In Memoriam (December 2025)

IN MEMORIAM (December 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

ARDY, JOSEPH MICHAEL REV., Sept. 27, 1951, Cleveland, Ohio, to Sept. 2, 2025, Midlothian, Texas; son of Joseph and Evelyn (Urban) Ardy; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1991. Served 1991-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Malone, Cleburne, Texas. Retired 2019. Survivor: Karen Ardy. Funeral: Sept. 13, 2025, Mansfield, Texas.

DEROSA, RUDY ALLEN REV., Dec. 21, 1958, Mineola, N.Y., to Sept. 19, 2025, Jamestown, N.C.; son of Anthony and Wilma (Birli) DeRosa; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1993. Served 1993-2006, 2013-2021. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Dayton, Iowa; Mt. Pocono, Pa.; Conover, N.C. Retired 2021. Survivors: Mary (Norton) DeRosa. Memorial Service: Sept. 27, 2025, Greensboro, N.C.

GRIESER, WILFRED JOHN REV., Aug. 23, 1934, Hamburg, Wis.; to June 3, 2025, Cambridge, Wis.; son of John and Martha (Langhoff) Grieser; graduated Springfield Seminary 1962. Served 1962-1971, 1981-2009. Ministries/Parishes: PHILIPPINES; Edgerton, Town Center, Wis. South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 1985-1988. Retired 2009. Survivors: Karen (Thoma) Grieser; son: Timothy; daughters: Judith Wohlleber, Rebecca Deckert, Chrisine Spier. Funeral: June 20, 2025, Janesville, Wis.; Interment: June 21, 2025, New London, Wis.

LITTLE, DONALD GEORGE REV., May 4, 1946, Newton, N.C., to Aug. 30, 2025, Morganton, N.C.; son of Herman Little and Mary (Bass) Little Price; graduated Springfield Seminary 1973. Served 1973-2008, 2013-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Plant City, Fla.; Dallas, Abilene, Texas; Metairie, La. Florida-Georgia District Circuit Visitor 1983-1988. Retired 2015. Survivors: Karen (Kiessling) Little; son: Jon; daughters: Jennifer Johnson, Sheri Bansemer. Memorial Service: Sept. 6, 2025, Marion, N.C.; Interment: Sept. 6, 2025, Prospect Hill, N.C.

MATASOVSKY, DANIEL VERNON REV., April 28, 1935, Jackson, Minn., to Sept. 12, 2025, Maplewood, Minn.; son of Mike and Helen (Rients) Matasovsky; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1968-2006. Ministries/Parishes: Amarillo, Texas; Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Retired 2006. Survivors: Mary (Mosbacher) Matasovsky; sons: James, John, Paul; daughter: Michelle Dziemer. Memorial Service: Sept. 19, 2025, Woodbury, Minn.

MUNOZ, ROBERTO REV., Aug. 22, 1951, Unterensingen, GERMANY, to April 17, 2025, St. Catharines, Ontario, CANADA; son of José and Marta (Probst) Munoz; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1980. Served 1980-1983, 1988-2000, 2006-2025. Ministries/Parishes: Gowanstown, Mt. Forest, Synder, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Putnam Valley, Hasting-on-Hudson, N.Y. Survivors: Jill (Russ) Munoz; sons: Miquel, Manuel, Martin; daughters: Maria, Marla Palmer. Funeral and Interment: May 10, 2025, St. Catharines, Ontario, CANADA.

SCHNEIDER, EDWARD LOUIS REV., July 25, 1924, Priddy, Texas, to Sept. 9, 2025, San Antonio, Texas; son of Emil and Eleanor (Riewe) Schneider; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1949. Served 1949-1990. Ministries/Parishes: Webster Groves, Mo.; U.S. Air Force Chaplain; San Antonio, Texas; Camarillo, Calif. Retired 1990. Preceded in death by his wife Eunice (Dierker) Schneider. Survivors: sons: Edward, David, Timothy; daughters: Mary, Ellen Saulnier. Funeral: Nov. 10, 2025, San Antonio, Texas; cremation.

