John Schaller, Foundation Board of Trustees member, dies

John Schaller, a member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Foundation’s Board of Trustees, died Thursday, Sept. 18, at his home in Pocatello, Idaho. He was 79.

Schaller

Schaller began serving on the board in 2011. He also served the church in many other capacities, including as a member of the LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District’s mission board and Church Extension Fund board.

Before his retirement, Schaller was the owner and manager of Sierra National Capital Company.

“John Schaller was one of those true gifts to the Church,” said David Fiedler, president of the LCMS Foundation. “He was a savvy businessman, a great leader and an innovative thinker, yet his love for our Lord and His Church above all directed the way he carried himself and how he dealt with others.

“John will be truly missed by the Foundation staff and his fellow board members, yet we praise and thank God for the time He gave John to be with us, and we rejoice with John in his victory over the grave through his faith in Jesus Christ.”

Don Graf, chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, called Schaller “a true Christian gentleman” and said his “successful experience in the business world of California was extremely valuable to our Foundation board.”

Schaller was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Pocatello. He is survived by his wife, Edie, a daughter and a daughter-in-law. He was preceded in death by a son.

A memorial service is planned for Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. MDT at Grace Lutheran Church. Memorial gifts may be made to the Grace Lutheran High School start-up fund.

“John was a great blessing to us and continues to be so in his bold witness of God’s grace to him in Christ, and in he and Edie’s generosity for Lutheran education,” the Rev. Jonathan Dinger, pastor of Grace, wrote by email.

“John and Edie’s great wish was for a Lutheran high school to be formed at Grace in Pocatello. Those efforts are underway, with a target date of August 2016.”

Posted Sept. 19, 2014 / Updated Sept. 22, 2014