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Below are obituaries from the past 6 months.
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 Herman Daenzer, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on December 9, 2019, in Seward, Nebraska. He was born on November 13, 1930, in Conroy, Iowa, to Albert and Ada Zuber Daenzer. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy, Iowa and attended the church’s one room school, graduating in 1944. He graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1948 and then attended Concordia Teacher’s College in River Forest, Illinois, graduating in 1952. He then attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated in 1959. He married Bonnie Kroeger in June of 1952 and they were blessed with three children – David, Beth, and Douglas. Throughout his career he taught at schools in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (1952-1955) and St. Louis, Missouri (1955-1965). He then taught at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska for 30 years, retiring in July of 1995.
Mr. Daenzer is survived by his wife Bonnie; his children, Beth (Steave) Landon, Douglas (Sandy) Daenzer; daughter-in-law, Katrina Daenzer; grandchildren, Sean (Audrey) Daenzer, Alycia (Ben) Miskle, Trevor Landon; step grandchildren, Casey (Alyssa) Trimble, Kami Tash, Kelli Woods, Stacey Trimble; great grandchildren, Lucia, Monica and Renata Daenzer, Payton, Parker and Paisley Trimble, Tess and Tatum Tash, Everleigh and Aiden Woods; sister, Frieda Wenck; brother, Franklin Daenzer; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Mohr, Joyce (David) Wenck; brother-in-law, Richard Hentzen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Ada Daenzer and son, David Daenzer.
Visitation will be at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward on Sunday, December 15 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. with family greeting guests from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held December 16, 2019, at 10:30 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward.
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.
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, 3rd 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.
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.
The Reverend Dr. Richard E. Bolling, pastor emeritus, Papillion, Nebraska, departed this life on October 20, 2019, at the age of 92. Richard was born on July 4, 1927, in Omaha to William and Maude Bolling. On September 27, 1950, he married Dorothy Lamphier and to this union one son was born. Prior to entering the Office of the Holy Ministry, Richard farmed in the Papillion area.
Richard was ordained on June 16, 1968, by Rev. Otto Truog at First Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska. During his ministry Pastor Bolling served the following congregations: Grace, Three Forks, and Zion, Whitehall, Montana (1968-1973); St. John, Cheboygan, Michigan (1973-1976); and St. Peter, Randall, Minnesota (1976-1993). He also served as chaplain at Lutheran Senior Citizens Home in Little Falls, Minnesota (1978-1999).
Following his retirement in 1993, Richard and Dorothy moved back to the Papillion area where their son, Dwayne, lives. Pastor Bolling received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, in 2010 at the age of 83. While retired, Richard continued to serve the Lord of the Church by teaching Sudanese pastors, working with Lutheran Heritage Foundation, preaching, and teaching Bible studies.
Pastor Bolling is survived by one son, Dwayne (Denise) Bolling; two grandchildren, James (fiancé Breanna) and Kristi; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, parents, and a brother, Robert.
The funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church, Papillion, Nebraska, on Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary in Papillion on Friday, October 25, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Interment will be at Cedar Dale Cemetery in Papillion.
Memorials are suggested to Lutheran Heritage Foundation. http://www.lhfmissions.org/
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 L. Boerger, Jr., Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus, departed this life on October 13, 2019, in McCook, NE. He was born on November 14, 1929, in The Grove, Texas, to Rev. Fred and Lena Mayer Boerger. He was baptized in 1929 and confirmed in 1944. He attended schools in Texas, Colorado and Kansas, receiving his BA in Education from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, and his graduate degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was married to Lois Wehmeier. In 1952, Fred began his teaching ministry in the Lutheran schools. Throughout his career, he served as teacher and principal at schools in Michigan, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois. They retired to McCook, Nebraska in 1994. Fred enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and was active at Peace Lutheran Church, assisted at Victory Christian Academy, and the Toy Box. He enjoyed working with Crossroads Prison Ministries and was active in Right to Life.
Mr. Bergt is survived by his son, Michael Boerger (Washington, DC); daughters, Cindy Boerger (Oklahoma City, OK), Beth (Jon) Sonntag (Wood Dale, IL) and Karen Roland (McCook, NE); grandchildren Wyatt Roland, Jesselyn Roland, and Cody (Megan) Roland, parents of great-grandchild Aedan Roland; brother, Paul (Carol) Boerger (Stillwater, WI); and numerous family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents, Fred and Lena Boerger; son-in-law, Terry Roland; and his sister, Lois Albrecht.
The funeral service will be held Friday, October 18, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook, NE. Memorials can be given to the Board of Missions of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod or to Concordia University, Nebraska. Condolences and memorials may be sent to the attention of Karen Roland, 39004 Road 715, McCook, NE 69001.
Hermann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements.
Lucy Bird Honig, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emerita, departed this life on September 30, 2019, in Seward, Nebraska. She was born on February 20, 1936, in McFarland, Kansas, to Alzie and Lucy E. Harris Schanefelt. She attended a short training program at Concordia Teachers College after high school and began teaching in a one room school house in Hope, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Martin L. Honig in Harrington, KS on June 24, 1956. They both taught in Lutheran schools. Lucy returned to school and received her Bachelors Degree from Concordia, graduating with her daughter Vicki in 1984. Throughout her ministry, she served at schools in Beatrice, Battle Creek, and Sidney, Nebraska and in Minnesota and Illinois. She retired from teaching in June of 2000.
Lucy is survived by her son, James (Sheryl) Honig (Ellison Bay, WI); daughters, Vicki (Rod) Woebbecke (Seward, NE); Valerie (Len) Mikles (Columbus, OH); Virginia “Ginny” Gray (Jim Williams) (Minneapolis, MN); grandchildren, Chris (Liz) Honig, Tim (Stacy) Honig, Stephanie Woebbecke, Gretchen (Travis) Pollak, Ethan Mikles, Laurel Mikles, Keith Gray, Jadzie Gray, and Morgan Gray; great grandchildren, Hanah Honig and Logan Pollak; brothers-in-law, Gary (Darlene) Schmidt (Illinois) and Harvey (Jean) Honig (Wisconsin); sisters-in-law, Prissy Schaenfelt (Gallup, NM), Eunice Filar (Florida) and Lillian (Ken) Millman (Florida). She was preceded in death by her parents, Alzie and Lucy Schanefelt; husband, Martin Honig; brothers, Proter H. Brooks and wife, Norma, Perry Schanefelt; and great granddaughter, Eliana Honig.
Visitation will be at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward, on Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held Friday, October 18, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Interment will be at Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery East in Seward.
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.
