: Brian; daughters: Sheri, Marci Dittmer. Memorial Service: June 10, 2023, Dallas, Texas.
DICKHUNDT, ROBERT JOHN, July 27, 1935, St. Paul, Minn., to June 25, 2023, Dearborn Heights, Mich.; son of Walter and Alma (Thoele) Dickhudt; graduated Seward 1958. Served 1958-1997. Schools/Ministries: St. Paul, Minn.; Hong Kong; Saginaw, Guardian, Mich. Retired 1997. Survivors: Doris (Vrudny) Dickhudt; sons: David, Daryl, Dan; daughters: Janet, Karen Carrick. Funeral: June 30, 2023, Dearborn, Mich.
GOLDBECK, MAXINE EDITH (BERNHARDT), Dec. 27, 1925, Berwyn, Ill., to June 9, 2023, Orange, Calif.; daughter of Maximilian and Edith Bernhardt; graduated River Forest 1947. Served 1973-1988. School/Ministry: Orange, Calif. Retired 1988. Preceded in death by her husband George Goldbeck. Survivors: stepson: Dean; stepdaughter: Bonnie. Memorial Service: June 30, 2023, Orange, Calif.
KELL, MARY LEE (BRUBAKER), Nov. 9, 1941, Saginaw, Mich., to June 9, 2023, Midland, Mich.; daughter of Earl and Adell Brubaker; graduated River Forest 1963. Served 1973-2004. School/Ministry: Midland, Mich. Retired 2004. Survivors: Delmar Kell; son: David; daughters: Ruth Carlton, Janet Gyllenhammer, Lori Lewis. Funeral: June 15, 2023, Midland, Mich.
MURRAY, JAMI MARIE (CRUDDEN), Oct. 17, 1977, Alpena, Mich, to Dec. 4, 2022, St. Charles, Mo.; daughter of John and Karen (Wikaryasz) Crudden; colloquy 2012. Served 2012-2022. School/Ministry: St. Charles. Mo. Survivors: Jason Murray; son: Elliot; daughter: Allison. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 17, 2022, St. Charles, Mo.
OWSLEY, DONATA RUTH (HEIDNRICH HAUG), Jan. 30, 1939, Ottawa, Ill., to June 24, 2023, New Albany, Ind.; daughter of Harold and Herta (Oldsen) Heidenrich; graduated River Forest 1961. Served 1986-1991. School/Ministry: Lanesville, Ind. Retired 1995. Preceded in death by her husband Stewart Owsley. Survivors: daughters: Sabrina Haug, Spring Harris, Lara Kennedy, Holly Bernardi. Funeral: June 29, 2023, New Albany, Ind.; Interment: June 29, 2023, Leavenworth, Ind.
RUPPRECHT, PAUL EDMUND JR., March 24, 1934, Indianapolis, Ind., to May 31, 2023, Indianapolis, Ind.; son of Paul Sr. and Mildred Rupprecht; graduated Mequon 1996. Served 1995-2007. School/Ministry: Evansville, Ind. Retired 2007. Preceded in death by his wife Barbara Rupprecht. Survivors: Judith Rupprecht; sons: Paul III, Kip; stepsons: Richard Dunnuck Jr., Randall Dunnuck; stepdaughters: Debra Vandagriff, Deanna Dunnuck. Celebration of Life: June 26, 2023, Indianapolis, Ind.
