Obituaries - Nebraska District

Martin Stork, January 1, 2020

Martin Louis Stork, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on January 1, 2020, in Seward, Nebraska. He was born on May 29, 1921, in Monticello, Minnesota, to Rudolph and Lois Stork. He was baptized on June 20, 1921 and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, NE in 1934. He attended Concordia High School (graduating in 1938) and then Concordia Teacher’s College, graduating May 29, 1942. He met his wife Etta Schoen while teaching in Dodge City, KS and then went to start a school at Redeemer Lutheran in Flint, Michigan. He served at Redeemer from 1942-1959. He received his Master of Arts Degree from Michigan University in 1949 and saw the church and school through two building projects. He then served as a faculty member at Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward until he retired in 1986. While at Concordia, he earned his Doctor of Education Degree at UNL in 1966. He became the director of student teaching, A Cappella tour director, and was the “Voice of the Bulldogs” for 42 years (1959-2000). At the end of every game, he would say “See you in church on Sunday!”

Martin served on many District and Synodical committees and was active in civic affairs, including the Seward Country Club Board of Directors, Seward City Council, and started a Christmas Tree farm in 1974. He served on the Finance Board of St. John Lutheran Church, Concordia’s Centennial Committee and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame Board. In 1995 Martin received Concordia’s Lifetime Service Award and was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mr. Stork is survived by his daughters: Annetta Stork and Elizabeth (Stan) Obermueller; Grandchildren: Marie (David) Willweber, Tasha (Danile) Fingerlin, Martin Obermueller and Megan Obermueller; Great-grandchildren: Micah, Anna and Jada Willweber and Nora, Rya, Nolan and Lola Fingerlin; his brother Alan (Jan) Stork; two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Etta; his sister Ferra; his brother Robert Gieselman; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Visitation will be Monday, January 13, from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward with family greeting friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held January 14, 2020, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward.

Gilbert Daenzer, December 9, 2019

Rev. Theodore Allwardt, December 1, 2019

The Reverend Theodore Erich Allwardt, Sr., pastor emeritus, Kearney, Nebraska, departed this life on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at the age of 85. Theodore “Ted” was born on July 10, 1934, in Willoughby, Ohio, to Erich B. and Olga R. (Grapatin) Allwardt. He graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1951. He received an A.A. degree from Concordia College, Ft. Wayne, in 1953 and his B.A. degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1955. Ted then pursued graduate studies at Concordia Seminary and the University of Tuebingen in Germany. In 1959 he received his Theological Diploma from Concordia Seminary.

Ted was united in marriage to Marian R. Boriack on June 19, 1960, in Rome, New York. Ted and Marian were blessed with three children – Theodore, Jr., Carol, and Timothy.

Ted was ordained on December 1, 1960. During his ministry Pastor Allwardt served the following congregations: St. Paul, Rugby, and St. Paul, Willow City, North Dakota (1960-1965); St. John, Oakes, North Dakota (1965-1973); Peace, Garrison, and St. Matthew, Max, North Dakota (1973-1979); Trinity, Lebanon, Missouri (1980-1986); Shepherd of the Hills, Rathdrum, and First, Spirit Lake, Idaho (1986-1989); and St. John, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (1989-2000). He retired on January 1, 2001. During his retirement, he also served a vacant congregation in Oregon (2007-2010).

Pastor Allwardt was an avid writer, publishing several devotions in the Lutheran devotional Portals of Prayer. He also published three books – Rattlesnakes and Rainbows, Messages from the Coast, and More Rainbows Than Rattlesnakes.

Survivers include his wife, Marian Allwardt, Kearney; one daughter, Carol (Rev. James) DeLoach, Kearney; two sons, Ted Jr. (Ruth) Allwardt, Frederick, Maryland, and Timothy (Sarah) Allwardt, West Hills, California; six grandchildren; three sisters, Dot Nuechterlein, Valparaiso, Indiana, Ellen Thorson, St. Louis, Missouri, and Alys Allwardt, Portland, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Hanna; and brother, Rick Allwardt.

