IN MEMORIAM (March 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
BECKER, DONALD HAROLD REV., July 16, 1943, Chicago, Ill., to Nov. 29, 2024, Gibbon, Neb.; son of Harold and Evelyn (Hanich) Becker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Burley, Idaho; Minden, Neb.; Retired 2014. Survivors: Sandra (Weitzel) Becker; daughters: Andrea Loya-Perez, Jennifer Hultquist, Heather. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 2, 2024, Minden, Neb.
BEHNKEN, KENNETH W. REV. DR., Sept. 10, 1938, Ft. Worth, Texas, to Nov. 14, 2024, Aurora, Ill.; son of Victor and Caroline (Hilscher) Behnken; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2004. Ministries/Parishes: Lubbock, Texas; Anaheim, Irvine, Calif.; Columbia Heights, Minn. Retired 2004. Survivors: Mildred (Schulz) Behnken; son: Timothy; daughter: Danelle Conrad. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 23, 2024, Yorkville, Ill.
FRANZMEIER, DAVID B. REV., Nov. 17, 1940, St. Paul, Minn., to Dec. 11, 2024, Sauk Rapids, Minn.; son of Arthur and Elma (Turpen) Franzmeier; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1968. Served 1968-2006, 2011-2020. Ministries/Parishes: DeWitt, Mich., Northrop, Fairmont, Sauk Rapids, Frazee, Cambridge, Pierz, Minn. Retired 2020. Preceded in death by his daughters Deirdre and Briana. Survivors: Linda (Kallsen) Franzmeier; son: Martin. Funeral: Jan. 3, 2025, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
HOEMANN, GERALD L. REV., Sept. 12, 1937, Canton, Kan., to Nov. 25, 2024, Blythe, Calif.; son of Rev. Albert and Ethel (Cuno) Hoemann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1963. Served 1963-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Healdsburg, San Diego, Blythe, Calif. Retired 2013. Survivors: Paula (Cude) Hoemann; sons: Michael Cude, Jesse Cude; daughters: Jill, Jodi Lucious, Katie Dobson; stepson: Paul Sommerfeld. Celebration of Life: Jan. 4, 2025, Blythe, Calif.
HOLTZ, ALAN EDWARD REV., July 27, 1932, Evansville, Ind., to Nov. 25, 2024, Altamont, Ill.; son of Edward and Huldah (Fellwock) Holtz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Cushing, Okla., Jersey City, N.J., Derby, El Dorado, Kan. Retired 1995. Funeral and Interment: Dec. 6, 2024, Evansville, Ind.
KOLB, PETER LOUIS REV., Jan. 8, 1951, Wood River, Ill., to Nov. 27, 2024, Dunedin, Fla.; son of Rev. Dr. Erwin and Bernice Kolb; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1985. Served 1985-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Seymour, Tenn.; St. Cloud, Dunedin, Fla. Retired 2015. Survivors: Mary (Fairchild) Kolb; son: Paul; daughter: Stacy. Celebration of Life: Feb. 1, 2025, Tarpon Springs, Fla.
KOLKMAN, ALLEN PATRICK REV. DR., March 17, 1951, Oxnard, Calif., to Nov. 30, 2024, Oceanside, Calif.; son of Kenneth and Osa Kolkman; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1977. Served 1977-2021. Ministries/Parishes: Granada Hills, Oceanside, Calif. Pacific Southwest District Circuit Visitor 2003-2012, 2014-2015. Retired 2021. Survivors: Deborah (Morrow) Kolkman; daughters: Kristine Champion, Amanda Cerny. Funeral: Dec. 14, 2024, Oceanside, Calif.
MALOTKY, ARDEN HERBERT REV., Feb. 12, 1928, Clintonville, Wis., to Sept. 20, 2024, Edina, Minn.; son of Rev. Herbert and Gertrude (Schulz) Malotky; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Rochester, Minnetonka, Minn. Retired 1991. Preceded in death by his wife Charlotte (Westberg) Malotky; Survivors: sons: Richard, John, Daniel; daughters: Catherine Engelstad, Janet Dietz, Mary Carlson.
MUELLER, MARTIN EDWARD REV., July 25, 1932, Waco, Texas, to Oct. 20, 2024, Oconomowoc, Wis.; son of Rev. Martin and Lorena (Schuhmann) Mueller; graduated St. Louis Seminiary 1957. Served 1957-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Belfield, Dickinson, N.D.; Neosho, Mo.; Broken Arrow, Okla.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Rochester, Minn. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his wife Judith (Fields) Mueller. Survivors: son: Timothy; daughters: Rebecca Schneiger, Elizabeth Paczynski. Memorial Service and Interment: Milwaukee, Wis.
PETERSON, JON DAVID REV., Sept. 25, 1935, Chisolm, Minn., to Nov. 27, 2024, El Cajon, Calif.; son of Rev. O. Kenneth and Marguerite Peterson; graduated Augustana Seminary 1963. Joined LCMS as emeritus 2009. Survivors: Constance (Van Tassel) Peterson; sons: Daniel, Andrew. Memorial Service: Jan. 11, 2025, La Mesa, Calif.
