IN MEMORIAM (September 2026)
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
GEBAUER, ETHAN C. REV., April 24, 1942, St. Louis, Mo., to June 9, 2026, Susanville, Calif.; son of Egon and Dorothy (Zacher) Gebauer; graduated Springfield Seminary 1969. Served 1969-1983, 1984-1987, 1989-2001. Ministries/Parishes: Palmdale, Whitter, Porterville, Pacifica, Susanville, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev. Southern California District Circuit Visitor 1978-1984. Retired 2009. Survivors: Kathleen (Buchanan) Gebauer; sons: Ethan II, Timothy; daughters: Rachel Tieman, Sara. Memorial Service: July 10, 2026, Susanville, Calif.
KUSEL, RONALD JULIUS REV. DR., Aug. 25, 1938, Fullerton, Calif., to June 28, 2026, Long Beach, Calif.; son of Julius and Dorathy (Schierloh) Kusel; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2003, 2006-2008, 2011-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Lake Elsinore, Fullerton, Long Beach, Riverside, Rancho Palos Verdes, Orange, Calif. Southern California District Circuit Visitor 1983-1985. Retired 2014. Survivors: Ruth (Mueller) Kusel; sons: John, Mark, Peter. Memorial Service: July 31, 2026, Long Beach, Calif. Interment: July 13, 2026, Cypress, Calif.
MILLER, DAVID PAUL REV., July 6, 1941, Chicago, Ill., to July 13, 2026, Bonduel, Wis.; son of Fritz and Dorothy (White) Miller; colloquy Ft. Wayne Seminary 1991. Served 1991-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Bonduel, Cecil, Wis. North Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1994-1998, 2009-2018. Retired 2009. Survivors: Joyce (Billman) Miller; daughters: Brighid Rose, Keri Whitmore. Funeral and Interment: July 18, 2026, Bonduel, Wis.
RADTKE, THOMAS GLENN REV. DR., Feb. 19, 1947, Chicago, Ill., to July 10, 2026, Springfield, Ill.; son of Glenn and Vernelle (Wollenberg) Radtke; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1978. Served 1978-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Coal Valley, Springfield, Ill. Central Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1997. Retired 2012. Survivors: Carol (Leimkuehler) Radtke; sons: Bryan, Brent, Braden. Funeral: July 19, 2026, Springfield, Ill.; Interment: July 19, 2026.
RINDERKNECHT, DANIEL WAYNE REV., Oct. 15, 1954, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to June 22, 2026, Billings, Mont.; son of Donald and Betty (Birky) Rinderknecht; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1983. Served 2003-2023. Ministry/Parish: Billings, Mont. Retired 2023. Survivors: Cathryn (Schiefelbein) Rinderknecht; son: Luke; daughters: Kessie, Holly, Ditza. Funeral: July 2, 2026, Billings, Mont.; Interment: July 2, 2026.
SHUMATE, JOHN ARNOLD REV., March 22, 1949, Grand Rapids, Mich., to June 14, 2026, Beach Park, Ill.; son of John and Dorothy (Tetzlaff) Shumate; graduated Springfield Seminary 1976. Served 1976-2026. Ministries/Parishes: Easton, Wells, Minn.; Waukegan, Lake Forest, Ill. Northern Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1982-1988, 2015-2018. Survivors: Loretta (Wendt) Shumate; son: Timothy; daughters: Wendy Shumate-Wisinski, Heidi Gonzales. Funeral: June 19, 2026, Lake Forest, Ill.; Interment: June 19, 2026, Zion, Ill.
SUSAN, DAVID JOSEPH REV., Oct. 7, 1945, Quantico, Va., to July 6, 2026, Madison, Wis.; son of Frank and Edith (Levine) Susan; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1971. Served 1972-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Courtland Township, Minn.; KOREA; Madison, Wis. Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor. South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1998-2000. Retired 2005. Survivors: Shirley (Love) Susan; son: Mark; daughters: Rebecca, Michelle. Memorial Service: Aug. 30, 2026, Madison, Wis.; Interment: Aug. 31, 2026, Marquette, Mich.
