IN MEMORIAM (February 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

BAKER, GARTH LARRY REV., June 15, 1936, Iowa City, Iowa, to July 3, 2025, Tallahassee, Fla.; son of Kenneth and Eunice (Bushnell) Baker; graduated Springfield Seminary 1963. Served 1963-1997. Ministries/Parishes: Crosby, Iron Hub, Winsted, Minn.; Wilton, Iowa; Rolla, Mo. Retired 1997. Survivors: Carolyn (Stade) Baker; sons: Gary, Gregory; daughters: Angela Stark, Lisa. Celebration of Life and Interment: July 18, 2025, Tallahassee, Fla.

BOINEAU, EDWARD LIVINGSTON REV., Dec. 21, 1963, Columbia, S.C., to Sept. 5, 2025, Sweeny, Texas; son of Robert Boineau and Priscilla (Arnold) Skalka; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1997. Served 1997-2025. Ministry/Parish: Sweeny, Texas. Survivors: Peggy (Herbold) Boineau; son: Matthew; daughter: Nicole Romero. Funeral and Interment: Sept. 11, 2025, Sweeny, Texas.

BRAUN, ALAN JAMES REV., Aug. 14, 1942, Rolla, N.D., to Oct. 12, 2025, Roseville, Minn.; son of Rev. Harold and Adele (Schwake) Braun; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1968. Served 1968-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Decatur, Ill.; Wayne, Mich.; Roseville, Minn. Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 2009-2021. Retired 2012. Survivors: Rosemary (Hinck) Braun; son: Andrew; daughters: Rebekah, Joanna, Susanna, Deborah. Funeral: Oct. 18, 2025, Roseville, Minn.

ECKELMAN, ROBERT DEAN REV., Nov. 17, 1933, Lincoln, Kan., to Oct. 13, 2025, Brighton, Colo.; son of Raymond and Ruth (Stelling) Eckelman; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Dow City, Buck Grove, Cylinder, Iowa; Sheridan, Jackson, Gillette, Wyo.; Great Falls, Mont. Montana District Circuit Visitor 1991-1994. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Joan (Jensen) Eckelman. Survivors: son: Matthew; daughter: Damaris Gasparovich. Celebration of Life and Interment: Oct. 22, 2025, Brighton, Colo.

GLANDER, DENNIS E. REV., Feb. 26, 1935, Detroit, Mich., to Aug. 15, 2025, Orlando, Fla.; son of William and Olga (Wagenknecht) Glander; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1965-1991, 1992-2000. Ministries/Parishes: Corona, S.D.; Highland, Bad Axe, Mich.; Blackduck, Minn.; Harvel, Ill.; Baker, La.; Warren, Mich. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his wife Ruth (Codd) Glander and son David. Survivors: Janice Glander; sons: Dennis, William, Matthew, Karl. Funeral: Sept. 6, 2025, Orlando, Fla.

HOPPE, PAUL THOMAS REV., Sept. 17, 1946, Sheboygan, Wis., to Oct. 13, 2025, Kansas City, Kan.; son of Christ and Ruth (Berlin) Hoppe; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1972. Served 1972-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Parsons, Shawnee, Kan.; Alva, Okla.; Conway, Ark. Retired 2009. Survivors: Carolyn (Schmale) Hoppe; son: Philip; daughter: Jennifer Gustafson. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 17, 2025, Gardner, Kan.

KAYSER, LOWELL N. REV., Aug. 1, 1937, Canton, S.D., to Sept. 11, 2025, Colorado Springs, Colo.; graduated Springfield Seminary 1972. Served 1972-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Sanborn, Iowa; Park Rapids, Minn.; Manila, PHILLIPPINES; Clermont County, Ohio; LaMoure, Adrian, N.D.; Emblem, Greybull, Thayne, Wyo.; El Paso, Texas. Minnesota North District Circuit Visitor 1975-1983. North Dakota District Circuit Visitor 1993-1999. Retired 2013. Survivors: Patricia (Groth) Kayser; son: Douglas; daughters: Kathleen, Joanna, May. Funeral: Oct. 2, 2025, Colorado Springs, Colo.

