IN MEMORIAM (August 2025)
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
BALFOUR, EDWARD JACK REV., Aug. 11, 1946, New Orleans, La., to April 2, 2025, Cape Elizabeth, Maine; son of Harry and Eleanor (Greenberg) Balfour; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1988. Served 1989-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Gorham, Maine. Retired 2012. Survivors: Marie (Reed) Balfour; son Brett. Funeral: April 10, 2025, Gorham, Maine; Interment: April 10, 2025, S. Portland, Maine.
BRUNS, PAUL CHARLES REV. DR., Oct. 11, 1938, Rockford, Ill., to Feb. 18, 2025, Rockford, Ill.; son of Ernest and Evelyn (Kelley) Bruns; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1965-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Nigeria, West Africa; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his daughter Lisa. Survivors: Ruby (Rakow) Bruns; son: Jeffrey; daughters: Pamela Stephanson, Paula Landdeck. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 24, 2025, Rockford, Ill.
FARAH, RONALD RUDA REV., Feb. 8, 1938, Flint, Mich., to April 21, 2025; son of George and Julia (Ody) Farah; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1979, 1982-2000, 2015-2018. Ministries/Parishes: Rochester, Eyota, Minn.; Tawas City, Birmingham, Mich. Retired 2018. English District Circuit Visitor 1991-1997. Survivors: Talitha (Scherer) Farah; sons: Andrew, Timothy, Christopher; daughters: Kristen, Erin Campbell. Funeral: April 26, 2025, Birmingham, Mich.
GARRELS, DENNIS EARL REV., Aug. 27, 1942, Detroit, Mich., to March 23, 2025, St. Louis, Mo.; son of Earl and Milda (Diefenbach) Garrels; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1978. Served 1978-1985, 2006-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Ft. Madison, Iowa; St. Louis, Mo.; South Gate, Calif. Retired 2015. Preceded in death by his wife Dale Patricia (Wooliver) Garrels. Survivor: daughter: Robin Wolfsberger. Memorial Service: April 26, 2025, St. Louis, Mo.
GRAY, BARTON CARLTON REV., Nov. 19, 1941, Battle Creek, Mich., to May 3, 2025, Lake St. Louis, Mo.; son of Richard and Gertrude (Reader) Gray; graduated Springfield Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Avon, Tyndall, S.D.; Marshall, St. Louis, Mo.; Pinconning, Rogers City, Mich. Retired 2003. Survivors: Laura (McCormick) Gray; sons: Paul, Timothy, John, Joel; daughter: Sarah Schlicker. Funeral and Interment: May 10, 2025, Wentzville, Mo.
GREENTHANER, EDWARD RICHARD REV., Oct. 1, 1933, Lockport, N.Y., to March 18, 2025, Killeen, Texas; son of Edward and Adeline (Karsten) Greenthaner; colloquy St. Louis Seminary 1987. Served 1987-1998. Ministries/Parishes: Wildwood, Mo.; Lariat, Texas. Retired 1998. Texas District Circuit Visitor 1993-1999. Survivors: Arlene (Schultz) Greenthaner; sons: Mark, David; daughter: Elizabeth Schultz. Funeral: March 21, 2025, Gatesville, Texas; Inurnment: Gatesville, Texas.
JENKS, KENNETH CHARLES REV., Oct. 13, 1937, Kalamazoo, Mich., to April 17, 2025, Simi Valley, Calif.; son of Keeny and Louise (Tilly) Jenks; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963. Served 1963-2006, 2016-2023. Ministries/Parishes: McClusky, Arena, Kongsberg, Gwinner, Stirum, Minot, N.D; St. Charles, Ill.; Canoga Park, San Jose, Granada Hills, Calif. Retired 2023. Preceded in death by his son Brian. Survivors: Judy (Laitinen) Jenks; sons: Jon, Rev. Todd, Rev. Tim; daughters: Amy Sauter, Betsy Burnham. Celebration of Life: May 24, 2025, Canoga Park, Calif.; Interment: May 24, 2025, Chatsworth, Calif.