SCANSEN, JERRY PAUL, REV., July 21, 1935, Sioux City, Iowa, to Nov. 19, 2024, Ferndale, Wash.; son of Clarence Sr. and Evelyn (Venjum) Scansen; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1993. Served 1993-2000, 2003-2006. Ministries/Parishes: Seattle, Wash.; Salem, Eugene, Ore. Retired 2006. Survivors: Diane (Behme) Scansen; son: Steven; daughters: Laura Caldwell, Lisa Mellor; stepsons: Gary Grim Jr., Matthew Grim, Mark Grim, Adam Grim. Celebration of Life: Dec. 6, 2024, Bellingham, Wash.; Interment: Dec. 6, 2024, Ferndale, Wash.
SHEROUSE, MARION SAMUEL JR. REV., Sept. 14, 1951, Pensacola, Fla., to Nov. 14, 2024, Lisle, Ill.; son of Marion Sr. and Faye (Lewis) Sherouse; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1977. Served 1977-2024. Ministries/Parishes: Milwaukee, Wis.; Gaylord, Rogers City, Ortonville, Saginaw, Armada, Mich. Retired 2024. Preceded in death by his wife Beverly (Odren) Sherouse. Survivors: Celeste (Giles) Sherouse; son: Phillip; daughters: Jacalyn, Janelle Wilson, Tracilyn Hoffman, Marissa; stepchildren: Louis Giles, Betsy Glenn. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 26, 2024, Richmond, Mich.
TALBOT, MORTON PETER REV., May 9, 1932, New York, N.Y., to Nov. 1, 2024, Henderson, Nev.; son of Harry and Elsie (Reigher) Talbot; colloquy 2011. Joined LCMS as emeritus 2011. Survivors: Helen (Campbell) Talbot; sons: Peter, Andrew; daughter: Lydia Hallard. Funeral: Dec. 7, 2024, Henderson, Nev.
VIGGERS, DAVID KENNETH REV., Oct. 4, 1962, LaGrange, Ill., to Dec. 4, 2024, Odebolt, Iowa; son of Kenneth and Barbara (Dillberg) Viggers; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2016. Served 2016-2024. Ministry/Parish: Odebolt, Iowa. Survivors: Linda (Neff) Viggers; sons: Joshua, Rev. Zachary; daughter: Victoria Van Brunt. Funeral: Dec. 9, 2024, Odebolt, Iowa. Interment: Adel, Iowa.
WALSH, JEFFREY BRIAN REV., Dec. 1, 1956, Flint, Mich., to Nov. 21, 2024, Flint, Mich.; son of Robert and Norma (Maeder) Walsh; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1984. Served 1984-2020. Ministries/Parishes: Au Gres, Kilmanagh, Monroe, Flint, Mich. Michigan District Circuit Visitor 1994-1998. Retired 2020. Survivors: Joanne (Schempf) Walsh; son: Christopher; daughters: Rachel Brandon, Sarah Renkiewicz, Hannah. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 27, 2024, Flint, Mich.
YASPELKIS, BENEDICT BENJAMIN JR. REV., Feb. 22, 1938, Melrose Park, Ill., to Sept. 30, 2024, Ventura, Calif.; son of Benedict Sr. and Dorothea (Johnston) Yaspelkis; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-2009. Ministry/Parish: Ventura, Calif. Retired 2009. Survivors: Clare (Heinrich) Yaspelkis; son: Benedict III. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 16, 2024.
COMMISSIONED
DIFATTA, DAVID CHARLES, Aug. 15, 1946, Chicago, Ill., to Nov. 1, 2024, Warren, Mich.; son of Irene Campau; graduated Seward 1971. Served 1971-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Detroit, Warren, Mich. Retired 2006. Survivors: Connie (Chapin) Difatta; son: John; daughters: Abigail Schlie, Rebecca Efird. Funeral: Nov. 7, 2024, Warren, Mich.; Interment: Nov. 7, 2024, Holly Township, Mich.
EICHERT, LAWRENCE R., Sept. 28, 1940, Philadelphia, Pa., to May 28, 2024, Bradenton, Fla.; son of Philip and Anna Eichert; graduated River Forest 1966. Served 1988-2005. Ministry/Parish: Hong Kong. Retired 2005. Survivors: Carol (Piske-Hanneman); son: Erik; daughter: Kimberly Walsh. Memorial Service: June 7, 2024, Sarasota, Fla.
MEYER, LINDA ANN (KRAMER) DEAC., Aug. 12, 1942, to May 25, 2024; daughter of Rev. David and Julia (Trippel) Meyer; graduated River Forest 1990. Served 1990-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Steger, Beecher, Ill.; DeMotte, Ind. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by her husband Gerald Meyer. Survivors: son: Michael; daughters: Melanie, Michelle, Melissa. Funeral and Interment: June 1, 2024, Beecher, Ill.