SCHULER, ROBERT DEAN REV., June 13, 1934, Grand Forks, N.D., to Sept. 6, 2025, Mentor, Ohio; son of Herbert and Alma (Opshar) Schuler; colloquy St. Louis Seminary 1969. Served 1969-2017. Ministries/Parishes: Willshire, Ohio City, Willoughby, Ohio. Ohio District Circuit Visitor 1987-1994. Retired 2017. Survivors: Barbara (Brandt) Schuler; sons: Paul, David, John; daughters: Martha, Mary Scott, Ruth Huffman. Funeral: Sept. 15, 2025, Painesville, Ohio; Interment: Sept. 15, 2025, Mentor, Ohio.       

WICHNER, ERWIN REV., Sept. 20, 1942, Kreuzburg, GERMANY, to Sept. 17, 2025, Tumwater, WA.; son of Henrich and Helene Wichner; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-2007, 2012-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Portland, Hillsboro, Oregon City, Ore.; U.S. Army Chaplain; Lacey, Wash. Retired 2013. Survivors: Sharon (Iben) Wichner; daughters: Stephanie Roberts, Alaina. Celebration of Life and Interment: Oct. 10, 2025, Lacey, Wash.

ZWERNEMANN, JAMES CHARLES REV. DR., Jan. 15, 1938, Breham, Texas, to March 30, 2025, Acworth, Ga.; son of Erwin and Alwine Zwernemann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Warwick, Bronxville, N.Y.; Houston, Texas. Atlantic District Vice-President 1986-1988; Atlantic District President 1989-1991. Retired 2003. Survivors: Bonnie (McGinnis) Zwernemann; sons: James, John; daughters: Kelly McCarthy, Lori Darby, Christina Childs. Memorial Service and Interment: July 1, 2025, Bronxville, N.Y.

COMMISSIONED

BRENNAN, STEPHEN MICHAEL, Sept. 6, 1966, Santa Monica, Calif., to March 12, 2025, Texas; son of Patric and Judy Brennan; graduated Seward 1989. Served 1989-2017. Schools/Ministries: Vista, Inglewood, Calif.; Spring, Tomball, Klein, Texas. Retired 2017. Survivors: Jan (Heupel) Brennan; sons: Seth, Shane; daughter: Kayley. Celebration of Life: April 5, 2025, Spring Texas.

CATTAU, ROLLIN CARL, April 23, 1933, Platte County, Neb., to June 30, 2025, Sugar Land, Texas; graduated Seward 1954. Served 1954-1995. Schools/Ministries: Akron, Ohio; West Point, Neb.; Topeka, Kan.; Los Angeles, Whittier, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Waco, Houston, Texas. Retired 1995. Survivors: Eldeen (Einspahr) Cattau; son: Mark; daughter: Mary Schulze. Memorial Service: July 28, 2025, Houston, Texas.

FLORIP, EUNICE E. (Merz), Dec. 22, 1933, Conklin, Mich., to Sept. 19, 2025, Grand Rapids, Mich.; daughter of Martin and Amanda (Walter) Merz; graduated River Forest 1956. Served 1973-1989. School/Ministry: Bridgman, Mich. Retired 1989. Preceded in death by her husband Rev. Philip Florip. Survivor: stepdaughter: Pam (Grant) Gattinger. Celebration of Life: Sept. 26, 2025, Grand Rapids, Mich.

GOLNICK, MERLE GLENN, May 17, 1927, Minn., to Aug. 31, 2025, Ocean Springs, Miss.; son of Melvin and Gertrude Glock; graduated River Forest 1951. Served 1951-1994. Schools/Ministries: Warren, South Euclid, Cleveland, Ohio; TAIWAN. Retired 1994. Survivors: Dorothy Buehner; daughters: Catherine Haedge, Christine, Patricia Thurber. Memorial Service: Nov. 8, 2025, Biloxi, Miss.

HAAKE, JEAN CAROL (UNGER), July 29, 1936, Milwaukee, Wis., to April 25, 2025, St. Louis, Mo.; daughter of Harold and Lucille (Glass) Unger; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1987-1999. School/Ministry: St. Louis, Mo. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by her husband Daryl Haake. Survivors: son: David; daughter: Lisa. Funeral and Interment: May 1, 2025, St. Louis, Mo.

HOOK, ALTA M. (MCHARGE), July 3, 1955, to Aug. 25, 2025, Ooltewah, Tenn.; graduated Seward 1999. Served 1999-2005. Schools/Ministries: Cary, N.C.; Collierville, Tenn. Retired 2005. Survivor: David Hook. Interment: Aug. 30, 2025.