TURNER, WALLACE BARRY REV. DR., April 11, 1936, Pontiac, Mich., to May 9, 2026, San Diego, Calif.; son of Charles and Aletha (Moon) Turner; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Summitview, Wash.; U.S. Navy Chaplain; Chula Vista, Calif. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his daughter Susan. Survivors: Beverly (Bogart) Turner; sons: Daniel, Brian. Memorial Service: May 23, 2026, La Mesa, Calif.; Interment: May 21, 2026, Riverside, Calif.
COMMISSIONED
DROEGE, ELEANOR ELISABETH (BADEN), Sept. 18, 1929, Cheyenne, Wyo., to May 6, 2026, Rockville, Md.; daughter of Walter and Alma (Brommer) Baden; graduated River Forest 1954. Served 1974-1985. School/Ministry: Hyattsville, Md. Retired 1985. Survivors: Robert Droege; sons: Sam, Ken, Phil; daughter: Ann. Funeral: Aug. 8, 2026, Rockville, Md.
HOFFMAN, CRAIG CULVER, Oct. 13, 1939, Shawano, Wis., to March 22, 2026, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Lawrence and Erma (Siebert) Hoffman; graduated Seward 1961. Served 1961-1998. Schools/Ministries: Itasca, Ill.; Ft. Wayne, Ind. Retired 1998. Survivors: Janice (Rieke) Hoffman; sons: Lance, Eric, Trent. Funeral and Interment: April 9, 2026; Ft. Wayne, Ind.
KASTEN, RONALD LEE, Dec. 30, 1935, Centralia, Ill., to March 13, 2026, Washington, Mo.; son of Albert and Edna (Holle) Kasten; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1958-2004. Schools/Ministries: Albany, N.Y.; Overland, Mo.; Hales Corner, Wis.; Green Valley, Ariz. Retired 2004. Survivors: Lois (Grotelueschen) Kasten; son: Nathan; daughters: Lenore Berlinski, Claire Knehans. Funeral and Interment: April 17, 2026, Washington, Mo.
KUSCHNEREIT, GARY JOHN, April 19, 1950, Oklahoma City, Okla., to June 3, 2026, Midwest City, Okla.; son of John and Bessie (Byrom) Kuschnereit; graduated Seward 1972. Served 1972-2016. Schools/Ministries: Burbank, Calif.; Midwest City, Okla. Retired 2016. Celebration of Life: June 12, 2026, Midwest City, Okla.; cremation.
MUELLER, ROLAND M. DR., June 16, 1929, Athens, Wis., to June 15, 2026, Winfield, Kan.; son of Arthur and Mathilda (Engebrecht) Mueller; graduated River Forest 1951. Served 1951-1994. Schools/Ministries: River Grove, Ill.; Breeley, Colo.; Winfield, Kan.; Irvine, Calif. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Norma (Volz) Mueller. Survivors: Donna (Seeliger) Mueller; son: John; daughter: Karen; stepsons: Mark Seeliger, Mike Seeliger; stepdaughter: Carlene Benscoter. Funeral and Interment: June 18, 2026, Winfield, Kan.
VOELKER, FRANKLIN AUGUST, March 27, 1938, Mason, Ill., to July 4, 2026, Maryville, Ill.; son of Reinhardt and Caroline (Alwardt) Voelker; graduated River Forest 1962. Served 1962-1984,1987-1997. Schools/Ministries: Milwaukee, Wis.; Auburn, Mich.; St. Louis, Mo.; Troy, Collinsville, Ill. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his son Dean. Survivors: Carolyn (Lichtenwaald) Voelker; son: Deric; daughter: Dawn Bristow. Funeral and Interment: July 11, 2026, Collinsville, Ill.