KIRST, DONALD ROBERT REV., Sept. 24, 1934, Ripon, Wis., to April 6, 2025, Glen Carbon, Ill.; son of Alfred and Ella (Dehn) Kirst; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Claire City, S.D.; Lidgerwood, N.D.; Parma, Ohio; Mt. Vernon, Darien, Ill.; Paola, Kan. Northern Illinois District Circuit Visitor 1997-1999. Preceded in death by his wife Geraldine (Koenig) Kirst. Survivors: daughters: Sherrie Smith, Donna, Lorrie, Tonya Peter. Funeral and Interment: April 12, 2025, Collinsville, Ill.

LOOCK, LAMBERT ELMER JR. REV., July 31, 1934, Rockford, Ill., to Sept. 15, 2025, San Diego, Calif.; son of Lambert Sr. and Emma (Stueve) Loock; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1980, 1985-1988. Ministries/Parishes: Nigeria, W. AFRICA; Versailles, Mo.; Ft. Worth, Texas; Norwalk, Burbank, Monrovia, Calif. Retired 2000. Preceded in death by his wife Marilyn (Voigt) Loock. Survivors: sons: Timothy, Joel, Paul; daughter: Kathryn. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 8, 2025, Whittier, Calif.

LUEDEMANN, RONALD STUART REV. DR., July 23, 1938, Denver, Colo., to Oct. 6, 2025, Ft. Worth, Texas; son of Oscar and Marie Luedemann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1999. Served 1999-2002. Ministry/Parish: Hesperia, Calif. Retired 2002. Survivors: Anne (Ramsey) Luedemann; sons: Bart, Pete. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 12, 2025, Keller, Texas.

MUELLER, PAUL GERHARDT JR. REV., May 3, 1938, Tri-Mountain, Mich., to Nov. 12, 2025, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; son of Rev. Paul and Ellen Mueller; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1964. Served 1964-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Bennett, Iowa; Kankakee, Ill.; Green Bay, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Retired 2003. Survivors: Sandra (Hein) Mueller; son: Karl; daughter: Tara. Memorial Service: June 2026.

NAGLER, STEPHEN L. REV., Jan. 28, 1947, Bronx, N.Y., to Sept. 16, 2025, Watertown, N.Y.; son of Walter and Martha (Sanger) Nagler; graduated Springfield Seminary 1973. Served 1973-2025. Ministries/Parishes: San Mateo, Lake Isabella, Artois, Willows, Calif.; U.S. Army Chaplain. Survivors: Sharon (Hubbard) Nagler; son: Nathan; daughters: Namoi, Nalene Muldovan. Memorial Service: Sept. 24, 2025, Watertown, N.Y.

OLLEK, KENNETH LEROY REV., April 4, 1935, Stirum, N.D., to Sept. 22, 2025, Salem, Ore.; son of Albert and Bertha (Milbrandt) Ollek; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1961. Served 1961-1997. Minstries/Parishes: Quincy, George, Walla Walla, Wash.; Salem, Ore. Retired 1997. Preceded in death by his wife Jetta (Hiebert) Ollek. Survivors: son: Timothy; daughter: Susan Baker. Funeral and Interment: Oct. 19, 2025, Salem, Ore.

SATTGAST, DALE L. REV. DR., July 12, 1949, Payette, Idaho, to Aug. 1, 2025, Sioux Falls, S.D.; son of Herman and Dorothy (Fisher) Sattgast; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1980. Served 1980-2015. Ministries/Parishes: Canistota, Montrose, Huron, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Albuquerque, N.M. South Dakota District President 2006-2015. South Dakota First Vice-President 1994-1996, 2000-2006. South Dakota District Second Vice-President 1991-1994, 1998-2000. South Dakota District Circuit Visitor 1983-1984, 1996-1998, 2015-2018. Retired 2015. Survivors: Deborah (Heins) Sattgast; sons: Mark, Joel; daughter: Rachel Lail. Funeral: Aug. 9, 2025, Huron, S.D.; Interment: Aug. 13, 2025, Sturgis, S.D.

SCHEDLER, MARVIN JOEL REV., Aug. 19, 1932, Monett, Mo., to Oct. 22, 2025, Wilmington, N.C.; son of Rev. Joel and Sarah (Parsch) Schedler; graduated Springfield Seminary 1961. Served 1961-1983. Ministries/Parishes: Fairhaven, Kimball, Minn.; Jacksonville, Cary, Raleigh, N.C.; Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Minnesota North District Circuit Visitor. Southeastern District Circuit Visitor. Preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Stirrat. Survivors: Marcella (Bergman) Schedler; son: Timothy; daughters: Jana Albritton, Joyce Crouch, Elizabeth Hales. Memorial Service: Nov. 8, 2025, Wilmington, N.C.