Memorial services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Kearney, Nebraska, on Friday, December 13, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. There will be no visitation and burial will be later.

Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers. Please send them to Zion Lutheran Church and earmarked “Ted’s Missions.” His family will see to their distribution.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Marian Allwardt, 1717 Prairie View Place, Kearney, Nebraska 68845.

Rev. Charles Reimnitz, November 6, 2019

The Reverend Charles August Gottlieb Reimnitz, pastor emeritus, Omaha, Nebraska, departed this life on November 6, 2019, at the age of 90. Charles was born on May 30, 1929, in Chester, Nebraska, to Carl August Reimnitz and Emma Ortmann. He lived there during the early years of the depression and dust storms. He was the son of a missionary/minister and the grandson of immigrants who had homesteaded in South Dakota after arriving to this country from Germany in the late 1800’s. He had 6 brothers and sisters, Rev. Elmer Reimnitz, Edna Camberg, Elbert Reimnitz, Ruth Jacobs, Rev. Stewart Reimnitz, and Trudy Dawson.

He was a graduate of St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas, where he studied to become a Lutheran minister following in the steps of his father. There he met his future wife, Betty Louise Acker. They were married on June 7, 1953, and remained married for over 65 years. They were married by the bride’s father with the groom’s father assisting. They had four sons – John, Joel, Jess, and James.

After graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and serving as pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in New Baltimore, Michigan (1954-1958), he accepted a call to serve as pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. There he served an ever growing congregation for almost 40 years (1958-1996). He touched the lives of many people over the years with hundreds of baptisms, weddings, and funerals while at the same time counseling members of his parish. His additional church activities included circuit visitor Lincoln area, 3^rd Vice President Nebraska District, Board for Higher Education LCMS (1977-1986), and Chair of Board for Higher Education (1983-1986).

His faith and connection to the church did not stop when he retired in 1996. Along with other members of Christ Lutheran, he helped found the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society where he served as a board member for many years. He was a lifelong Cornhusker fan and never failed to keep his sons informed on the latest news and who the Huskers were playing each week. He had a great passion for genealogy and was able to trace the roots of the Reimnitz family back in time and, in the course of doing so, made many friends and made contact with distant relatives throughout the world. His favorite bible text was Revelation 2:10, “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Pastor Reimnitz is survived by his wife, Betty Reimnitz; four sons, John, Joel, Jess, and James; seven grandchildren; and one brother and one sister.

Services will be held at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Private interment held for family and extended family at Westlawn Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Charles name to the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society, PO Box 22544, Lincoln, Nebraska 68542.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Betty Reimnitz, 14925 Dorcas Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68144.

Rev. Stanley Ostgren, October 27, 2019

The Reverend Stanley M. Ostgren, pastor emeritus, Fairbury, Nebraska, departed this life on October 27, 2019, at the age of 84. Stanley was born on September 10, 1935, in Holdrege, Nebraska, to Morris Fred and Lucille (Burger) Ostgren. He spent his early years on a farm near Loomis, Nebraska, where he attended country school and school in Loomis. After moving to Jansen, Nebraska, with his parents in 1950, he graduated from high school at Fairbury in 1953. He was instructed in the Christian faith, brought to faith in Christ as his Savior, and baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jansen in November, 1952.

It was here that he met and married classmate Maralyn Krause – a genuine blessing from God. Shortly thereafter he was inducted into the United States Army and served in a Combat Engineer Battalion in Korea. After discharge he worked for a time at McDonnell Aircraft Corp. in St. Louis and then returned to Nebraska in 1960 where he was employed with Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Co. as a construction lineman, cable splicer, and installer. He left the telephone company in 1964 to prepare for full-time ministry as a Lay Minister, attending Concordia College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating in 1966, he served Grace Lutheran Church, Burton, Nebraska, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jamison, Nebraska, and then took a position in 1973 with the Nebraska District LCMS as missionary-at-large to sparsely settled areas in the Sandhills of Nebraska serving at Thedford, Arnold, and Merriman. He held this position until 1986 when he accepted a call to serve Zion Lutheran Church, Argonia, Kansas. While at Argonia, he completed the colloquy program of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and was ordained in 1993. He remained at Argonia until retirement from full-time ministry in December, 1997. Pastor Ostgren then served two years as part-time assistant to the pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cheney, Kansas.