KELLY, KENNETH DELWIN SR. REV., Sept. 7, 1933, Warren, Ohio, to April 14, 2025, Warren, Ohio; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1982. Served 1984-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Youngstown, Ohio. Retired 2017. Preceded in death by his wife Carol Kelly. Survivors: sons: Kenneth Jr., Martin, David, Andrew, Daniel, Steven, John; daughter: Lori Cypher. Funeral and Interment: April 22, 2025, Warren, Ohio.
KITZMANN, MERLE PHILIP REV., June 7, 1938, Elmore, Minn., to May 9, 2025, Mankato, Minn.; son of Rev. Otto and Priscilla Kitzmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1966-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Lewiston, Stockton, Mountain Lake, Mankato, Brownton, Minn. Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1991-1997. Retired 2004. Survivors: Lois (Sonderson) Kitzmann; son: John; daughter: Anne Taylor. Celebration of Life: June 21, 2025, Mankato, Minn.; Interment: Mankato, Minn.
KUEHNERT, PHILIP RUDOLPH REV. DR., March 18, 1944, St. Charles, Mo., to April 14, 2025, Williamsburg, Va.; son of Rev. Richard Sr. and Agnes (Mueller) Kuehnert; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1969. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Atlanta, Ga.; Fairbanks, Alaska. Retired 2010. English District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Preceded in death by his wife Judith (Wedig) Kuehnert. Survivors: son: Seth; daughters: Jill; Rachel Becke, Cynthia Bowen. Funeral: May 12, 2025, Williamsburg, Va.
LEGGETT, JAMES E. REV., Aug. 28, 1943, to April 3, 2025, Miami Shores, Fla., colloquy 2018. Served 2018-2025. Ministry/Parish: Fort Lauderdale. Survivors: Anna Leggett; daughter: Apryl Kirby. Funeral: April 14, 2025, Miami, Fla.
LUNICK, DONALD WILLIAM REV., March 25, 1936, Dundee, N.Y., to Jan. 27, 2025, Savannah, Ga.; son of Will and Ella (Weichenthal) Lunick; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1998. Ministries/Parishes: Pinckneyville, Ill.; Savannah, Ga.; Lubbock, Texas; Detroit, Mich. Retired 1998. Survivors: Barbara (Smith) Lunick; son: Kirk; daughter: Victoria Wieczorek Lunick. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 1, 2025, Savannah, Ga.
MESKE, RODNEY MYRON REV., April 21, 1948, Hazen, N.D., to April 12, 2025, Bennington, Neb.; son of Otto and Ida (Weidner) Meske; graduated Springfield Seminary 1974. Served 1974-2010. Ministries/Parishes: Cordova, Goehner, Hooper, Neb. Retired 2010. Nebraska District Circuit Visitor 1988-1994; 1997. Survivors: Alice (Rewald) Meske; son: Christopher; daughters: Natalie Stroud, Jennifer Robinson, Emily Panning. Funeral: April 22, 2025, Omaha, Neb.; Interment: Elkhorn, Neb.
MUELLER, JAMES LEE REV., Nov. 28, 1933, Sidney, Neb., to March 31, 2025, Yankton, S.D.; son of Franklin and Thekla (Gemeinhardt) Mueller; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1998. Ministries/Parishes: Norfolk, Va.; Madison, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Ft. Collins, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo. Southeastern District Circuit Visitor 1964-1966; Missouri District Circuit Visitor 1995-1997; South Dakota District Circuit Visitor 2009-2014. Preceded in death by his wife Ramona Mueller. Survivors: sons: David, Richard, Brian. Funeral: April 4, 2025, Yankton, S.D.; Interment: April 4, 2025, Tripp, S.D.
PATTEN, HOWARD JEROME REV., Sept. 6, 1935, Thief River Falls, Minn., to April 2, 2025, El Paso, Texas; son of Harvey and Alice (Parnow) Patten; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1962-2025. Ministries/Parishes: Johnston, Colo.; Decatur, Ga.; Conover, N.C.; Houston, El Paso, Texas; Topeka, Kan.; Angel Fire, Taos, N.M.; Kansas District President 1994-2003. Rocky Mountain District Circuit Visitor 2018-2021. Survivors: Marilyn (Geyer) Patten; son: Kirk; daughter: Alycia Zander. Memorial Service: June 13, 2025, El Paso, Texas.
