"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
A reporting of deaths of called workers as noted in the call report.
PASTORS
FREDERICK A. MUTTERER
August 4, 1928–July 1, 2025
A 1949 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1952 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Paul, Prescott, Wis.; St. John, Tappen, N.D.; St. John, Fox Lake, Wis.; St. Andrew, Middleton, Wis.; Zion, Alma, Wis.; St. Michael's, Fountain City, Wis.; St. Paul, Stratford, Wis.; and Grace, Mosinee, Wis.
EDGAR M. HERMAN
August 4, 1936–June 28, 2025
A 1958 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1962 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Pilgrim, Minneapolis, Minn.; Zion, Mission, S.D.; St. Mark, Flat Rock, Mich.; and Hope, Toronto, Onatrio.
LEE L. VACCARELLA
February 10, 1940–May 7, 2025
A 1974 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served at St. Paul, Muskego, Wis.; St. Mark, Bemidji, Minn.; St. Luke, Little Chute, Wis.; St. Paul, Muskego, Wis.; Lift High The Cross, Wauwatosa, Wis.; Ministry of Christian Giving; WLCFS-Christian Family Solutions; and Water of Life, Racine, Wis.
WALLACE E. GAULKE
January 18, 1940–May 7, 2025
A 1962 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; and a 1965 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Paul, Platteville, Wis.; Faith, Lancaster, Wis.; St. John, Boyd, Minn.; Salem, Surgeon Bay, Wis.; Immanuel, De Pere, Wis.; St. Paul, Greenleaf, Wis.; and Emanuel, Henrysville, Wis.
JAMES R. SONNEMANN
March 28, 1945–May 4, 2025
A 1968 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and a 1990 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he taught at Christ, Saginaw, Mich.; Immanuel, Gibbon, Minn.; and Trinity, Brillion, Wis. As a pastor, he served St. John's, Sparta, Wis.; Salem, Milwaukee, Wis.; The Point of Grace, Milwaukee, Wis.; Salem, Milwaukee, Wis.; and St. Matthew, Pound, Wis.
MARK J. JOHNSTON
March 16, 1952–April 25, 2025
A 1974 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; and a 1978 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served the South Atlantic District; St. John, Bowdle, S.D.; Good Shepherd, Deltona, Fla.; Lord and Savior, Waunakee, Wis.; Beautiful Savior, Spooner, Wis.; WELS Malawi Mission, Our Savior's, Brunswick, N.J.; and first German, Manitowoc, Wis.
RICHARD A. WINTERS
July 17, 1941–April 4, 2025
A 1964 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; and a 1968 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Salem, Woodbury, Minn.; St. Paul, Morris, Minn.; Divine Peace, Milwaukee, Wis.; Immanuel, Hutchinson, Minn.; Zion, Hutchinson, Minn.; Faith, Prior Lake, Minn.; and Salem, Escanaba, Mich.
JOHN P. SCHROEDER
February 18, 1942–April 5, 2025
A 1964 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1968 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Saint Paul, Minn.; English, Viroqua, Wis.; Mt. Calvary, Harrison, Wis.; and Trinity, Caledonia, Wis.
ELTON R. BICKEL
February 4, 1938–February 6, 2025
A 1961 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1965 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Tucson, Ariz.; St. James, Portage, Mich.; Apostles, Temperance, Mich., St. Andrew, Toledo, Ohio; and Trinity, Elkton, Mich.
ALAN W. GUMM
March 2, 1954–January 14, 2025
A 1976 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1980 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Saint Paul, Minn.; St. Paul, Hazelton, N.D.; St. Peter, Mayville, Wis.; Christ Our Redeemer, Gillette, Wyo.; Prince of Peace, Yuma, Ariz.; Hope, West Chicago, Ill.; Christ the King, Port Charlotte, Fla.; and Bethany, North Fort Myers, Fla.
JOHN A. BECK
February 9, 1958–January 14, 2025
A 1981 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1985 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Bethlehem, Hortonville, Wis.; Divine Savior, Pullman, Wash.; King of Kings, Wasilla, Alaska; New Life, Kenosha, Wis.; Shepherd of the Mountains, Reno, Nev.; Prince of Peace, Englewood, Fla.; and Bethany, Manitowoc, Wis.
DAVID J. PLOCHER
December 31, 1934–December 31, 2024
A 1956 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1959 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Christ, Hiles, Wis.; St. Paul, Crandon, Wis.; Trinity, Winner, S.D.; Messiah, Wichita, Kan.; and St. Paul, Marshall, Wis.
ROBERT H. HOCHMUTH
March 27, 1924–December 28, 2024
A 1945 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1948 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.; Good Shepherd, Tucson, Ariz.; Peace, Santa Clara, Calif.; St. Andrew, Sacramento, Calif.; Good Shepherd, Livermore, Calif.; Shepherd of the Mountains, Reno, Nev.; and Apostles, San Jose, Calif.
THOMAS F. ZARLING
January 13, 1943–December 23, 2024
A 1965 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1969 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served New Life, Kenosha, Wis.; Lincoln Heights, Des Moines, Iowa; Our Savior, Brookings, S.D.; Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Christ Our Savior, Sterling, Va.
MARK F. ZANDER
November 19, 1950–December 16, 2024
A 1975 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1979 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Resurrection, Milwaukee, Wis.; Garden of Gethsemane, Omaha, Neb.; Peace, Shenandoah, Iowa; Christ Our Savior, Fremont, Neb.; St. Paul, Naper, Neb.; Zion, Bonesteel, S.D.; Beautiful Savior, O Neill, Neb.; St. Peter Lutheran School, Balaton, Minn.; and St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Balaton, Minn.