Stan and Maralyn moved back to Fairbury in July of 2002. Pastor Ostgren served as vacancy pastor at Trinity, Jansen, from February 2006 until 2014.

Pastor Ostgren is survived by his wife, Maralyn, Fairbury; one daughter, Becky Manning, North Platte; three sons, Michael Ostgren, Derby, Kansas, Mark (Debrah) Ostgren and Brent Ostgren, both of Wichita, Kansas; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Mildred Brott and Sally Krause; nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law, Mary Ostgren, and son-in-law, Hain Manning.

Services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, Fairbury, Nebraska, on Friday, November 1, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. The family will greet friends Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury. Interment will be in Cub Creek Cemetery north of Jansen. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to LCMS Mission Central, Mapleton, Iowa.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Maralyn Ostgren, 1128 E Street, Fairbury, Nebraska 68352.

Rev. Richard Bolling, October 20, 2019

Rev. Carl Pullmann, October 18, 2019

The Reverend Carl Emil Paul Pullmann, pastor emeritus, Austin, Texas, departed this life on October 18, 2019, at the age of 89. Carl was born on May 21, 1930, near Wausa, Nebraska, to Reverend George Pullmann and Hilda (Bender) Pullmann. He was brought to the Lord through Baptism by his father in 1930 at Golgotha Lutheran Church. Carl was confirmed in the faith by his father in 1942.

Carl began Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at age 14. Following graduation, he entered St. Johns College in Winfield, Kansas. In 1951 he began his studies for the pastoral ministry where he received his B.A. and M.Div. degrees from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953.

On July 30, 1953, he married Mary Ann Schwartz at Salem Lutheran Church in Gurley, Nebraska. They were blessed with four children: Dwight Pullmann, Carla Pullmann Nuckols, Michael Pullmann, and Monnie Anderson Hicks.

During 52 years of active ministry, parishes served by Pastor Pullmann were: Grace, Neligh, and Trinity, Elgin, Nebraska (1956-1966); Mount Olive, Anoka, Minnesota (1966-1987); and Beautiful Savior, North Platte, Nebraska (1987-1995). He also served on Synod’s Board for Reconciliation as well as a Nebraska District Reconciler, among various other roles.

Pastor Pullmann is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; two daughters, Carla (Rev. Dr. Mark) Nuckols, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Monnie (Ron) Hicks, Brandon, MS; two sons, Dwight Pullmann, Austin, Texas, and Michael (Cheryl) Pullmann, Florence, South Carolina; 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; a sister, Ellen Gilder, Long Prairie, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.

The memorial service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas, on Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Mary Pullmann, Parmer Woods at North Austin, 12429 Scofield Farms Drive, Apt. 248, Austin, Texas 78758.

Hermann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements.

Fred Boerger, October 13, 2019

Lucy Honig, September 30, 2019

Rev. Paul Schmidt, September 9, 2019

The Reverend Paul R. Schmidt, pastor emeritus, Lincoln, Nebraska, departed this life on September 9, 2019, at the age of 94. Paul was born on August 14, 1925, in Wichita, Kansas, to Carl and Eva Schmidt. The third oldest of six children, his baptism, early church and parochial school experience took place at Immanuel Lutheran, Wichita. At age eleven, his family moved to southern California where he attended the newly established Zion Lutheran School and Church at Maywood, where he was a charter member.

Paul Schmidt was a man of deep faith—he was devoted to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and served Him all through his life. He began his ministerial training in Oakland, California, where he attended high school and junior college, graduating in the summer of 1945. That fall he enrolled at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. His vicarage year (1948-49) was spent at St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Orleans, Louisiana. In June of 1950, he graduated from the seminary. His first call and ordination took place at Grace Lutheran, Franklin, Nebraska, which he served together with a rural church near Bloomington, identified as Ash Grove. In August of 1951, Paul was united in marriage to Margaret Ann (Peggy) Wulf, originally of Eagle, Nebraska.

