"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
JOEL C. GERLACH
November 27, 1928–April 20, 2026
A 1953 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Tucson, Ariz.; St. Paul, Douglas, Ariz.; King of Kings, Garden Grove, Calif.; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.; Our Redeemer, Santa Barbara, Calif.; and St. John, Wauwatosa, Wis.
PAUL G. HEIDERICH
July 10, 1944–March 29, 2026
A 1973 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Zion, Columbus, Wis.; St. John, Carson, N.D.; St. Paul, McIntosh, S.D.; Christ, Morristown, S.D.; Bethlehem, Morristown, S.D.; Trinity, Flasher, N.D.; St. Peter, Tomah, Wis.; St. Paul, Hustler, Wis.; and St. Peter, Tomah, Wis.
ROBERT E. GERKE
July 5, 1951–January 13, 2026
A graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1977 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Good Hope, Ellensburg, Wash.; Saved By Grace, Medford, Ore.; St. Peter, Tomah, Wis.; St. Jacob, Norwalk, Wis.; and St. John, Tomah, Wis.
JAMES P. TIEFEL
December 8, 1949–January 6, 2026
A 1972 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1976 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Paul's, North Mankato, Minn.; St. Paul, Saginaw, Mich.; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.; Trinity, Mequon, Wis.; and St. John, Mequon, Wis.
ROBERT CARTER
August 29, 1928–January 3, 2026
A 1956 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Northwestern Lutheran Academy, Mobridge, S.D.; St. Paul, Hortonville, Wis.; Gethsemane, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Matthew, Freeland, Mich.; and Faith, East Jordan, Mich.
ROBERT L. HOEPNER
July 15, 1946–December 23, 2025
A 1968 graduate of Northwestern University, Watertown, Wis., and a 1972 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Matthew, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Centennial, Milwaukee, Wis.; Good Shepherd, Beckley, W. Va.; and Redeemer, Ann Arbor, Mich.
JOEL G. FRANK
September 4, 1942–December 15, 2025
A 1964 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1968 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis, he served St. John, Herrick, S.D.; Zion, Bonesteel, S.D.; First, Winnett, Mont.; Faith, Melstone, Mont.; and St. Paul's, Plymouth, Neb.
MARK R. GUTHMILLER
October 30, 1955–December 8, 2025
A 1977 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1981 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Resurrection, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. John, Glencoe, Minn.; Bethlehem, Raymond, S.D.; Peace, Clark, S.D.; and Willow Lake, Willow Lake, S.D.
DALE W. SCHLIEWE
July 1, 1951–December 1, 2025
A 1973 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1977 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Salem, Stillwater, Minn.; Emmanuel, Hudson, Wis.; Bethany, Clinton, Minn.; Mt. Olive, Graceville, Minn.; St. John, Vesta, Minn.; and Peace, Echo, Minn.
THOMAS C. PFOTENHAUER
December 6, 1930–November 29, 2025
A 1956 graduate of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, he served Our Shepherd, Val-Des-Monts in Quebec, Canada, and St. Paul, Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.
JOHN P. GAERTNER
March 30, 1937–November 14, 2025
A 1959 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1963 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. John's, Jefferson, Wis.; Salem, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Hope, Prescott, Ariz.; Hope, West Chicago, Ill.; Calvary, Dallas, Texas; Abiding Savior, Weslaco, Texas; and Holy Cross, Oklahoma City, Okla.
JOHN E. QUANDT
April 12, 1942–November 10, 2025
A 1984 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Trinity, Waukesha, Wis.; Lone Star, Tyler, Texas; Good Shepherd, Kearney, Neb.; Beautiful Savior, West Des Moines, Iowa; and King of Kings, Apache Junction, Ariz.
JOHN R. MITTELSTAEDT
March 8, 1944–October 28, 2025
A 1966 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1970 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Matthew, Winona, Minn., and Divine Peace, Largo, Md.
DAVID E. GRAY
September 8, 1939–October 26, 2025
A 1961 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1965 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. John, Darfur, Minn.; St. Matthew, Butterfield, Minn.; Good Hope, Omaha, Neb.; and Emmaus, Phoenix, Ariz.
LYLE F. SONNTAG
November 28, 1942–September 23, 2025
A 1964 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1968 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. John's, Jefferson, Wis.; Our Savior, Bylas, Ariz.; Cross of Christ, Kingman, Ariz.; Alpine, Alpine, Calif.; and St. Andrew, Sacramento, Calif.