RONALD C. GORSKE
September 26, 1945–December 6, 2024
A 1967 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1971 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Trinity-Mt. Olive, Johnson, Minn.; Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis.; and Mount Olive, Appleton, Wis.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
LOIS M. SCHAPEKAHM (née SHILEY)
May 28, 1933–June 19, 2025
She served Trinity, Brillion, Wis.; St. John, Wrightstown, Wis.; Jerusalem, Morton Grove, Ill.; St. Matthew's, Winona, Minn.; St. Matthew's, Winona, Minn.; Trinity, Nicollet, Minn.; Mt. Olive, Tulsa, Okla.; Mount Olive, Appleton, Wis.; Emanuel, New London, Wis.; and Immanuel, Greenville, Wis.
EDITH E. ARNDT (née BRUSS)
October 20, 1932–June 22, 2025
A 1954 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, she taught at St. Paul, Moline, Ill.; Bethel, Menasha, Wis.; and Trinity, Brillion, Wis.
ARTHUR L. HACKBARTH
January 31, 1935–June 4, 2025
A 1957 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at New Salem, Sebewaing, Mich.; Trinity, Johnson, Minn.; St. Matthew, Niles, Ill.; Trinity, Caledonia, Wis.; St. John, Waterloo, Wis.; The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine, Belle Plaine, Minn.; and St. John, Lake City, Minn.
DALE E. MARKGRAF
March 10, 1940–May 30, 2025
A 1962 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Brownsville, Wis.; and St. Paul's, New Ulm, Minn.
JEAN K. WESTENDORF (née SCHROEDER)
May 15, 1947–May 25, 2025
A 1967 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis.; and a 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. John, Milwaukee, Wis.; Bethany, Saginaw, Mich., and Christ Alone, Thiensville, Wis.
NANCY A. MESS (née MICHAELSEN)
October 9, 1937–May 20, 2025
She taught at Palos, Palos Heights, Ill.; Friedens, Kenosha, Wis.; Jordan, West Allis, Wis.; Redemption, Milwaukee, Wis.; North Trinity, Milwaukee, Wis.; and St. Matthew, Milwaukee, Wis.
GERALD A. BERGEMANN
November 30, 1933–March 28, 2025
He taught at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
LOIS I. SCHRIMPF (née SCHUTZ)
March 1, 1932–March 27, 2025
She taught at St. Paul, Algoma, Wis. and St. John, Lake City, Minn.
LAVON M. SCHULTZ (née GROTH)
September 29, 1934–March 23, 2025
She taught at St. Mark Little Lamb Preschool, Normal, Ill.
RUTH M. RUCHGRUBER (née GRUNKE)
April 7, 1932–February 26, 2025
She taught at St. John's, Sparta, Wis. and Zion, Rhinelander, Wis.
ROBERT H. BEHNKE
May 25, 1935–March 16, 2025
A 1958 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, South Haven, Mich.; East Fork Lutheran High School, Whiteriver, Ariz.; and Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.
BETTY M. LAYTON (née BREUTZMAN)
July 18, 1942–February 7, 2025
She taught at Palos, Palos Heights, Ill.; and Trinity, Bangor, Mich.
GARY C. REINKE
June 29, 1942–February 18, 2025
He taught at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
VERA M. LEITZKE
May 24, 1928–January 26, 2025
She taught at Prince of Peace, Yankton, S.D.; and St. John's, Two Rivers, Wis.
KENNETH P. KOLANDER
January 23, 1929–January 29, 2025
A 1966 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Jacobi, Greenfield, Wis.; and Mount Olive, Appleton, Wis.
RUTH E. STRACKBEIN (née HUDTLOFF)
July 11, 1928–January 27, 2025
She taught at Immanuel, Gibbon, Minn.
DIANNE R. LANGE (née MUELLER)
July 27, 1947–January 27, 2025
A 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Martin's, Watertown, S.D.; North Trinity, Milwaukee, Wis.; Christ-St. John's, West Salem, Wis.; St. John, Oak Creek, Wis.; Peace, Holiday, Fla.; Precious Lambs Learning Center, Woodbridge, Va.; Trinity Christian Academy, Woodbridge, Va.; and St. Mark, Green Bay, Wis.
JUDITH R. HOZAK (née SCHLEEF)
April 28, 1944–January 25, 2025
A 1966 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she served Centennial, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Grace, Durand, Mich.
NANCY C. SCHULTZ (née LAUBER)
July 20, 1955–January 25, 2025
A 1975 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis., she served Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.
DAVID W. ROSS
October 16, 1948–January 4, 2025
A 1971 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.; Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, New Ulm, Minn.; St. John, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Mount Lebanon, Milwaukee, Wis.
VALERIE I. HAGEMANN (née PATNODE)
March 14, 1957–December 31, 2024
A 1978 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Paul, Wonewoc, Wis.
RICHARD A. DE FRAIN
February 1, 1957–December 23, 2024
A 1979 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he served St. Lucas, Milwaukee, Wis.; Risen Christ, Milwaukee, Wis.; Good Shepherd, Phoenix, Ariz.; Pilgrim, Mesa, Ariz.; Gloria Dei, Belmont, Calif.; and Peace, Granger, Ind.
CAROL J. KRAUSE (née SMITH)
October 7, 1939–December 20, 2024
A 1959 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., she taught at Zion, Rhinelander, Wis.