In Memoriam (February 2025)

IN MEMORIAM (February 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

AURICH, LEONARD HENRY REV., Jan. 16, 1930, Potter, Neb., to Oct. 22, 2024, Dubuque, Iowa.; son of Edwin and Martha (Pagels) Aurich; graduated Springfield Seminary 1957.  Served 1957-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Schuyler, Neb.; Williamsburg, Iowa; Perryville, Independence, Mo. N. Nebraska District Circuit Visitor 1964-1966; Missouri District Circuit Visitor 1990-1992. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wives Ruth (Ehlen) Aurich and Dorotha (Wingate) Aurich. Survivors: sons: Lawrence, Dean; daughters: Charlene Heins, Kathleen Kramer, Deborah Schmidt, Janice Brooks.  Funeral: Oct. 28, 2024, Dubuque, Iowa; Interment: Oct. 30, 2024, Concordia, Mo.

BURCE, WILLARD LEWIS REV. DR., Feb. 9, 1924, Marshall, Mich., to Oct. 4, 2024, Eau Claire, Wis.; son of Charles and Alma (Knudtson) Burce; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1947.  Served 1948-1990.  Ministry/Parish: New Guinea. Retired 1990.  Preceded in death by his wife Elinor (Dicke) Burce and son Charles.  Survivors: sons: Gregory, Jerome; daughters: Amy, Mary Warlick, Juliana Tanning, Carrie Koehn.  Funeral and Interment: Nov. 15, 2024, Eau Claire, Wis.

DAVIS, CHRISTOPHER M. REV., Nov. 18, 1973, Mt. Clemens, Mich., to Oct. 22, 2024, Batavia, Ill.; son of Terry and Connie (Dech) Davis; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2000.  Served 2000-2022.  Ministries/Parishes: Federal Way, Wash.; Batavia, Ill. Retired 2023.  Survivors: Heather (McKeller) Davis; son: Eli; daughter: Rose. Funeral: Nov. 26, 2024, Batavia, Ill.

FITZPATRICK, ROBERT LEE REV., March 28, 1944, Pittsburgh, Pa., to Nov. 21, 2024, N. Ridgeville, Ohio; son of Robert and Fern (Riggs) Fitzpatrick; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2010. Ministries/Parishes: Palmer, Neb.; N. Olmsted, Ohio; Farmington, Mich.; Elmhurst, Ill. English District Circuit Visitor 1985-1998. Retired 2010. Survivors: Janet (Stocker) Fitzpatrick; son: Timothy; daughter: Christina. Memorial Service: Nov. 30, 2024, N. Olmsted, Ohio.

FOELBER, PAUL FREDERICK REV. DR., June 11, 1926, Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Oct. 1, 2024, Falls Church, Va.; son of Rev. Elmer and Esther (Hinners) Foelber; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1950. Served 1950-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Seward, Neb.; Silver Spring, Md.; Winfield, Kan.; Ann Arbor, Mich; Austin, Texas. Retired 1992.  Survivors: Dorthea (Gerken) Foelber; sons: Richard, Steven; daughters: Ann, Maureen. Funeral: Feb. 8, 2025, Oviedo, Fla.

HILL, ARTHUR LEE REV., Aug. 27, 1954, Odessa, Texas, to Oct. 23, 2024, Tyler, Texas; son of Lonnie and Irene (Handrick) Hill; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1982. Served 1982-2020. Ministries/Parishes: Centerville, Crockett, Pampa, Tyler, Texas; Fremont, Neb. Texas District Circuit Visitor 1991-1996. Retired 2020. Preceded in death by his wife Kim and son Andrew. Survivor: son: Nathan. Memorial Service: Nov. 16, 2024, Tyler, Texas.

HINES, ROBERT DALBERT REV., April 12, 1954, Howell, Mich., to Nov. 4, 2024, N. Mankato, Minn.; son of William and Melba (Bellaire) Hines; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1989. Served 1989-2004, 2012-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Charter Oak, Ricketts, Iowa; New Ulm, Henderson, Minn.; Pierre, S.D. Retired 2019. Survivors: Anna (Caterino) Hines; sons: David, Stephen; daughters: Sarah Allen, Jennifer Schmadeke.  Celebration of Life: Nov. 8, 2024, Mankato, Minn.

HOFMAN, DONNIE ALAN REV., Sept. 13, 1947, Imperial, Neb., to Oct. 26, 2024, Newland, N.C.; son of Walter and Elsie (Gruber) Hofman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1989. Served 1989-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Nortonville, Marysville, Kan.; Retired 2014. Survivors: Amy (Rullman) Hofman; sons: William, Benjamin, Stuart, John. Funeral: Summer 2025, Linville, N.C.

