Called to eternal glory

"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

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, 1952February 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.

DAVID P. KUSKE
May 28, 1934–October 29, 2022

A 1955 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1959 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Northwestern Lutheran Academy, Mobridge, S.D.; Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis.; Trinity, Wabeno, Wis.; St. John (Barre Mills), La Crosse, Wis.; Luther High School, Onalaska, Wis.; Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.; Luther High School, Onalaska, Wis.; and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

JAMES P. OLSEN
September 4, 1937–October 27, 2022

A 1957 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., and a 1963 graduate of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minn., he served the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Headquarters, Mankato, Minn. and English Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Wis.

JAMES H. KRAUSE
May 21, 1954–October 18, 2022

A 1976 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1981 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served First Lutheran, Racine, Wis.; Messiah, Shiocton, Wis.; Hong Kong Mission, Kowloon City; and Gethsemane, Corpus Christi, Texas.

AARON M. STRONG
August 6, 1982–October 12, 2022

A 2004 graduate of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and a 2008 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Water of Life, Las Vegas, Nev.; Lighthouse Youth Center, Milwaukee, Wis.; Shepherd of the Hills, Las Vegas, Nev.; and Grace, Milwaukee, Wis.

KENNETH L. WENZEL
August 16, 1947–October 15, 2022

A 1969 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1973 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Good Shepherd, Benton Harbor, Mich.; First Lutheran, Winnett, Mont.; Holy Trinity, Lavina, Mont.; Faith, Melstone, Mont.; St. John, Peshtigo, Wis.; St. Paul, Wonewoc, Wis.; Madison Institutional Ministries, Inc., Jefferson, Wis.; and Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries, Oconomowoc, Wis.

THOMAS C. SPIEGELBERG
November 3, 1939–October 7, 2022

A 1962 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1966 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. Paul's, Arlington, Minn.; Zion, Mercer, Wis.; St. Paul, Hurley, Wis.; Divine Savior, Indianapolis, Ind.; Risen Savior, Milwaukee, Wis.; Peace, Eagle River, Alaska.; St. Paul, Grand Junction, Colo.; Living Word, Montrose, Colo.; and St. Peter, Globe, Ariz.

 

TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS

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.

NORMA J. ROUBIK (née PANNING/LUETKE)
November 16, 1943–October 30, 2022

A 1965 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she served Grace, Eau Claire, Wis.; Mt. Calvary-Grace, La Crosse, Wis.; and St. Paul, Onalaska, Wis.

IRIS J. SACKENHEIM (née ANDERSON)
January 30, 1935–October 20, 2022

She taught at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis.

CAROL A. GRULKE (née ZIEGLER)
August 6, 1946–October 14, 2022

A 1968 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Peace, Hartford, Wis., and Bethany, Hustisford, Wis.