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
BRAMSTEDT, PAUL W. REV., September 28, 1930, Mascoutah, Ill., to February 8, 2016, Belleville, Ill.; son of William and Mathilde (Wilmsmeyer) Bramstedt; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1955. Served 1955-1995. Ministries/ Parishes: Nigeria, West Africa; Gillespie, Steeleville, Ill.; Joplin, Mo.; Carrollton, Mich. Retired 1995. Survivors: Deloris (Rowold) Bramstedt; daughters: Jane Illsley, Lois Boldt, Paula Thibault, Cheryl Hill. Funeral and Interment: February 12, 2016, Mascoutah, Ill.
CASSIDY, JOHN SMITH JR. REV., August 6, 1944, San Francisco, Calif., to January 30, 2016, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii; son of John and Naomi (Reed) Cassidy; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1971. Served 1971-1981, 1991-2003. Ministries/Parishes: Gardena, Canyon County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Calif. Retired 2003. Preceded in death by his wives Mary (Leeman) Cassidy and Ann (DiLorenzo) Cassidy. Survivors: sons: Daniel, Brett; daughter: Leah Kong. Memorial Service: February 9, 2016, Hawaii and March 5, 2016, Daly City, Calif.
CLOETER, MARTIN R. REV., October 9, 1926, Ormsby, Minn., to January 28, 2016, Grand Island, Neb.; son of Rev. Richard and Martha (George) Cloeter; colloquy 1967. Served 1967-1992. Ministries/Parishes: Seward, Neb.; Minneapolis, Chaska, Minn. Retired 1992. Survivors: Dorothy (Raabe) Cloeter; sons: Daniel, Rev. David; daughter: Rachel Brandenburg. Funeral: February 13, 2016, Chaska, Minn.; Interment: February 13, 2016, Faribault, Minn.
ERNSTMEYER, MILTON SIEBERT REV., September 16, 1916, Hayland, Neb., to February 5, 2016, Williamsburg, Va.; son of J. Fred and Lena (Siebert) Ernstmeyer; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1943. Served 1943-1983. Ministries/Parishes: U.S. Navy Chaplain; Washington, D.C. Retired 1983. Preceded in death by his wife Muriel (Koch) Ernstmeyer. Survivors: daughters: Jan, Carol, Lynn. Funeral: February 13, 2016, Williamsburg, Va.; Interment: Arlington, Va.
GRAFE, WILLIAM CHARLES REV., November 30, 1926, Detroit, Mich., to January 31, 2016, W. Bloomfield, Mich.; son of William and Dorothy (Roths) Grafe; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1953. Served 1953-1993. Ministries/Parishes: Green Grove, Curtis, S. Green, Bloomfield Hills, Drayton, Union Lake, Mich. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his daughter Elizabeth. Survivors: Lucy (Buettner) Grafe; sons: Mark, Stephen.
HAENER, EVAN WALTER REV., October 23, 1962, Los Angeles, Calif., to February 10, 2016, Harrison, N.J.; son of Thomas and Marjorie (Lester) Haener; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 1991. Served 1991-2016. Ministry/Parish: Harrison, N.J. Survivors: Christine (Wesser) Haener; son: Ian. Funeral: February 15, 2016, Harrison, N.J.: Interment: February 18, 2016, Kearney, N.J.
HOWARD, RONALD REV., August 20, 1956, Sumter, S.C., to January 6, 2016, Torrance, Calif.; son of Leroy and Mary (Lang) Howard; SMP certified 2013. Served 2014-2016. Ministry/Parish: Long Beach, Calif. Survivors: Philomena (White) Howard; son: Ronald; daughter: Leah. Funeral: January 23, 2016, Long Beach, Calif.
HUWE, RALPH ARTHUR REV., August 6, 1926, St. Paul, Minn., to February 2, 2016, Boulder City, Nev.; son of Otto and Mae (Knoerl) Huwe; graduated Springfield Seminary 1966. Served 1966-1991. Ministries/Parishes: McKees Rocks, Levittown, Sharpsburg, Pittsburgh, Pa. Retired 1991. Survivors: Barbara (Ottinger) Huwe’ sons: Timothy, Thomas, Jonathan, David, Tobiah; daughter: Kristen. Funeral and Interment: February 10, 2016, Boulder City, Nev.
KLEMZ, ROGER EDWARD REV., January 30, 1933, Valparaiso, Ind., to February 18, 2016, Minneapolis, Minn.; son of Edward and Agatha (Heimberg) Klemz; graduated Springfield Seminary 1958. Served 1958-1999. Ministries/Parishes: New Orleans, La.; Jackson, Miss.; Jackson, Plainview, Buffalo, Minn.; Sioux City, Iowa.; Southern District Circuit Visitor 1961-1964; Minnesota South District Circuit Visitor 1968-1969, 1977-1981. Retired 1999. Survivors: Helen (Scheele) Klemz; son: Theodore; daughters: Kathryn, Ann Schulhofer, Geniece Leines, Amy. Funeral: February 24, 2016, Buffalo, Minn.