INGMIRE, RICHARD LEE REV., Jan. 29, 1940, Perry, Okla., to Nov. 5, 2024, Columbia, Mo.; son of Forrest and Helen (Hollister) Ingmire; graduated Springfield Seminary 1966. Served 1966-1977, 1984-2005.  Ministries/Parishes: Quincy, Ill.; Oakmont, Pa.; Hannibal, Mo.; Retired 2005. Survivors: Hannah (Hollister) Ingmire; son: Richard II; daughter: Ann Baker. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 9, 2024, Columbia, Mo.

LEHMANN, CARL ALAN REV., Aug. 11, 1950, Lewistown, Mont., to Oct. 4, 2024, Lewistown, Mont.; son of Rudolph and Constance (Nelson) Lehmann; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1995. Served 1995-2010. Ministry/Parish: Hooper, Neb.; Retired 2015. Memorial Service and Interment: Nov. 1, 2024, Lewistown, Mont.

OKWIR, JACOB PAULINO REV., May 1, 1954, Juba, Sudan, to Oct. 26, 2024, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Paulino and Margaret (Aketo) Angaya; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2016. Served 2016-2017. Ministry/Parish: Baltimore, Md.; Retired 2017. Survivors: Julia (Akelo Amon) Okwir; sons: David, Frederick, John; daughters: Diana, Sarah, Namoi, Charity. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 16, 2024, Lincoln, Neb.

POOVEY, DAVID LESTER REV., Nov. 7, 1942, Hickory, N.C., to Oct. 7, 2024, Prineville, Ore.; son of R.F. and Charlotte (Deal) Poovey; colloquy Ft. Wayne Seminary 1980. Served 1980-2010, 2013-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Wolf Point, Glasgow, Glendive, Fallon, Billings, Mont.; Rupert, Salmon, Idaho; Redmond, Ore. Montana District Circuit Visitor 1988-1994. Retired 2017. Preceded in death by his wife Dehlia (Morales) Poovey. Survivors: son: Shawn; daughter: Serena. Funeral: Oct. 20, 2024.

SCHAMEHORN, PHILIP JOHN REV. DR., Dec. 3, 1937, Detroit, Mich., to Nov. 17. 2024, Huntertown, Ind.; son of Philip and Julia (Rector) Schamehorn; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1985. Served 1985-1994, 1996-2008. Ministries/Parishes: San Antonio, Mineral Wells, Texas; St. Joseph, Mich.; Huntertown, Ligonier, Ind.; Retired 2016. Preceded in death by his daughter Julia Foreman. Survivors: Martha Schamehorn; son: Philip; daughters: Carolyn Siefert, Martha McCool-Solis. Funeral: Nov. 23, 2024, Huntertown, Ind.; Interment: Nov. 23, 2024, Churubusco, Ind.

SKOV, RICHARD HENRY REV., Aug. 31, 1932, Brooklyn, N.Y., to Nov. 5, 2024, Waterford, Conn.; son of Rev. Bunde and Emma (Mueller) Skov; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Foster, Neb.; Astoria, N.Y.; E. Lyme, Conn.; Retired 1999. Survivors: Sherlene (Reikofski) Skov; son: Richard; daughters: Sherri, Kari. Funeral: Nov. 17, 2024, Niantic, Conn.

SMITH, GREGORY KENT REV., Feb. 8, 1949, Decatur, Ill., to Oct. 14, 2024, St. Louis, Mo.; son of John and Lela Smith; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1975. Served 1975-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Bunker Hill, Ill.; St. Louis, Affton, Mo.; Retired 2014. Survivors: Alayne (Yock) Smith; son: Philip; daughter: Melinda. Celebration of Life: Nov. 4, 2024, St. Louis, Mo.

SPRENGELER, ERVIN CARL REV., May 5, 1937, Green Isle, Minn., to Oct. 8, 2024, Whitehall, Mont.; son of Arthur and Dorothea (Renken) Sprengeler; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1970, 1982-2000, 2002-2012.  Ministries/Parishes: Cranbrook, Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada; Spokane, Wash.; Tillamook, Ore.; Green Isle, Minn. Retired 2016. Survivors: Glorian (Stuedemann) Sprengeler; sons: Paul, Jeremy; daughters: Elizabeth, Mary Lou, Rebecca, Angela, Joy. Celebration of Life: Nov. 9, 2024, Whitehall, Mont.