STEPHENS, JEFFREY BRUCE REV. DR., July 7, 1948, E. Cleveland, Ohio, to Sept. 23, 2025, Richfield, Ohio; son of John and Margaret (Browne) Stephens; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1983. Served 1983-2014. Ministries/Parishes: Memphis, Tenn.; Shaker Heights, N. Olmsted, Ohio. Retired 2014. Survivors: Susan (Bell) Stephens; sons: Patrick, John. Funeral: Oct. 4, 2025, Fairlawn, Ohio.

WAGNER, RICHARD F. REV., Aug. 12, 1929, St. Louis, Mo., to Oct. 31, 2025, Spring, Texas; son of Rev. Alfred and Esther (Meyer) Wagner; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Cloverdale, Calif.; Bellevue, Wash.; Houston, Texas. Texas District Circuit Visitor 1988-1994. Retired 1994. Survivors: Madge (Spaulding) Wagner; son: Matthew; daughters: Tabitha Perkovich, Cornelia Mohnke, Johanna Gravesmill, Marta Scarpato, Christina Putman. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 25, 2025, Houston, Texas.

WHEELER, JAY ROGER REV., Feb. 20, 1952, Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Nov. 3, 2025, Osceola, Iowa; son of William and Margaret (Horn) Wheeler; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1983. Served 1983-2021. Ministries/Parishes: Mellowdale, Vega, Alberta, CANADA; Osceola, Leon, Iowa. Retired 2021. Survivors: Carol (Weatherhead) Wheeler; sons: William, Brock; daughters: Emily Sullivan, Elizabeth Dagevos. Funeral: Nov. 7, 2025, Oscela, Iowa; Interment: Nov. 7, 2025, Glenwood, Iowa.

WIECHMANN, RALPH EDWARD REV., Oct. 13, 1936, Ellenburg, Va., to Oct. 26, 2025, Ashburn, Va.; son of Rev. Helmut and Ruth (Krahn) Wiechmann; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1962. Served 1962-2019. Ministries/Parishes: Springfield, Ashburn, Va. Southeastern District Circuit Visitor 1991-2015. Retired 2019. Survivors: Eunice (Gade) Wiechmann; sons: David, Matthew; daughter: Krista. Funeral and Interment: Nov. 9, 2025, Broadlands, Va.

CORRECTION

IVERSON, THEODORE ALLAN REV., Sept. 4, 1933, River Forest, Ill., to March 14, 2025, Oakland, Calif.; son of Edward and Elvira (Grashorn) Iverson; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1958. Served 1958- 2009. Ministries/Parishes: Magnolia, Iowa; Fresno, Monterey, San Francisco, Calif. California/Nevada/Hawaii District Secretary 1978-2009. Retired 2009. Preceded in death by his wife Betty (Vogel) Iverson. Survivors: sons: Mark, Kent, Allan; daughter: Adriene. Funeral: June 7, 2025; Interment: March 22, 2025.

COMMISSIONED

FISCHER, JONATHAN MARK, Aug. 20, 1936, Hastings, Neb., to Sept. 7, 2025, Texas; son of Louis and Erna (Werth) Fischer; graduated Seward 1959. Served 1959-2001. Schools/Ministries: Hastings, Neb.; Houston, Dallas, Texas. Retired 2001. Survivors: Sharon (Froscheiser) Fischer; son: Mark; daughter: Michelle. Funeral: Sept. 18, 2025, Dallas Texas.

KASCHINSKE, KENNETH ARTHUR, March 26, 1945, Portage, Wis., to Nov. 9, 2025, Saginaw, Mich.; son of William and Helen Kaschinske; graduated River Forest 1967. Served 1967-2010. Schools/Ministries: Toledo, Ohio; Saginaw, Mich. Retired 2010. Preceded in death by his wife June (Block) Kaschinske. Survivors: sons: Brett, Eric, Daren; daughter: Ronda Goetz. Funeral: Nov. 15, 2025, Saginaw, Mich.; Interment: Nov. 15, 2025, Frankenmuth, Mich.

KRAMER, SYBIL JEAN, Feb. 7, 1948, Junction City, Kan., to Oct. 29, 2025, Mission, Kan.; son of Elmer and Leona Kramer; graduated Seward 1969. Served 1983-2014. School/Ministry: Arlington Heights, Ill. Retired 2014. Memorial Service: Nov. 15, 2025, Mission, Kan.

KUNKEL, JESSE HERMAN, April 23, 1932, Hamilton, Texas, to Sept. 11, 2025, Concordia, Mo.; son of Alvin and Ida (Krueger) Kunkel; graduated Seward 1956. Served 1956-1986. Schools/Ministries: Corpus Christi, Texas; St. Paul, Minn.; Wichita, Kan.; Concordia, Mo. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Garda (Clayton) Kunkel and son Gregory. Survivors: sons: Jeffrey, Bradley, Kent; daughter: Paula Hass. Funeral and Interment: Sept. 18, 2025, Concordia, Mo.

KURTH, ELIZABETH FRANCES (WACHAL), Feb. 11, 1936, Ottumwa, Iowa, to April 7, 2025, Chicago, Ill.; daughter of Milo and Gladys Wachal; graduated River Forest 1975. Served 1978-1990, 1991-2001. School/Ministry: Chicago, Ill. Retired 2001. Preceded in death by her husband Roland Kurth. Survivors: son: Kevin; daughters: Krista, Hilary Belz. Memorial Service: April 26, 2025, Melrose Park, Ill.

LIST, PATSY L. (MILLER), May 9, 1945, Aurora, Ill., to Dec. 16, 2024, Alton, Ill.; daughter of Michael and Marjorie (Bliss) Miller; graduated River Forest 1967. Served 1980-2010. School/Ministry: Ellisville, Mo. Retired 2010. Survivors: Robert List; daughter: Rebecca Bunt. Celebration of Life: Dec. 28, 2024, Wood River, Ill.

MARINO, QUENTIN, May 10, 1932, Red Lodge, Mont., to Oct. 12, 2025, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; son of Dominick and Mary Marino; colloquy Seward 1963. Served 1963-1994. Schools/Ministries: Seward, Neb.; Ann Arbor, Mich. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Carol Marino and son Anthony. Survivors: sons: Michael, Jan. Interment: Ann Arbor, Mich.

MELENDEZ, ANDREW ALVIN JR., Nov. 2, 1935, San Antonio, Texas, to Aug. 31, 2025, Edina, Minn.; son of Rev. Andrew and Nieves Melendez; graduated River Forest 1959. Served 1959-1996. Schools/Ministries: New York, N.Y.; Sedalia, Jefferson City, Mo.; Hopkins, Minn.; Chicago, Ill. Retired 1996. Preceded in death by his wife Wilma (Dierking) Melendez. Survivors: son: Brian; daughter: Lynn Morales. Funeral: Sept. 20, 2025, Bloomington, Minn.

RAU, CHRISTIAN W., July 23, 1942, Coburg, GERMANY, to Oct. 1, 2025, Clearwater, Fla.; son of Willy and Caroline Rau; graduated River Forest 1965. Served 1966-2004. Schools/Ministries: Hicksville, N.Y.; St. Petersburg, Fla. Retired 2004. Survivors: Maggie (Knight) Rau; son: Brian; daughters: Sharon, Gayle. Celebration of Life: Oct. 11, 2025, St. Petersburg, Fla.

SCHOERVERTH, GAYLE DORIS, Sept. 25, 1946, Cleveland, Ohio, to Feb. 28, 2025, N. Ridgeville, Ohio; daughter of Frederick and Evelyn Schoerverth; graduated Mequon 1993. Served 2020-2025. School/Ministry: N. Ridgeville, Ohio. Funeral: March 6, 2025, N. Ridgeville, Ohio; Interment: N. Olmsted, Ohio.

WALTER, SANDRA KAY (VONDIELINGEN), Aug. 25, 1940, to July 20, 2025, Fairfield, Ohio; daughter of Carl and Frieda (Spieker) VonDielingen; graduated River Forest 1962. Served 1978-1980,1985-1987, 1988-2003. Schools/Ministries: Cuyahoga Falls, Hamilton, Ohio. Retired 2003. Survivors: Richard Walter; sons: Michael, Mark. Funeral: Aug. 2, 2025, Cincinnati, Ohio.