KOCH, MARVIN OSCAR REV., July 29, 1922, Floydada, Texas, to February 8, 2016, Austin, Texas; son of Gottfried and Friede (Lippe) Koch; graduated Springfield Seminary 1951. Served 1951-1987. Ministries/Parishes: Lafe, Ark.; Jackson, Mo.; Copperas Cove, Lampasas, Gatesville, Denison, Texas; Texas District Circuit Visitor 1990-1991. Retired 1987. Survivors: Emma (Lehman) Koch; sons: Robert, Dennis, Douglas, Roger. Funeral and Interment: February 13, 2016, Copperas Cove, Texas.
LILLICH, VICTOR O. REV., May 17, 1933, Tecumseh, Neb., to March 1, 2016, Yakima, Wash.; son of Arthur and Mary (Wagner) Lillich; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1959. Served 1959-1998. Ministries/Parishes: Alpha, Minn.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Yakima, Wash.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 1992. Retired 1998. Preceded in death by his son Paul. Survivors: Joan (Aselmann) Lillich; sons: Philip, James; daughters: Rebecca Quesnell, Lisa Vickers. Memorial Service: March 12, 2016, Yakima, Wash.
LISCH, ELMER RICHARD REV., January 18, 1923, Glenmore, Wis., to February 11, 2016, Kiel, Wis.; son of Reinholdt and Martha (Gehrke) Lisch; Colloquy 1983. Served 1983-2013. Ministries/Parishes: Port Washington, Belgium, Wis. Retired 2013. Survivors: Aleda (Stelter) Lisch; sons: Thomas, John, Philip; daughters: Susan, Krista. Funeral and Interment: February 14, 2016, Kiel, Wis.
LUDWIG, PAUL WALTER JR. REV., February 11, 1926, Hoxie, Kan., to February 4, 2016.; son of Rev. Paul Sr. and Thekla (Friedrich) Ludwig; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1951. Served 1951-1988. Ministries/Parishes: Brenham, Ft. Worth, Texas; U.S. Air Force Chaplain; Lakeland, Fla. Retired 1988. Survivors: Margaret (Atsinger) Ludwig; son: Martin; daughter: Paulette Clements. Funeral: February 19, 2016, Irmo, S.C.; Interment: February 19, 2016, Columbia, S.C.
MCWHIRTER, JOHN A. REV., August 12, 1937, Lackawanna, N.Y., to February 10, 2016, Kingsport, Tenn.; son of Walter McWhirter and Katheryn (Tallman) Haas; colloquy 1980. Served 1980-1999. Ministries/Parishes: Kingsport, Tenn.; Pine Bluff, Ark.; Mid-South District Circuit Visitor 1997-1999. Retired 1999. Preceded in death by his daughter Jill Harbinson. Survivors: Ladell (Lineberger) McWhirter. Survivors: sons: Scott, Todd; daughter: Amy Hiatt. Celebration of Life: February 14, 2016, Kingsport, Tenn.
MENNICKE, VICTOR OTTOMAR REV., March 1, 1927, Reeseville, Wis., to January 9, 2016; colloquy 1982. Served 1982-1992. Ministry/Parish: Sarasota, Fla. Retired 1992. Preceded in death by his wife Geraldine Mennicke. Survivors: Cynthia (Dennis) Mennicke; daughters: Ellen Barnes, Victoria Merwin, Patricia Levine; Stepson: Scott Dennis. Memorial Service: January 16, 2016, Sarasota, Fla.
MEYER, PHILIP J. REV., December 5, 1965, Faribault, Minn., to February 15, 2016, Buffalo, Minn.; son of Robert and Karen Meyer; colloquy 2009. Served 2009-2016. Ministries/Parishes: Pocatello, Idaho; Buffalo, Minn.; Northwest District Circuit Visitor 2010-2012. Survivors: Vanessa (Poston) Meyer; sons: Dylan, Jesse. Celebration of Life: February 21, 2016, Buffalo, Minn.; Interment: Rochester, Minn.
SCHUELER, DENNIS ROY REV., March 3, 1950, Milwaukee, Wis., to February 11, 2016, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; son of Kenneth and Ruth (Gauger) Schueler; graduated St. Louis Seminary 1976. Served 1976-2016. Ministries/Parishes: Bethalto, Ill.; Mayville, Platteville, Wisconsin Dells, Lundon Station, Wis.; South Wisconsin District Circuit Visitor 2006-2009. Survivors: Bonnie (Bartel) Schueler; daughters: Kendra Junk, Kirsten. Funeral: February 15, 2016, Lyndon Station, Wis.; Interment: February 15, 2016, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
STING, RAYMOND PAUL REV., December 18, 1936, Sebewaing, Mich., to February 21, 2016, Cass City, Mich.; son of Harold and Erna Sting; colloquy 2007. Served 2007-2013. Ministry/Parish: Bad Axe, Mich. Retired 2013. Preceded in death by his wife Carol (McKenney) Sting. Survivors: son: Tod; daughters: Joann, Annette Russell. Funeral: February 24, 2016, Sebewaing, Mich.; Interment: February 24, 2016, Bach, Mich.
