"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
VICTOR L. HEADRICK
February 12, 1954–September 24, 2023
A 1976 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1980 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Glendale, Ariz.; Emmanuel, Stratford, Wis.; St. Peter, Marshfield, Wis.; St. John's, Pardeeville, Wis.; and St. John, Manitowoc, Wis.
ALLEN D. CAPEK
April 16, 1931–September 11, 2023
A 1956 graduate of Northwestern College and a 1956 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, he served St. John, Rising City, Neb.; Trinity, Union Grove, Wis.; Abiding Word, Kenosha, Wis.; Immanuel, Campbellsport, Wis.; and Morning Star, Carstairs, Alberta, Canada.
LOREN D. FRITZ
May 30, 1943–September 3, 2023
A 1969 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., and a 1973 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Andrew, Middleton, Wis.; Christ, Baraboo, Wis.; St. John, Cornell, Wis.; Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas; Our Savior, Harrisonville, Mo.; Messiah, Norborne, Mo.; and Immanuel, Waupaca, Wis.
RONALD L. WATERSTRADT
February 3, 1941–August 18, 2023
A 1966 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Zion, South Milwaukee, Wis.; St. John, Clare, Mich.; St. John, Gladwin, Mich.; Faith, Harrison, Mich.; Good Shepherd, Beaverton, Mich.; Christ Our Redeemer, San Diego, Calif.; St. Mark's, and Citrus Heights, Calif.
DENNIS E. KEMPF
July 11, 1936-July 12, 2023
A 1958 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1962 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Peter, Tomah, Wis.; Cross of Christ, Coon Rapids, Minn.; St. Paul, Bloomer, Wis.; English Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Wis.; and First Portland, Cashton, Wis.
EUGENE C. KITZEROW
January 9, 1927–June 8, 2023
A 1952 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Good Shepherd, Beaver Dam, Wis.; St. Paul, Colome, S.D.; Zion, Colome, S.D.; St. Matthew, Pound, Wis.; Grace, Crivitz, Wis.; Christ, Big Bend, Wis.; and St. John, Woodland, Wis.
DONALD F. HOCHMUTH
April 28, 1940–February 25, 2023
A 1973 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Milwaukee, Wis.; Prince of Peace, Mason City, Iowa; and Salem, Woodbury, Minn.
JOHN W. GAWRISCH
May 9, 1952–February 18, 2023
A 1974 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1978 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Peace, Hartford, Wis.; King of Kings, Maumelle, Ark.; and Star of Bethlehem, New Berlin, Wis.
RICHARD E. LAUERSDORF
August 29, 1934–January 22, 2023
A 1956 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1960 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Tucson, Ariz.; Our Savior's, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; St. Matthew, Ontario, Wis.; St. John, Kendall, Wis.; St. John's, Jefferson, Wis.; and Good Shepherd, West Bend, Wis. He also served as WELS Vice President of Mission and Ministry.
MICHAEL J. ZUBERBIER
August 10, 1965–December 3, 2022
A 1987 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1991 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Riverview, Appleton, Wis.; St. John, Gladwin, Mich.; Good Shepherd, Beaverton, Mich.; Emanuel, Tawas City, Mich.; and St. Peter's, Fond du Lac, Wis.
MELVIN A. SCHWARK
October 13, 1935–November 26, 2022
A 1957 graduate of Northwester College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1961 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Courtland, Courtland, Minn.; Trinity, Lake City, Minn.; Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.; Bethany, Granite Falls, Minn.; St. John, Rural Boyd, Minn.; Zion, Sanborn, Minn.; Thoughts of Faith, Inc., Cornell, Wis.; St. John, Cornell, Wis.; Zion, New Ulm, Minn.; and Courtland, Courtland, Minn.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
WAYNE ZULEGER
July 19, 1934–September 20, 2023
A 1957 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he served Zion, Rhinelander, Wis.; Immanuel, De Pere, Wis.; Wisconsin Lutheran School, Racine, Wis.; St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West Saint Paul, Minn.; Northwestern Prep School, Watertown, Wis.; Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; St. Paul, Ixonia, Wis.; and Shepherd of the Valley, Westminster, Colo.
DIANE E. WERNICKE
June 6, 1944–July 29, 2023
A 1966 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Peter, Helenville, Wis.; Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Caledonia, Wis.; St. Paul, Tomah, Wis.; St. Mark's, Watertown, Wis.; Mount Olive, Appleton, Wis.; Trinity, Kaukauna, Wis.; St. John, Wrightstown, Wis.; and St. Matthew, Appleton, Wis.
THOMAS H. DEWITZ
May 21, 1941–July 19, 2023
He served as a Christian Giving Counselor.
MARILYN NELL (née JACOBS)
June 17, 1939–July 16, 2023
She taught at St. Paul, Algoma, Wis. for over 30 years.
DOROTHY J. HOPMAN (née GOELZ)
June 5, 1931–June 22, 2023
She taught at Christ, Big Bend, Wis. And St. John, Goodhue, Minn.
PROF. LAWRENCE J. CZER
February 14, 1957–June 25, 2023
A 1979 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, he served Christ Our Redeemer, Bend, Ore.; St. John, Fox Lake, Wis.; West Lutheran High School, Plymouth, Minn.; Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.
DOROTHY D. SCHROEDER (née HENKE)
June 25, 1934–June 7, 2023
She taught at St. Stephen, Beaver Dam, Wis.; and St. Peter's, Fond du Lac, Wis.
GERALD E. LANPHEAR
September 11, 1938–May 21, 2023
A 1960 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Bangor, Wis.; Trinity, Brillion, Wis.; Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Peter, Schofield, Wis.; and Salem, Milwaukee, Wis.
RONALD L. SHILLING
December 17, 1941–May 24, 2023
A 1964 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and a 1986 graduate of Concordia University, he taught at Northwestern Lutheran Academy, Mobridge, S.D. and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.
MARY J. SCHERF (née MEYER)
January 13, 1935–March 8, 2023
She taught at St. John, Princeton, Wis.; Our Savior, Wausau, Wis.; and Mt. Calvary, Waukesha, Wis.
THEODOR O. NOMMENSEN
October 4, 1938–February 15, 2023
A 1960 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at East Fork, Whiteriver, Ariz.; Zion, Rhinelander, Wis.; and Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, Jackson, Wis.
JEANETTE A. HILLMANN (née FENSKE)
April 24, 1937–February 13, 2023
She taught at St. Paul, Cannon Falls, Minn.
PAUL M. SPRENGELER
January 23, 1944–January 18, 2023
A 1968 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he served Trinity, Bay City, Mich.; Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.; Apostles Lutheran School, San Jose, Calif.; Hong Kong Mission in Kowloon City, Hong Kong; Kingdom Workers; and East Fork Lutheran High School, Whiteriver, Ariz.
JAMES M. MATSON
June 19, 1949–December 6, 2022
He taught at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis.
BEVERLEE M. HAAR
May 13, 1934–November 22, 2022
A 1966 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Salem, Greenfield, Minn.; St. John's, Two Rivers, Wis.; St. Paul, Norfolk, Neb.; St. Paul, Muskego, Wis.; Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Martin Luther College Early Childhood Learning Center, New Ulm, Minn.
LOIS E. SCHUELKE (née SMITH)
September 30, 1942–November 12, 2022
A 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Paul, Algoma, Wis.; Peace, Hartford, Wis.; Ocean Drive Learning Center, Pompano Beach, Fla.; Zion, Egg Harbor, Wis.; First, Green Bay, Wis.; and Trinity, Marinette, Wis.