Other parishes served by Pastor Schmidt were: Grace, Wood River, and Christ, Cairo, Nebraska (1952-1955); Trinity, Indio, California (1955-1958); Christ, Nebraska City, Nebraska (1958-1964); and Bethlehem, Crete, Nebraska (1964-1973). After 23 years in the parish ministry, Pastor Schmidt fulfilled a long-standing desire to specialize in hospital ministry. In 1974, he entered a Clinical Pastoral Education program at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, building on three-months prior training in 1969. Following a year of training, he was called to serve a diversified ministry in Lincoln, at the Nebraska State Regional Center, and as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service state coordinator for sponsorship of Vietnamese refugees by Lutheran churches in Nebraska. In 1975, he began serving as Lutheran chaplain at the Nebraska State Developmental Center in Beatrice and continued serving there and at Bryan Hospital and the Regional Center until 1984.

In 1984, he accepted a call to St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Orleans, as associate pastor and hospital chaplain for Charity Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, and Oschner Hospital, continuing until 1988 when he and Peggy returned to Lincoln to be near her aged mother and other family members. After retirement on January 1, 1989, he worked with Lutheran Family Services coordinating visitations at local hospitals.

Paul’s interests included reading, golfing, gardening, singing with the Christ Lutheran Men’s Chorus, and following activities of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Pastor Schmidt is survived by his wife, Margaret (Peggy) Schmidt; one daughter, Angela (David) Drevo; one son, Martin (Laura) Schmidt; six grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Albrecht and Louise Schmidt; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl, and sisters Kathryn Porsch and Eva Brewster.

There will be private interment at Eagle Cemetery in Eagle, Nebraska, at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, September 16, 2019. A Memorial Service will then be held at Christ Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, at 11:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow immediately in the Fellowship Hall.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Peggy Schmidt, 7202 Van Dorn Street, Apt. 47, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506.

Rev. Nolan Obermueller, June 15, 2019

The Reverend Nolan William Obermueller, pastor emeritus, Seward, Nebraska, departed this life on June 15, 2019, at the age of 99. He was born on February 13, 1920, in Lincoln, Kansas, to Theodore and Frieda (Von Fange) Obermueller, was baptized as an infant and later confirmed into the Christian faith.

As a child he attended parochial school. At age 14 he began attending St. John’s Lutheran Academy in Winfield, Kansas, where he also went on to graduate from St. John’s Lutheran College. He received pastoral training at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1945.

During his ministry, Pastor Obermueller served the congregations of St. Paul, Plainview, Texas (1945-1949); Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming (1949-1963); St. John’s, Fayetteville, Arkansas (1963-1966); Trinity, Cheyenne, Wyoming (1966-1972); and St. Luke’s, Worland, Wyoming (1973-1984). He also served many congregations with pastoral vacancies. In Sheridan, Nolan led the congregation in building a beautiful new church on the hill. In Fayetteville he was campus pastor for the University of Arkansas, and in Wyoming he served for many years as First Vice President of the LCMS Wyoming District. What always rose to the fore was his faithfulness to the Word of God and his pastoral heart. His sermons always included Law and Gospel, declaring that “it is by grace you are saved, through faith. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” For more than 40 years he was a true, humble shepherd who loved those whom God gave to his care.

Nolan married Cordelia (Hedemann) in 1945, his sweetheart of six years, two days after graduating from the seminary. The Lord blessed them with three children: Stan and Jerry were born in Plainview, Texas, and Victoria in Sheridan, Wyoming. Nolan loved his family! He embraced his two daughters-in-law, Liz (Stan) and Vickie (Jerry), and his son-in-law Dave (Victoria). He was proud of his nine grandchildren and their spouses: Marie (Davis) Willweber, Tasha (Daniel) Fingerlin, Martin Obermueller, Megan Obermueller, Ed (Lisa) Obermueller, Pete (Stacy) Obermueller, Joe (Janette) Obermueller, Julie (Dave) Ayer, and Becky (Greg) Buell. He followed their lives, families, and careers, and he prayed for them.

