"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
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.V.; and Redeemer, Ann Arbor, Mich.
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.
ALFRED E. CERESKE, JR.
November 14, 1941–July 31, 2025
He served the Ministry of Christian Giving.
JAMES W. LINDLOFF
January 25, 1952–July 19, 2025
A 1974 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1978 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Saint Paul, Minn., and Forest Lake, Hugo, Minn.
GORDON J. SNYDER
September 7, 1934–July 11, 2025
A 1957 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1960 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Matthew, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Paul, North Platte, Neb.; and Nain, West Allis, Wis.
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, Ontario.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
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.; Manitowoc Lutheran High School, Manitowoc, Wis.; and St. Peter, Weyauwega, 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.; Redemption, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Christ Alone, Thiensville, 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.
MYRTLE M. GAUGER (née SCHOETZEL)
April 27, 1930–July 25, 2025
She taught at First, La Crosse, Wis.; Salem, Milwaukee, Wis.; Christ Alone, Thiensville, Wis.; Salem, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Bethlehem, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
ANITA E. DUNNUM (née MEYER)
August 28, 1942–March 25, 2023
She taught at Peridot-Our Savior's, Peridot, Ariz.; St. Paul, Franklin, Wis.; Palos, Palos Heights, Ill.; St. Matthew, Niles, Ill.; and St. Matthew's Lutheran Preschool, Niles, Ill.
JOYCE O. PAUTZ
April 8, 1932–July 14, 2025
A 1962 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Trinity, Caledonia, Wis. and Zion, Rhinelander, Wis.