RICHTER, ELDOR WILLIAM REV., Jan. 6, 1932, Lewiston, Minn., to May 4, 2025, Arlington Heights, Ill.; son of Herman and Augusta (Janzow) Richter; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Doraville, Ga.; Lake City, Minn.; Anita, Clinton, Iowa; St. Louis, Mo.; Arlington Heights, Ill. Missouri District Circuit Visitor 1985-1989. Retired 1997. Survivors: Mary (Nagy) Richter; daughters: Faith, Hope Chapman, Beth. Celebration of Life and Interment: May 17, 2025, Schaumburg, Ill.
TAGLAUER, JAMES R. REV., July 7, 1934, Frankenlust, Mich., to Feb. 14, 2025, Folsom, La.; son of Robert and Laura (Baiser) Taglauer; colloquy St. Louis Seminary 1974. Served 1974-1997. Ministries/Parishes: St. Louis, Mo.; New Orleans, La. Missouri District Circuit Visitor. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his son Robert. Survivors: Doris (Bauer) Taglauer; son: Brian; daughters: Kristi Nodurft, Julie, Lisa, Heidi Bowlsbey. Funeral: Feb. 18, 2025, Covington, La.; Interment: Feb. 23, 2025, Bay City, Mich.
VENZKE, RODGER RALAND REV., Feb. 24, 1937, Marshfield, Wis., to April 25, 2025, Phoenix, Ariz.; son of Emil and Gladys (Anderson) Venzke; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1961-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Frazee, Minn.; U.S. Army Chaplain; Williamsburg, Va.; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2004. Preceded in death by his wife Patricia (Lierman) Venzke. Survivors: son: Matthew; daughters: Kimberly McMillan, Lori Schleier. Memorial Service and Interment: June 2, 2025, St. Louis, Mo.
VOLZ, WALTER DAVID REV. DR., July 13, 1936, Faribault, Minn., to March 10, 2025, Plantation, Fla.; son of Rev. Oswald and Louise (Werling) Volz; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1961-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Aiken, S.C.; Raleigh, N.C.; Plantation, Fla. Retired 2001. Southeastern District Circuit Visitor; Florida Georgia District Circuit Visitor. Survivors: Gloria (Kuhlmann) Volz; son: David; daughter: Kristin Iannarone. Funeral: March 29, 2025, Plantation; Interment: March 31, 2025, Lake Worth, Fla.
WELSH, KENNETH WOODROW REV., Sept. 22, 1941, Cleveland, Ohio, to May 5, 2025, Chesterland, Ohio; son of Edward Welsh and Eileen (McVey) Moyer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2009. Served 2009-2019. Ministry/Parish: Chesterland, Ohio. Retired 2019. Survivors: Jean Gay (Crossley) Welsh; sons: Randal, Kelly; daughter: Carilee Moran. Memorial Service: May 16, 2025, Chesterland, Ohio. Interment: Chesterland, Ohio.
COMMISSIONED
BACHMANN, LORI LYNNE DCE., Jan. 19, 1957, Gary, Ind., to Dec. 14, 2024, Brownsville, Texas; daughter of William and Puff (Younkes) Bachmann; graduated Seward 1981. Served 1981-2007. Schools/Ministries: Wausau, Wis.; Austin, Brownsville, Texas; Orlando, Fla. Retired 2007. Funeral: Dec. 20, 2024, Brownsville, Texas; Celebration of Life: Feb. 22, 2025, Harlingen, Texas.
FUCHS, JUDITH MARIE, Aug. 1, 1966, Berkeley Springs, W. Va., to Dec. 16, 2024, Plymouth, Wis.; daughter of John and Jean (Higgins) Fuchs; colloquy Austin 1997. Served 1997-2024. Schools/Ministries: San Antonio, Texas; Jackson, Mo.; Sheboygan, Wis. Funeral: Dec. 21, 2024, Plymouth, Wis; Interment: Plymouth, Wis.
