Walter Wangerin Obituary

Rev. Walter Martin Wangerin Sr. age 90, a resident of Colorado Springs, died on December 30, 2007 in Colorado Springs. Walter was born on August 21, 1917 in Lexington, Kentucky, a son of the late Reverend Walter C. and Erna nee Geertz Wangerin. He was baptized on September16, 1917 at St. John Church, Lexington, Kentucky by his father and was also ordained in the Lutheran pastoral ministry on May 9, 1943, by his father at Immanuel Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Walter is survived by his wife Virginia L. Storck, they were married on May 16, 1943 at Hope Church, St. Louis, Missouri. He is also survived by four sons and two daughters and their children and grandchildren. In addition, a number of families in various places around the world have adopted him and his wife as parents and grandparents. Walter was preceded in death by his son Michael in February 2007. Walter graduated from Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana and from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his MSEd degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks and his PhD degree from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Rev. Wangerin had served various congregations in Oregon, Washington, North Dakota and Colorado. He was the Assistant Executive Secretary of the International Walther League, with an office at 875 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois. He was past President of Concordia College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Professor of Theology and Education at Concordia Teachers College (CTC), River Forest, Illinois and while at CTC, he served as Director of Special Ministries and the Director of Christian Education (DCE) Programs, Editor of the l6-book Concordia Catechism Series for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Concordia Publishing House. Walter and Virginia had a Special ministry among the Chinese people in Southeast Asia living in Hong Kong. They were called and sent to this foreign mission ministry by St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois by Dr. Robert Bartz, Senior Pastor. He was the Executive Director Southeast Asia Lutheran Association for Higher Education and a counselor for Lutheran Southeast Asia Christian Education Curriculum Association and a Professor of Concordia Seminary, Yau Yat Chuen, Hong Kong, Professor of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Sha Tin, Hong Kong and a guest Lecturer at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Graveside services and interment will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Concordia Cemetery in St. Louis Missouri. Memorial donations may be made to Concordia College, Edmonton, Canada; IRlM, Chicago, IL; Lutheran Deaconess Assn, Valparaiso, IN; Lutheran World Relief; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO; Valparaiso University scholarship fund for fulltime church workers.