"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
KARL R. GURGEL
February 24, 1942–September 13, 2026
A 1964 graduate or Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1968 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Abiding Word, Milwaukee, Wis.; Messiah, South Windsor, Conn.; St. Paul, Lake Mills, Wis.; the Asia Lutheran Seminary Board; Holy Word, Austin, Texas; 316NOW; and St. Matthew ,Winona, Minn. He also served as President of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1993-2007.
THOMAS D. LINDLOFF
November 4, 1953–August 5, 2026
A 1975 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1979 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Martin Luther Prep School, Prairie De Chien, Wis.; First, Aurora, Neb.; Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.; Northwestern Prep School, Watertown, Wis.; and Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.
PAUL W. METZGER
December 17, 1949–July 5, 2026
A 1971 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1984 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served St. John, Bay City, Mich.; Good Shepherd, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Apostles, Billings, Mont.; Holy Trinity, Lavina, Mont.; First, Winnett, Mont.; Faith, Melstone, Mont.; Apostles Lutheran School, Billings, Mont.; St. John, Gladwin, Mich.; and Good Shepherd, Beaverton, Mich.
EDWARD F. STELTER
December 16, 1932–June 6, 2026
A 1957 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Grace, Crivitz, Wis.; Zion, Fremont, Wis.; St. Peter's, Larsen, Wis.; and St. John, Two Rivers, Wis.
ROBERT P. PLESS
July 13, 1945–April 29, 2026
A 1968 graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wis., and a 1972 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he served Trinity, Waukesha, Wis.; Our Saviour's, Bismarck, N.C.; and St. John, Princeton, Wis.
WAYNE D. MUELLER
January 6, 1945–April 21, 2026
A 1966 graduate of Northwestern College in Watertown, Wis., and a 1970 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., he served St. John's, Juneau, Wis.; Trinity, Crete, Ill.; Trinity, Waukesha, Wis.; St. John's, Jefferson, Wis.; and Redeemer, Tucson, Ariz.
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.
TEACHERS AND STAFF MINISTERS
KAREN L. ZICKUHR (née SIEVERT)
February 12, 1943–September 22, 2026
A 1965 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Redeemer, Fond du Lac, Wis.; North Trinity, Milwaukee, Wis.; Illinois, Crete, Ill.; Atonement, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Paul, Muskego, Wis.; and Bethlehem, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
BEVERLY A. MEYER (née RADTKE)
November 22, 1936–September 13, 2026
She taught at Redeemer, Fond du Lac, Wis. and Trinity, Caledonia, Wis.
SHARON S. OTT (née BAUMANN)
March 27, 1951–September 10, 2026
A 1973 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. John, Waterloo, Wis. And Grace, Saint Joseph, Mich.
JAMES R. HOLMAN
April 2, 1955–September 8, 2026
A 1977 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Rapid City, S.D.; St. Mark, Citrus Heights, Calif.; St. Marcus, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis.
LOIS M. REINECK (née SCHOENECK)
October 17, 1952–September 4, 2026
A 1976 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at North Trinity, Milwaukee, Wis. And St. Paul, Green Bay, Wis.
DONNA JEAN D. MOLL (née HARTWIG)
January 3, 1940–September 1, 2026
A 1962 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Peter, Helenville, Wis.; St. Paul, Stevensville, Mich.; Centennial, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. John, Maribel, Wis.; and Christ, Pewaukee, Wis.
RUTH A. DUFORE (née NEUMAN)
April 30, 1945–July 31, 2026
She taught at Christ the King Lutheran Preschool, Palatine, Ill.; Faith, Antioch, Ill.; Illinois Lutheran Schools, Crete, Ill.; and Atonement, Milwaukee, Wis.
GARY J. WILLE
April 24, 1947–August 3, 2026
A 1969 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he taught at St. Paul, Franklin, Wis.
LOIS J. SCHACHTSCHNEIDER (née SELBIG)
January 11, 1950–August 3, 2026
A 1972 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at Fairview, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Paul, Cudahy, Wis.; St. Matthew, Milwaukee, Wis., and Faith Schools, Milwaukee, Wis.
STEVEN W. ZELLMER
August 28, 1952–July 19, 2026
A 1975 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and a 1999 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., he taught at Christ Alone, Thiensville, Wis.; St. Peter, Fort Collins, Colo.; and Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
KATHRYN R. SMITH (née BORGSCHATZ)
November 1, 1935–June 24, 2026
A 1967 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, she taught at Bethany, Hustisford, Wis.; Bloomington, Bloomington, Minn.; and David's Star, Jackson, Wis.
LEROY N. LEVORSON
October 15, 1934–June 2, 2026
A 1958 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, he taught at Mount Lebanon, Milwaukee, Wis.; St. John, Lake City, Minn.; St. Matthew's, Winona, Minn.; and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.
RODNEY A. BOLLINGER
January 19, 1954–May 27, 2026
A 1977 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., he served St. Paul, Norfolk, Neb.; St. Lucas, Kewaskum, Wis.; St. John's, Oak Creek, Wis.; and St. John Lutheran Preschool, Oak Creek, Wis.
ANN A. RAUSCH (née KESTING)
October 8, 1940–April 28, 2026
A 1963 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., she taught at St. Paul's, New Ulm, Minn.; New Salem, Sebewaing, Mich.; and Good Shepherd, Benton Harbor, Mich.
RUTH HOEPNER (née HUTH)
June 27, 1920–April 21, 2026
She taught at Good Shepherd's, West Allis, Wis. and Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, Wis.
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.