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
DIERKS, ROBERT ORVILLE JR., REV., Oct. 15, 1946, Chicago, Ill., to May 23, 2026, Lincoln, Neb.; son of Robert and Ann Dierks; colloquy 2019. Served 2019-2020. Ministry/Parish: Soda Springs, Idaho. Retired 2020. Survivors: Alison (Garland) Dierks; son: Robert; daughter: Jennifer. Celebration of Life: June 14, 2026, Waverly, Neb.
ENGEL, BRANT ALAN REV., Aug. 4, 1955, Royal Oak, Mich., to May 22, 2026, Hartland, Mich.; son of Gordon and Joyce (Bellhorn) Engel; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1985. Served 1985-1999, 2010-2026. Ministries/Parishes: Ashtabula, Ohio; Harper Woods, Detroit, Royal Oak, Flint, Mich. Survivors: Bonnie (Moran) Engel; sons: Gordon, Brandon; daughter: Meaghan Oprisiu; stepchildren: Joshua Cupp, Sara Cupp, Kayla Frost. Funeral: May 30, 2026, Flint, Mich.; Interment: June 1, 2026, Livonia, Mich.
EVERTSEN, THEODORE A. REV., May 30, 1935, White Plains, N.Y., to May 24, 2026, Augusta, Maine; son of Walter and Narissa (Taft) Evertsen; colloquy 1979. Served 1979-1985. Ministry/Parish: Waterville, Maine. Retired 2000. Survivors: Dorothy (Scheffel) Evertsen; son: Thomas; daughters: Laura Swain; Donna Roberts. Celebration of Life: June 27, 2026, Waterville, Maine.
GATZ, WILLIAM AUGUST REV., July 2, 1932, Port Edwards, Wis., to May 22, 2026, Jackson, Mich.; son of Avolt and Hannah (Johnson) Gatz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1961. Served 1961-1998, 2010-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Dashwood, Clarkson, Ontario, CANADA; Ashland, Wis.; Jackson, Adrian, Leslie, Mich. Michigan District Circuit Visitor 1986-1997. Retired 2012. Preceded in death by his wife Gertrude Gatz. Survivors: sons: William, Timothy, Peter; daughter: Lynne. Celebration of Life: May 30, 2026, Jackson, Mich.; Interment: June 1, 2026, Adrian, Mich.
GERKEN, HERBERT MARTIN REV., Oct. 27, 1940, Watseka, Ill., to May 31, 2026, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; son of Rev. Walter and Elizabeth (Hagemann) Gerken; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966. Served 1966-2006. Ministries/Parishes: Rockford, Ill.; New Haven, Ind. Indiana District Circuit Visitor 2000. Retired 2006. Survivors: Donna (Germann) Gerken; sons: Philip, Peter, Paul; daughters: Mary, Eve, Sarah Whiteside, Ruth Deckard, Anna Prindle, Miriam Davis. Funeral and Interment: June 10, 2026, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
HOLLAND, RICHARD ADDISON REV., May 9, 1934, Bonne Terre, Mo., to Jan. 30, 2026, Altamonte Springs, Fla.; son of William and Dorothy (Marbery) Holland; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1973, 1975-1982, 1985-1986. Ministries/Parishes: Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Bismarck, Ironton, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.; Labelle, Fla. Retired 1992.
HUSCHER, FREDERICK JAMES REV., June 13, 1935, Fremont, Neb., to May 16, 2026, Romoland, Calif.; son of John and Mary (Larsen) Huscher; graduated Springfield Seminary 1964. Served 1964-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Bend, Ore.; Seattle, Wash.; Riverside, Irvine, Calif. Retired 1998. Survivors: Ann (Settles) Huscher; sons: Christian, Curtis; daughters: Mari, Heidi. Celebration of Life: June 18, 2026, Temecula, Calif.; Interment: June 18, 2026, Riverside, Calif.