PHILIP W. KUCKHAHN
April 17, 1932–August 20, 2025
A graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1958 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Ringle, Wis.; Trinity, Hillrose, Colo.; Zion, Morgan, Colo.; Grace, Powers, Mich.; and St. Paul, Hyde, Mich.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
ARDEN W. WENTZEL
July 2, 1932–April 4, 2026
A 1954 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Centennial, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Matthew, Iron Ridge, Wis.; St. Matthew, Janesville, Wis.; Emanuel, West Saint Paul, Minn.; St. Paul's, Fort Atkinson, Wis.; St. Paul, Saint James, Minn.; and St. Matthew, Janesville, Wis.
JOHN R. ISCH
October 1, 1936–March 25, 2026
A 1958 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Plymouth, Neb.; Immanuel, Hadar, Neb.; Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.
ANN M. RAUTENBERG (née BREITKREUTZ)
February 8, 1944–March 18, 2026
A 1966 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Gethsemane, Davenport, Iowa; St. Andrew's, Saint Paul Park, Minn.; Ocean Drive Learning Center, Pompano Beach, Fla.; St. Peter, Eldorado, Wis.; Redeemer, Fond du Lac, Wis.; and St. Paul, North Fond du Lac, Wis.
LAWRENCE J. MAROWSKY
November 26, 1933–February 25, 2026
A 1956 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Mount Lebanon, Milwaukee, Wis. and St. John's, Jefferson, Wis.
ROSALIE J. KUTZ (née RADUE)
January 28, 1943–February 19, 2026
A 1964 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Matthew's, Winona, Minn.; St. Paul, Green Bay, Wis.; and St. Paul's, Fort Atkinson, Wis.
RICHARD A. SCHLAVENSKY
August 14, 1934–February 3, 2026
A 1957 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at David's Star, Jackson, Wis.; Redemption, Milwaukee, Wis.; and North Trinity, Milwaukee, Wis.
FREDERICK O. MAHNKE
August 18, 1934–February 3, 2026
A 1957 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. John, Glencoe, Minn.; Emanuel, West Saint Paul, Minn.; and David's Star, Jackson, Wis.
PATRICIA A. MOLDENHAUER (née FISCHER)
August 21, 1942–December 31, 2025
A 1962 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Matthew, Iron Ridge, Wis., and St. Mark, Green Bay, Wis.
LYNETTE S. BLIEVERNICHT
March 12, 1955–December 23, 2025
A 1977 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Zion, Columbus, Wis.; Woodlawn, West Allis, Wis.; and Lamb of God, West Allis, Wis.
JOAN D. PINSKE (née OHLAND)
April 16, 1931–December 27, 2025
A 1952 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. John, Saint Paul, Minn., and St. Paul, Arlington, Minn.
RONALD A. PAPE
August 23, 1930–December 20, 2025
He taught at Gethsemane, Omaha, Neb.; St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West Saint Paul, Minn.; and Michigan Lutheran High School, Saint Joseph, Mich.
ROLAND L. HELMREICH
August 12, 1941 – December 17, 2025
A 1964 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Arlington, Minn.; St. Paul, Moline, Ill.; and Luther High School, Onalaska, Wis.
RICHARD C. SCHARF
September 27, 1932–November 17, 2025
A 1956 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Peter's, Plymouth, Mich.; St. John, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
WILLIAM H. KRUCK
April 18, 1949–November 14, 2025
He taught at Michigan Lutheran High School, Saint Joseph, Mich. and Grace, Eau Claire, Mich.
FREDERICK H. PANNING
April 12, 1935–November 12, 2025
A 1958 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Redeemer, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Anchored in Christ–Salem, Greenfield, Minn.; St. Stephen, Beaver Dam, Wis.; St. Croix, West St. Paul, Minn.; and West Lutheran High School, Plymouth, Minn.
MARIETTA M. PAAP (née MEYER)
April 4, 1937–November 2, 2025
A 1965 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Peter, Weyauwega, Wis.; Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Manitowoc Lutheran High School, Manitowoc, Wis.
LOIS E. BALGE (née PRUETER)
December 20, 1929–October 12, 2025
She taught at St. John, Red Wing, Minn.; Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee, Wis.; Christ Alone, Thiensville, Wis.; and Redemption, Milwaukee, Wis.
VIRGINIA A. VAN STELLE (née BARNES)
November 22, 1941–October 1, 2025
She taught at Reformation, San Diego, Calif.
MARCIA MAE MATTHEES (née DIERCKS)
May 11, 1943–September 20, 2024
A 1963 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., she taught at St. John, Goodhue, Minn.
JOHN J. LAU
May 22, 1947–September 1, 2025
A 1967 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis., and a 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Salem, Edmonds, Wash., and St. Paul, Onalaska, Wis.
LOIS J. O'CONNOR (née WILDE)
January 31, 1936–August 27, 2025
She taught at St. Paul, Lake Mills, Wis.
JULAINE L. BOEHM (née BUCHHOLTZ)
July 18, 1937–August 10, 2025
She taught at Trinity, Jenera, Ohio, for her entire career.