TROXEL, LAWRENCE D. REV., Aug. 20, 1944, Bloomington, Ill., to Nov. 15, 2024, Des Moines, Iowa; son of Donald and Mary (McQuown) Troxel; graduated Springfield Seminary 1970. Served 1970-2009, 2011-2018.  Ministries/Parishes: Sioux City, Creston, Iowa; Painesville, Ohio; Quincy, Bowen, Ill. Central Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1993-1997. Retired 2018.  Survivors: Donna (Behrens) Troxel; sons: Christopher, Marc; daughters: Suzanne, Heather Feinstein. Funeral: Nov. 26, 2024, Johnston, Iowa; Interment: Ft. Dodge, Iowa.

WILLIAMS, DONALD HAMMOND REV., Feb. 14, 1939, Baltimore, Md., to Nov. 13, 2024, Valparaiso, Ind.; son of Harry and Doris (Hammond) Williams; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Florence, S.C.; Valparaiso, Ind. Indiana District Circuit Visitor 2012. Retired 2004. Survivors: Lorna (Engel) Williams; son: Stephen; daughters: Elizabeth Chatwell, Katherine Dean. Memorial Service and Interment: Nov. 30, 2024, Valparaiso, Ind.

COMMISSIONED

BOERGER, MARK STEPHEN, June 25, 1952, Wharton, Texas, to Oct. 4, 2024, Austin, Texas; son of John and Margaret (Arndt) Boerger; graduated Seward 2011.  Served 2011-2019.  School/Ministry: Austin, Texas.  Retired 2019.  Survivors: Carolyn (Doering) Boerger; daughters: Elizabeth Bernhardt, Mary Suelzle.  Funeral: Oct. 14, 2024, Austin, Texas; Interment: Oct. 14, 2024, Manchaca, Texas.

BRUTLAG, MARLIN JOHN, Aug. 9, 1934, Henning, Minn., to Aug. 28, 2024, Fergus Falls, Minn.; son of Albert and Margaret (Albrecht) Brutlag; graduated River Forest 1956.  Served 1956-1996.  Schools/Ministries: Fraser, Richmond, Mich.  Retired 1996.  Preceded in death by his wife Carol (Scheimann) Brutlag.  Survivors: son: Steve; daughter: Maggi Beyer.  Funeral: Sept. 6, 2024, Ottertail, Minn.

GROLL, DAVID HAROLD, March 14, 1937, Napoleon, Ohio, to July 29, 2024, Kalamazoo, Mich.; son of Harold and Iva (Reed) Groll; graduated River Forest 1961.  Served 1961-2000.  Schools/Ministries: Toledo, Ohio; Oxnard, Calif.; Geneseo, Ill.; Harbor Beach, Birch Run, Mich.  Retired 2000.  Survivors: Arlene (Stillings) Groll; son: Daniel; daughter: Amye Decker.  Memorial Service: Aug. 2, 2024, Portage, Mich.; Interment: Comstock, Mich.

HUEBSCHMAN, DOROTHEA ELSIE (KOEPP), Oct. 20, 1940, Chicago, Ill., to Oct. 29, 2024, Seward, Neb.; daughter of Herb and Ella Koepp; graduated Seward 1962.  Served 1984-1998.  School/Ministry: Seward, Neb. Retired 2003.  Survivors: Ray Huebschman; sons: Tim, Jeff; daughter: Kathy McDonald.  Funeral: Nov. 30, 2024, Seward, Neb.; Interment: Seward, Neb.

JACKE, ROBERT J., Aug. 30, 1938, Louisville, Ky., to April 28, 2024, Vancouver, Wash.; graduated River Forest 1961.  Served 1961-1999.  Schools/Ministries: Melrose Park, Ill; Portland, Ore.  Retired 1999.  Survivor: Darlene (Pomerenk) Jacke.

ROSKAVICH, ELOISE MIRIAM (HEDEMANN), May 25, 1937, Sylvan Grove, Kan., to Sept. 19, 2024, Rowlett, Texas; daughter of Edward and Julietta Hedemann; graduated Seward 1959.  Served 1974-1999.  Schools/Ministries: Las Vegas, N.V.; Dallas, Garland, Plano, Texas.  Retired 1999.  Preceded in death by her husband Robert Roskavich. Survivors: daughters: Annette Entwistle; Janelle Thompson.  Memorial Service: Nov. 23, 2024, Rockwall, Texas.

STRESMAN, SHIRLEY MARIE (KOEPPEN), July 11, 1935, Saginaw, Mich., to Nov. 20, 2024, Bay City, Mich.; daughter of William and Emilie (Heinrich) Koeppen; colloquy Ann Arbor 1985.  Served: 1985-1993.  School/Ministry: Monroe, Mich. Retired 2004.  Survivors: Kenneth Stresman; son: Kevin; daughters: Shelly Worden, Lori Farnum.  Funeral and Interment: Nov. 25, 2024, Hemlock, Mich.