Nolan was an outdoorsman. He was an accomplished baseball player in his high school and college years. His recreation included hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, mostly in the wonderful Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Pinochle was his game of choice.

Pastor Obermueller is survived by his three children and their spouses, his nine grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren; his only sister, Lorene Buttenhoff; and sisters-in-law, Evelyn Obermueller, Dolores Obermueller, Sidona Obermueller, Celia Kershaw, Jean Zessin, and Eloise Roskovich; as well as many nephews, nieces, and several generations of their offspring.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Cordie; his parents and his brothers, Louis, Milfred, Reinhold, Vernon, Virgil, and Delbert; sisters-in-law, Mildred (Louis), Bernice (Milfred), and Martha (Reinhold).

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, July 1, from 6-8 p.m. at the Volzke Funeral Home in Seward. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward, Nebraska. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Seward, Nebraska.

Eugene Oetting, May 29, 2019

Eugene M. “Gene” Oetting, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on May 29, 2019, in Seward, Nebraska. He was born on February 27, 1932, in Emma, Missouri, to Norbert W. and Lydia M. Nierman Oetting. He attended Holy Cross Lutheran Elementary School from 1938-1946. To continue his education and career goal of becoming a Lutheran teacher, he attended Concordia High School in Seward as a boarding student from 1946-1950. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College (now University), Seward, in 1954 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

While in college, he met Harriet “Peg” Martha Pueggel. They were united in marriage on July 19, 1953, at St. John Lutheran Church in Garner, Iowa. After their marriage, the couple moved to Houston, TX, where Gene taught and coached at the Lutheran High School for two years. They moved to Los Angeles, CA where he taught, coached and was part of the administration at the Lutheran High School from 1956 until 1967. While there, he received his Master of Arts in Religion degree in 1959 from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. In 1967, Gene received his M.A. in Education Administration from Los Angeles State University. The couple moved back to Seward in 1967, where Gene was the Director of Counseling, Professor of Education and Dean of Education until 1997 at Concordia University. Gene received his Ed.D. in Secondary Education in 1973 from the University of Nebraska. He later attended a sabbatical semester at Concordia in Irvine, CA from 1978-1979. He also taught part time at the Teachers College at UNL from 1982 until 1987. Gene retired in January of 1997.

Gene was very active on many boards and committees over the years: the Stewardship Board for the Southern California LCMS District, California Lutheran Hospital Board, Christ College Founder Board of Regents, Nebraska Council of Teacher Education, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Unit Committee, Board of Finance and Board of Elders at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward. Gene was also an instructor for Prison Ministry and led worship at Brookdale and Ridgewood Care Center. Gene held recognitions from Nebraska High School All State 6-Man Football; athletic awards as a student athlete, including Concordia and Nebraska Football Hall of Fame; Outstanding Teaching award from Concordia University and a 40-year faculty award with the LCMS. Through his years as a dean of education, he would shepherd hundreds of future teachers into their professions.

Mr. Oetting is survived by his two children, David and wife Julia Oetting, Sarasota, FL, Shauna Oetting, Seward; three grandchildren, Dimitri, Alanna, and Quinten; three brothers, Larry and wife Kitty Oetting, Lincoln, Bob and wife Carol Oetting, Charleston, IL, Dennis Oetting, Emma, MO; sister, Sharon Sherrill, Farmington, MO; sister-in-law, Carol Pueggel, Garner, IA; nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews and a host of many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Peg (2012); two sisters, Mary Ann Oetting, Lois and husband Gerald Pomerenke; infant brother, Roger Oetting; brothers-in-law, Mike Sherrill, Harold Pueggel; sisters-in-law, Donna Oetting and Viola Monahan.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2019 at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward, Nebraska from 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held June 7, 2019, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward at 1:30 p.m. with graveside service and interment at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward.