In Memoriam (May 2019)

IN MEMORIAM

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

CALLESEN, ARTHUR ALEX JR. REV., July 25, 1939, Omaha, Neb., to Feb. 2, 2019, Green Bay, Wis.; son of Arthur Sr. and Evelyn (Fricke) Callesen; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1965-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Three Lakes, Eagle River, Green Bay, Wis. Retired 2005. Survivors: Linda (Berryman) Callesen; sons: Jeffrey, Mark; daughter: Christine Zimrock. Funeral: March 9, 2019, Green Bay, Wis.

DEMOSS, WALTER L. REV., Feb. 23, 1942, Pittsburgh, Pa., to Feb. 4, 2019, Aurora, Ill.; son of Walter and Hazel (Ferrall) DeMoss; graduated Springfield Seminary 1968. Served 1968-2007. Ministries/Parishes: Ghana, Togo, West Africa; Cabot, Pa.; Aurora, Ill. Retired 2007. Survivors: Helena (Bort) DeMoss; sons: Walter, Matthew; daughter: Martha Klinger. Funeral: Feb. 9, 2019, Aurora, Ill.; Interment: Feb. 9, 2019, Montgomery, Ill.

GESCH, ROY GEORGE REV., Dec. 30, 1920, Milwaukee, Wis., to Jan. 22, 2019, Wailuku, Hawaii; son of Walter and Stella (Scholz) Gesch; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1944. Served 1944-1986. Ministries/Parishes: Buffalo, N.Y.; Brawley, Oceanside, Whittier, Laguna Beach, Orange, Calif.; Wahiawa, Hawaii; Southern District Circuit Visitor 1950, 1954-1960. Retired 1986. Survivors: Carol Gesch; son: Gary. Funeral: Feb. 9, 2019, Kihei/Maui, Hawaii.

GRAF, HERBERT CLARENCE REV., Oct. 29, 1929, Vernon, Texas, to Feb. 14, 2019, Conroe, Texas; son of Albert and Olga (Mertink) Graf; graduated Springfield Seminary 1956. Served 1956-1994. Ministries/Parishes: Circle Pines, Minn; Seguin, Houston, Conroe, Texas; Fremont, Calif.; Texas District Circuit Visitor 2000-2012. Retired 1994. Preceded in death by his wife Jean (Henningsen) Graf. Survivors: Harriet (Blumhorst) Graf; sons: David, Jonathan, Nathan; daughter: Sharon; step-son: Paul; step-daughter: Rebecca. Funeral: Feb. 18, 2019, Conroe, Texas; Interment: Feb. 18, 2019, Pinehurst, Texas.

IVERSON, EDWIN IVOR REV., Aug. 12, 1947, Vancouver, Wash., to Feb. 1, 2019, Billings, Mont.; son of Emil and Frances (Armstrong) Iverson; graduated Springfield Seminary 1975. Served 1975-1992, 2001-2008. Ministries/Parishes: Norfolk, Schuyler, Neb.; Eden, Idaho; Mt. Angel, Ore.; Rapid City, S.D. Retired 2008. Survivors: Janet (Van Dyke Laudenschlager) Iverson. Funeral and Interment: Feb. 18, 2019, Billings, Mont.

KEGEL, ADAM GEORGE REV., Oct. 26, 1923, Chicago, Ill., to Feb. 25, 2019, Seaford, Del.; son of Philipp and Theresia (Blum) Kegel; Colloquy 1993. Served 1993-2006. Ministries/Parishes: Cheriton, Va.; Cambridge, Md. Retired 2006. Preceded in death by his wife Mildred (Volz) Kegel. Survivors: son: David; daughters: Deborah Colson, Martha, Mary. Funeral and Interment: March 2, 2019, Seaford, Del.

MEYER, WILLIAM F. REV., April 17, 1940, Glendive, Mont., to Feb. 1, 2019, Scottsdale, Ariz.; son of Rev. Frederick and Melinda (Christian) Meyer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1966. Served 1968-2005. Ministries/Parishes: Springfield, Ill.; Austin, Texas; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 2005. Survivors: Sharon (Thiele) Meyer; daughters: Michele, Monica, Melinda. Funeral: Feb. 9, 2019, Scottsdale, Ariz.

NEUMANN, FRED WILLIAM REV., March 12, 1939, Marlin, Texas, to Jan. 24, 2019, Austin, Texas; son of Fred and Jewel (Smith) Neumann; graduated Springfield Seminary 1965. Served 1965-1995. Ministries/Parishes: Gulfport, Mich.; Lamesa, Post, Andrews, Texas; Norman, Okla.; Austin, Texas. Retired 1995. Survivors: Clara “Lavon” (Chamness) Neumann; sons: Fred V., John; daughter: Jacque Driskell. Celebration of Life: Feb. 9, 2019, Austin, Texas; cremation.

ROGERS, JAMES C. REV., Nov. 10, 1947, Champaign, Ill., to Feb. 16, 2019, St. Louis, Mo.; son of Charles Rogers; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1973. Served 1973-2012. Ministries/Parishes: Custer, Hill City, S.D.; Chesterfield, Mo.; Missouri District Circuit Visitor 1988-1997. Retired 2012. Preceded in death by his wife Rona (Gorthy) Rogers. Survivors: Sharon (Raymond) Rogers; son: Jeremy; daughter: Alison. Memorial Service: Feb. 23, 2019. Chesterfield, Mo.

COMMISSIONED

BELL, JUANITA (HILL), Dec. 22, 1945, Camden, Ala., to Aug. 19, 2018, Miami, Fla.; daughter of William and Lizzie Hill; graduated Seward 1969. Served 1973-1999. Schools/Ministries: Montgomery, Ala.; Miami, Fla. Preceded in death by her husband Henry Bell. Funeral: Aug. 25, 2018, Atmore, Ala.

PEPER, VICTOR CARL, March 7, 1933, Adair, Okla., to Jan. 12, 2019, Glen Ellyn, Ill. son of Carl and Esther (Mueller) Peper; graduated River Forest 1956. Served 1956-1969, 1971-1998. Schools/Ministries: Melrose Park, Chicago, Arlington Heights, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo. Retired 1998. Survivors: Gloria Peper; son: Michael; daughters: Cynthia Kovach, Tamara Dougherty, Heidi Hays, Julie. Memorial Service: Jan. 26, 2019, Wheaton, Ill.

WENZEL, PAMELA B., Sept. 21, 1961, Grand Rapids, Mich., to Jan. 28, 2019, Gregory, Mich.; daughter of Roy and Barbara (Naubauer) Wenzel; graduated Ann Arbor 1983. Served 1983-2004. Schools/Ministries: Memphis, Cincinnati, Tenn.; Detroit, Rochester, Taylor, Mich. Retired 2017. Funeral: Feb. 9, 2019, Howell, Mich.