KRUGER, RICHARD JON, Nov. 3, 1941, Chicago, Ill., to Aug. 21, 2025, Columbus, Ind.; son of John and Gertrude Kruger; graduated River Forest 1964. Served 1964-1990, 1991-2009. Schools/Ministries: Columbus, Neb.; Hinsdale, Melrose Park, Ill.; Columbus, Ind. Retired 2009. Survivors: Karen (Cole) Kruger; daughter: Amanda Arnold. Funeral and Interment: Aug. 30, 2025, Columbus, Ind.

MAAS, RICHARD EDGAR, April 19, 1927, Milwaukee, Wis., to Aug. 18, 2025; son of Edgar and Elsie Maas; graduated River Forest 1950. Served 1950-1992. Schools/Ministries: Osseo, Minn.; Houston, Texas; Menomonee Falls; Wis. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Carol (Herman) Maas. Survivors: sons: Richard, Martin, William. Funeral: Sept. 6, 2025, Menomonee Falls, Wis.

MANSKE, BARBARA MEINZEN (AMT) DEAC., Jan. 7, 1940, Chicago, Ill., to Dec. 6, 2024, Lake Forest, Calif.; son of Arthur and Ellen (Meinzen) Amt; graduated Valparaiso 1961. Served 1989-2002. School/Ministry: Irvine, Calif. Retired 2002. Preceded in death by her husband Rev. Dr. Charles Manske. Survivors: son: David; daughters: Christine Schneider, Noel Fairchild. Memorial Service: Jan. 25, 2025, Irvine, Calif.

MEYER, WILFRED GEORGE, Feb. 3, 1941, Lincoln, Mo., to April 22, 2025, Springfield, Mo.; son of Walter and Viola (Wischmeier) Meyer; graduated Seward 1965. Served 1965-2025. Schools/Ministries: Hilbert, Wis.; Decatur, Ind.; Sedalia, Lockwood, Mo. Survivors: Diane (Dirks) Meyer; sons: Christian, Nathan, Ryan. Celebration of Life: May 10, 2025, Springfield, Mo.; Interment: May 10, 2025, Lincoln, Mo.

PANKOW, MARCUS GEORGE, Feb. 11, 1935, Ixonia, Wis., to June 18, 2025; son of Ted and Frieda Pankow; graduated River Forest 1958. Served 1958-2000. Schools/Ministries: Milwaukee, Merrill, Wis. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his wife Carolyn (Geiger) Pankow. Survivors: sons: Matt, Eric, Jim. Funeral: July 5, 2025, Oconomowoc, Wis.

PETZOLDT, LOWELL KEITH, July 7, 1954, Perryville, Mo., to Sept. 2, 2025, Wauseon, Ohio; son of Tillmon and Ruth (Rohde) Petzoldt; graduated Seward 1976. Served 1976-2020. School/Ministry: Napoleon, Ohio. Retired 2020. Preceded in death by his wife Renee (Wagner) Petzoldt. Survivors: son: Blake; daughter: Courtney. Funeral: Sept. 6, 2025, Napoleon, Ohio; Interment: Napoleon, Ohio.

STEFFEN, LEE H., Feb. 25, 1939, Sheboygan, Wis., to Sept. 10, 2025, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.; son of Harry and Wilma (Hacker) Steffen; graduated River Forest 1961. Served 1961-2004. Schools/Ministries: Chicago, Ill.; Mayville, Sheboygan, Wis. Retired 2004. Survivors: Beverly (Thomas) Steffen; son: Mark; daughter: Deborah Margrett. Funeral and Interment: Sept. 22, 2025, Sheboygan, Wis.

WENTHE, HELEN RUBY (MEDACK), Feb. 2, 1938, Giddings, Texas, to Feb. 24, 2025, San Antonio, Texas; daughter of Paul and Louise (Zoch) Medack; graduated River Forest 1962. Served 1977-1992, 2001-2003. School/Ministry: Austin, Texas. Retired 2003. Preceded in death by her husband William Wenthe Sr. Survivors: son: William Jr.; daughter: Bethany Thoresen. Funeral and Interment: March 10, 2025, Georgetown, Texas.