KEOGH, KATHRYN ANN (LUECK), July 8, 1952, Deerwood, Minn., to April 12, 2025, Minneapolis, Minn.; daughter of Wilbur and Lois Lueck; graduated St. Paul 1974. Served 2002-2005. School/Ministry: Lacey, Wa. Retired 2009. Survivors: Rev. Charles Keogh; son: Shane; daughters: Sarah Meier, Erin, Kari. Interment: April 21, 2025, Minneapolis, Minn.
KUFAHL, JUDITH ANN (SCHULT), Aug. 28, 1945, Wausau, Wis., to April 2, 2025, Wausau, Wis.; daughter of Reuben and Mildred (Maaser) Schult; graduated River Forest 1969. Served 2005-2011. School/Ministry: Wausau, Wis. Retired 2011. Survivors: Elmer Kufahl; son: Rev. Peter; daughter Angela Raasch. Funeral: April 10, 2025, Wausau, Wis; Interment: April 10, 2025, Town of Maine, Wis.
MAHNKE, GLENN RONALD, Oct. 16, 1946, Milwaukee, Wis., to April 24, 2025, Naperville, Ill.; son of Raymond and Leona (Baerman) Mahnke; graduated River Forest 1969. Served 1969-2009. Schools/Ministries: Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Wis.; Dallas, Texas; Marengo, Ill. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by his wife Marie. Survivors: daughters: Joy Frieling, Liesl Christle, Gretchen Vespo, Amanda. Funeral: May 16, 2025, Elgin, Ill.
PREUSS, WILLIAM JOHN, Nov. 6, 1931, Madison, Neb., to April 15, 2025, Seward, Neb.; son of William and Olga (Meisinger) Preuss; graduated Seward 1959. Served 1960-1973, 1982-2003. Schools/Ministries: Staplehurst, Seward, Neb. Retired 2003. Survivors: Judy (Walter) Preuss; sons: Timothy, Michael; daughters: Ann Van Loenen, Rachel Hoyer. Funeral and Interment: April 28, 2025, Seward, Neb.
SMITH, BURGE CARMON, July 8, 1934, Adrian, Mich., to Jan. 9, 2025, Georgetown, Texas; son of Elmer and Erna (Schmidt) Smith; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1958-1996. Schools/Ministries: Kerrville, San Antonio, Austin, Texas; Ocala, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Fla.; Detroit, Mich.; Salt Lake City, Utah. Retired 1996. Survivors: Beverly (Secor) Smith; sons: Stephen, Clinton; daughter: Crystal Boon. Memorial Service: Jan. 23, 2025, Georgetown, Texas.
TIMKEN, GAYLE LAVERNE, March 15, 1941, Olive, Calif., to May 29, 2024, Carson City, Nev.; daughter of Walter and Alma (Lemke) Timken; graduated Seward 1963. Served 1973-2009. Schools/Ministries: Orange, Ontario, Irvine, Vista, Calif; HONG KONG. Retired 2009. Memorial Service: July 13, 2024, Orange, Calif.
TIMMERMAN, BERNICE IRENE (PANKOW), Sept. 20, 1932, Hankinson, N.D., to Oct. 25, 2024, Brighton, Colo.; daughter of Fred and Anna (Hubrig) Timmerman; graduated Seward 1981. Served 1981-1994. School/Ministry: Brighton, Colo. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by her husband Willard Timmerman. Survivors: son: Michael; daughters: Karla Heerssen, Amy Heasty. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 13, 2024, Brighton, Colo.
TRINKLEIN, REBECCA MARIE, April 16, 1954, Saginaw, Mich., to March 27, 2025, Bay City, Mich.; daughter of Victor and Marguerite (Weiss) Trinklein; graduated River Forest 1976. Served 1976-2006. Schools/Ministries: Edgerton, Wis.; Bay City, Mich. Retired 2014. Memorial Service: April 22, 2025, Bay City, Mich; Interment: Frankenmuth, Mich.