KAUTH, ROLAND CARL REV., May 30, 1935, Pasco, Wash., to Dec. 23, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.; son of Rev. Martin and Marie (Timme) Kauth; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-2000. Ministries/Parishes: NIGERIA, W. AFRICA; Gresham, Reedsport, Ore.; MANILA, PHILIPPINES; Fairbanks, Alaska; Bellevue, Wash. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his wife Leone (Zietlow) Kauth. Survivors: son: Joel; daughters: Paula Davis, Namoi Walsworth, Lisa Carlson. Memorial Service: Feb. 15, 2026, Casa Grande, Ariz.; Inurnment: Feb. 15, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
LAKSO, THOMAS E. REV., July 19, 1941, Painesville, Ohio, to June 7, 2026, Knoxville, Tenn.; son of Edwin and Ruthmae (Hilston) Lakso; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1983. Served 1983-2016. Ministries/Parishes: St. Louis, Mo.; West Memphis, Ulm, Ark.; Memphis, Tenn. Retired 2016. Survivors: Linda (Traylor) Lakso; son: Seth; daughter: Kirsten. Funeral: June 20, 2026, Knoxville, Tenn.
LUBKEMAN, AUGUST HERMAN, JR., REV., March 19, 1932, Ft. Wayne, Ind., to June 6, 2026, Bloomington, Ill.; son of August Sr. and Minnie (Schroeder) Lubkeman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1957. Served 1957-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Bloomington, Peoria, Chenoa, Lexington, Ill.; Bremerton, Wash. Northwest District Circuit Visitor 1990-1999. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his wife June (Raymond) Lubkeman; Survivors: sons: David, Timothy; daughter: Rebecca Fox. Memorial Service: June 16, 2026, Normal, Ill.; Interment: Chenoa Twp., Ill.
MEIER, RONALD WESLEY REV., May 3, 1931, Arlington Heights, Ill., to May 30, 2026, Oshkosh, Wis.; son of Raymond and Elta (Oltendorf) Meier; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1965-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Monticello, Ind.; Oshkosh, Wis. South Wisconsin District Second Vice-President. South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994, 2009. Survivors: JoAnn (Schulze) Meier; sons: Kurt, Rev. Mark, Todd; daughters: Melodie Hoenecke, Laura Giffin. Funeral and Interment: June 8, 2026, Oshkosh, Wis.
SCHIEFER, ELMER B. REV., Jan. 21, 1926, Vassar, Mich.; to May 17, 2026, Saginaw, Mich.; son of Edwin and Agnes (Block) Schiefer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1950. Served 1950-1951, 1958-1991. Ministries/Parishes: Plumas, McCreary, Manitoba, CANADA; Lone Elm, Bunceton, Mo.; St. Johns, Hemlock, Mich. Michigan District Circuit Visitor 1981-1982. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Bernice (Robinson) Schiefer. Survivors: sons: David, Christopher; daughters: Sandra Bailie, Deborah Lenz. Interment: Richville, Mich.
SCHROEDER, KENNETH O. REV., Jan. 7, 1943, N. Tonawanda, N.Y., to June 20, 2026; son of Rev. Theodore and Hattie (Klettke) Schroeder; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2002. Ministries/Parishes: Spring Lake, Mich.; Bartlett, Ill.; Napoleon, Ohio; Birch Run, Mich. Retired 2005. Survivors: Wilhelmina (Vandertol) Schroeder; sons: Joshua, Jeremy; daughters: Kristin Dittmar, Nicole Posada. Funeral: June 27, 2026, Frankenmuth, Mich.; Interment: Frankenmuth, Mich.
SEIDENSTRICKER, MICHAEL ROY REV., Sept. 23, 1947, St. Louis, Mo., to Feb. 11, 2026, Effingham, Ill.; son of Roy and Lee (Randolph) Seidenstricker; graduated St. Louis Seminary 2007. Served 2007-2016. Ministries/Parishes: Canton, Newton, Ill. Retired 2016. Preceded in death by his wife Carol (Hamm) Seidenstricker. Survivors: sons: Clinton, Jason. Funeral: Feb. 20, 2026, Decatur, Ill.; Interment: Feb. 20, 2026, Oakley, Ill.
SNYDER, WALTER PHILLIP REV., Jan. 16, 1957, Springfield, Ill., to June 1, 2026, Concordia, Mo.; son of Rev. Dr. Walter and Melba (Grossmann) Snyder; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1992. Served 1992-2009, 2018-2026. Ministries/Parishes: Woodville, Jasper, Texas; Emma, Slater, Mo. Survivors: Stephanie (Meyer) Snyder; daughters: Courtney Roberts, Laura. Funeral and Interment: June 6, 2026, Saline City, Mo.
