"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
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.; 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, Ia.; 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, Ia.; 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.
ROBERT A. SIEVERT
May 20, 1935–October 31, 2024
A 1958 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1963 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; St. Paul, Montrose, Minn.; Trinity, Buffalo, Minn.; St. Paul, Onalaska, Wis.; St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West Saint Paul, Minn.; and WLCFS – Christian Family Solutions, Germantown, Wis.
KIRK MASSEY, JR.
April 29, 1977–October 8, 2024
A 2015 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, he served East Fork Lutheran High School, White River, Ariz.; Native American Mission, Whiteriver, Ariz.; and Shepherd in the Pines, McNary, Ariz.
KURT L. GRUNEWALD
July 22, 1946–September 28, 2024
A 1968 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1972 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, he served St. Stephen, Adrian, Mich.; Hope, Stow, Ohio; St. Paul, Mount Calvary, Wis.; Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, Wis.; First, Elkhorn, Wis.; and St. Marcus, Milwaukee, Wis.
JOHN C. LAWRENZ
August 26, 1943–September 22, 2024
A 1965 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1970 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Martin Luther Academy, New Ulm, Minn.; Zion, Gainesville, Fla.; Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.; Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; WELS Ministerial Education; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.; and Asia Lutheran Seminary Board.
HARVEY A. WITTE
August 2, 1927–August 13, 2024
A 1954 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Mt. Calvary, Estelline, S.D.; St. John, Dempster, S.D.; Our Savior, Brookings, S.D.; and Christ, Wauwatosa, Wis.
WILLIAM O. BEIN
May 28, 1930–August 10, 2024
A 1955 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Gethsemane, Cibecue, Ariz.; and Resurrection, Phoenix, Ariz.
GEORGE C. ROTHE
May 31, 1932–July 27, 2024
A 1958 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, he served Northwestern Lutheran Academy, Mobridge, S.D.; Trinity, Sturgis, S.D.; Our Savior's, Bismarck, N.D.; and St. Mark, Brown Deer, Wis.
EDWIN F. BIEBERT
May 20, 1927–July 20, 2024
A 1951 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1954 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; Zion, New Ulm, Minn.; Our Savior's, Zion, Ill.; St. Paul's, Franklin, Wis.; St. John's, Newburg, Wis.; and Zion, Mercer, Wis.
WILLIAM W. ZIEBELL
January 31, 1939–July 17, 2024
A 1967 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Trinity, Lake City, Minn.; Christ, Marshall, Minn.; Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.; St. John, Mazeppa, Minn.; Christ, Marshall, Minn.; and Zion, Russell, Minn.
ROBERT L. SAWALL
August 20, 1928–July 6, 2024
A 1959 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Trinity, Lincoln, Mich.; the Zambia Mission; Bethany, Manitowoc, Wis.; Shepherd of the Plains, Lubbock, Texas; the Indonesia Mission; Prince of Peace, Flower Mound, Texas; Living Water, San Angelo, Texas; Rising Son Campus Ministry, Oshkosh, Wis.; and St. Paul, Clintonville, Wis.
PAUL A. SCHMIEGE
December 17, 1946–July 2, 2024
A 1969 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1973 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Refuge, Raleigh, N.C.; Our Savior, Pomona, Calif.; Grace, Kenai, Alaska; King of Kings, Willoughby, Ohio; and Good Shepherd, Girard, Ohio.
PAUL G. ECKERT
April 16, 1931–June 30, 2024
A 1953 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1957 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Jacobi, Greenfield, Wis.; Our Saviour's, Sault St. Marie, Ontario; Our Saviour's, Cedarville, Mich.; and Immanuel, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.
STEVEN L. WITTE
September 6, 1957–June 30, 2024
A 1981 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1985 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Immanuel, Waupaca, Wis.; Emanuel, New London, Wis.; and Beautiful Savior, Green Bay, Wis. He also served as team leader on the Asia One Team and as president emeritus at Asia Lutheran Seminary.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
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.
JOANNA H. RAMSTACK
November 20, 1952–September 20, 2024
A 1975 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. John, Waterloo, Wis.; Emanuel, Flint, Mich.; Grace Early Childhood Center, Alma, Mich.; and Mt. Calvary, Waukesha, Wis.
CONNIE J. ALLEN (née BUCK)
October 17, 1952–August 27, 2023
She taught at Immanuel Lutheran School in Manitowoc, Wis.
EARL E. BRASSOW
December 12, 1934–October 12, 2024
A 1967 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Norseland, Saint Peter, Minn.; Saude, Lawler, Iowa; St. John-St. James, Reedsville, Wis.; and St. Paul, Wonewoc, Wis.
KAREN L. MILLER (née MAREK)
January 22, 1951–September 8, 2024
She taught at Bethel, Bay City, Mich.
JERRY L. GRONHOLZ
October 13, 1939–October 4, 2024
A 1961 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Peter, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Marcus, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. John's, Two Rivers, Wis.; First, La Crosse, Wis.; and Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis.
MARY E. EDENHAUSER (née PETERSON)
August 14, 1951–September 23, 2024
A 1974 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she served St. Peter, Chilton, Wis.; and St. Peter, Bloomer, Wis.
YVONNE M. JESKE (née KEGEL)
March 13, 1939–August 17, 2024
A 1961 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Grace, Yakima, Wash.; St. Stephen, Adrian, Mich.; and Bethany, Kenosha, Wis.
LAURY J. SAXLER (née VENUS)
April 2, 1947–August 24, 2024
She served Zion, South Milwaukee, Wis.
RICHARD H. SONNENBERG
January 22, 1931–August 16, 2024
A 1955 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Peter, Appleton, Wis.
ROLLAND R. MENK
April 3, 1940–August 16, 2024
A 1963 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Grace, Goodhue, Minn.; Trinity, Hoskins, Neb.; St. Martin's, Watertown, S.D.; St. Paul, Green Bay, Wis.; and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.
CAROL L. BUTLER (née PISKE)
March 25, 1944–July 3, 2024
A 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Grace, Yakima, Wash.
JAMES H. PASBRIG
December 19, 1946–July 17, 2024,
He taught at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.; Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.; Arizona Lutheran Academy, Phoenix, Ariz.; Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School, Waco, Neb.; and St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West Saint Paul, Minn.
PAUL J. FRITZE
May 18, 1939–July 2, 2024
A 1961 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at Trinity, Nicollet, Minn.; and St. Paul's, New Ulm, Minn.
LEANNE M. SCHNEIDER (née TIMM)
September 23, 1942–June 18, 2024
A 1963 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Grace, Neenah, Wis.; Martin Luther, Neenah, Wis.; and Trinity, Neenah, Wis.