STRATMAN, WILLIAM WARNER REV., March 6, 1951, Scottsbluff, Neb., to January 21, 2016, Torrington, Wyo.; son of W. W. and Velma (Williams) Stratman; graduated Ft. Wayne Seminary 2000. Served 2000-2005, 2007-2009. Ministries/Parishes: Rushmore, Minn.; Craig, Colo.; Gordon, Neb. Preceded in death by his wife Kathy (Prucha) Stratman. Survivors: Joan (Evans) Stratman; son: Terry, Samuel; daughters: Rebecca Ellis, Darcie Rosenthal. Funeral and Interment: January 26, 2016, Torrington, Wyo.
WHITE, DONALD E. REV., June 8, 1929, Newport, Ky., to April 24, 2015, Wausau, Wis.; son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fields) White; colloquy 1983. Served 1983-1991. Ministry/Parish: Merrill, Wis. Retired 1991. Survivors: Mary (Treankler) White; sons: Thomas, Andrew; daughters: Cynthia, Kerri Capp, Nancy Ruchti, Laura Greene. Funeral: May 2, 2015, Merrill, Wis.; Interment: Town of Scott, Wis.
Commissioned
HELGE, ERICH E. DR., November 6, 1929, St. Louis, Mo., to February 18, 2016, Albuquerque, N.M.; son of Erich and Phillipine Helge; graduated River Forest 1952. Served 1952-1993. Schools/Ministries: Kansas City, Concordia, Mo.; Seward, Neb.; Winfield, Kan.; Chicago, Ill. Retired 1993. Preceded in death by his wife Donna Helge. Survivors: Erich, David, Matthew; daughter: Elizabeth Owens. Memorial Service and Interment: February 22, 2016, Albuquerque, N.M.
HENTZEN, PATSY ANN (KROEGER), February 18, 1940, Carroll, Iowa, to November 29, 2015, Idaho Falls, Idaho; daughter of Wilbur and Lillian Kroeger; graduated Seward 1963. Served 1973-2005. School/Ministry: Idaho Falls, Idaho. Retired 2005. Preceded in death by her son Paul. Survivors: Richard Hentzen; sons: Eric, David. Funeral: December 4, 2015, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
HOLSTE, HERMAN MELVIN DR., April 25, 1927, Ludell, Kan., to February 8, 2016, Auburn Hills, Mich.; graduated Seward 1951. Served 1951-1990. Schools/Ministries: University City, Mo.; Detroit, Mich. Retired 1990. Survivors: Barbara (Neinas) Holste; son: James: daughters: Traci Schmitt, Sarah Grafe. Memorial Service: February 12, 2016, Rochester, Mich.
HUHNER, MARGARET ROSE (REED), November 2, 1962, Hammond, Ind., to September 28, 2015, University Place, Wash.; daughter of James and Betty Reed; graduated Seward 1984. Served 1984-1987. Schools/Ministries: Gardnerville, Nev.; Springfield, Ill. Survivors: Kris Huhner; son: William Huhner; daughters: Karissa, Anna. Funeral: October 15, 2015, Ft. Lewis, Wash.
RUFF, ELAINE KATHLEEN (MICHAEL), July 24, 1941, Great Falls, Mont., to January 21, 2016, Webster Groves, Mo.; daughter of Rev. Gerhard and Augusta (Kranawetter) Michael; graduated Seward 1963. Served 1989-2005. Schools/Ministries: Buffalo, N.Y.; Kingsville, Md. Survivors: Rev. Roger Ruff; sons: Matthew, Mark, Michael. Funeral: January 23, 2016, Webster Groves, Mo.; Interment: Lancaster, Ohio.
SIPE, DORIS ELAINE DR., August 20, 1942, Catawba County, N.C., to May 29, 2015, Hickory, N.C.; daughter of Elmer and Beulah (Herman) Sipe; graduated River Forest 1964. Served 1990-1994. School/Ministry: River Forest, Ill. Retired 2004. Funeral: June 2, 2015, Hickory, N.C.; Interment: June 2, 2015, Amexander County, N.C.
WUGGAZER, DOROTHY ELIZABETH (KURING), August 22, 1925, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, to July 16, 2015, Grand Junction, Colo.; daughter of Henry and Erna Kuring; graduated Seward 1970. Joined LCMS Emeritus 1973. Survivors: daughters: Emily Witte, Noel Singer. Funeral: July 23, 2015, Grand Junction, Colo.
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