COMMISSIONED
BARGEN, CHRISTINE ANN (KIEHL), July 15, 1954, St. Louis, Mo. to March 25, 2026, St. Charles, Mo.; daughter of Paul and Clara (Busboom) Kiehl; graduated Seward 1976. Served 1976-1987, 1992-2006. Schools/Ministries: St. Louis, Florissant, St. Charles, Mo. Retired 2019. Survivors: Alvin Bargen; son: Daniel; daughter: Jennifer Krueger. Funeral and Interment: April 1, 2026, St. Charles, Mo.
FEDERWITZ, VIRGINIA CLARA (TOPP), Aug. 5,1949, Eldora, Iowa, to Dec. 21, 2025, Clintonville, Wis.; daughter of Marlyn and Ruth (Kappelman) Topp; graduated Seward 1971. Served 1975-2006. School/Ministry: Clintonville, Wis. Retired 2006. Survivors: DuWayne Federwitz; sons: Dennis, Douglas; daughters: Denise Cesar, Dorie Daharsh, Darla Beckwith. Memorial Service: Jan. 2, 2026, Clintonville, Wis.; Inurnment: Larrabee, Wis.
GUNDLACH, KENNETH LYLE, Sept. 23, 1940, Milwaukee, Wis., to May 27, 2026, Sheboygan, Wis.; son of Ted and Emily (Rosenberg) Gundlach; graduated River Forest 1966. Served 1966-2007. Schools/Ministries: Kingston, N.Y.; West Bend, Sheboygan, Wis.; Wichita, Kan. Retired 2007. Survivors: Jerilynn (Templin) Gundlach; sons: Michael, Kevin, Jeremy; daughters: Lisa, Melissa, Jessica. Funeral: June 13, 2026, Sheboygan, Wis.
HODGSON JR., WILLIAM E., Feb. 10, 1950, Baltimore, Md., to Feb. 3, 2026, Phoenix, Ariz.; son of William and Alice Hodgson; graduated Seward 1972. Served 1972-2014. School/Ministry: Phoenix, Ariz. Retired 2014. Survivors: Leona Hodgson; son: Jeremy; daughter: Amy. Memorial Service: March 8, 2026, Phoenix, Ariz.
KRAMER, FREDERICK DONALD, Jan. 27, 1927, Faribault, Minn., to June 3, 2026, Vancouver, Wash.; graduated River Forest 1949. Served 1949-1993. Schools/Ministries: Peru, Ind.; Memphis, Tenn.; St. Louis, Mo.; Portland, Ore. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his wife Eunice (Wunrow) Kramer. Survivors: sons: Stephen, Tim, David; daughters: Debbie, Becky. Memorial Service: June 20, 2026, Portland, Ore.
KRINKE, ARLEN DALE, May 14, 1946, Mora, Minn., to June 16, 2026, Long Lake, Minn.; son of Victor and Mary Krinke; graduated St. Paul 1968. Served 1968-2008. Schools/Ministries: Ionia, Mich.; Elk River, Minn. Retired 2008. Survivors: Madelyn (Berulson) Krinke; daughters: Beth Kelly, Theresa Herbert, Anita Gramstad, Kathryn Flom, Deborah Heppner. Funeral: July 1, 2026, Plymouth, Minn.; Interment: July 1, 2026, Mora, Minn.
MCKINNON, MARGARET L. (LARSON), March 15, 1942, Fargo, N.D., to Dec. 2, 2025, Lake City, Minn.; daughter of Willard and Margaret (Saunders) Larson; colloquy River Forest 1988. Served 1988-2002. School/Ministry: Troy, Ill. Retired 2002. Survivors: Rex McKinnon; daughter: Victoria Frentz. Memorial Service: Dec. 9, 2025, Lake City, Minn.; Interment: Hot Springs, Ark.
SCHAUS, MARVIN WILLIAM, Aug. 6, 1934, Eagan, Minn., to April 20, 2026, Downey, Calif.; son of Arthur and Amelia (Pomrenke) Schaus; graduated Seward 1956. Served 1956-2002. Schools/Ministries: Los Angeles, Pomona, Downey, Calif.; Liberia, WEST AFRICA. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by his wife Shirley (Hendrikson) Schaus and son Timothy. Survivors: sons: Nathan, Jonathan. Memorial Service: May 12, 2026, Downey, Calif.
