Posts in In Memoriam
In Memoriam: Arlene Helen (Iverson) Johnson

We pray for the family and friends of Arlene Helen (Iverson) Johnson—widow of the Rev. Ken Johnson—who passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on August 1, 2024, in Phoenix Arizona.

She served as church secretary at Grace Lutheran Church in Phoenix from 1979-1996. Her life was marked by her unwavering support to her husband’s pastoral work, embodying the role of a pastor’s wife with grace and resilience. They served congregations in St. Helens, Oregon; Portland, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona.

A service to celebrate Arlene’s life will be held on October 5th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee, located at 11002 S. 48th St, Phoenix, AZ 85044. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Arlene’s memory to Mountain View Lutheran Church.

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In Memoriam: Norma Jean MacAdam

We pray for the family and friends of Norma Jean MacAdam, who passed away on Palm Sunday, March 25,2024, at the age of 94. She is the wife of Rev. Thomas L. MacAdam, founder of Saved By Grace Lutheran Church in Pahrump.

Her son, Kevin MacAdam, lets us know that her memorial service will be held at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church on May 7th at 11:00 a.m. and her internment at the veterans cemetery next to Rev. MacAdam that same day at 2:00 p.m. in Boulder. Anyone that would like to attend either service is welcome.

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In Memoriam: Rev. John Roger Anderson

We pray for the family and friends of Rev. John Roger Anderson, who died December 24, 2023.

Rev. Anderson was a former bishop of the Southwest California Synod, and a former pastor at Lord of Life Church in Sun City West.

Roger's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 13th at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 West Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Ossuarium Fund (which Roger served on the committee) or the El Salvador/Sister Church Fund https://www.htlcto.org/give.

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In Memoriam: Rev. Charles Paulson

We pray for the family and friends of Rev. Charles Paulson, who died December 15, 2023.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, 2/10/2023, 11am, American Lutheran Church of Sun City (17200 N Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85373). A reception will follow the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall at noon following the memorial service. People attending the reception shout RSVP at 623-974-2512.  Lunch will be provided, and this will help them plan accordingly.

Pastor Paulson worked within the ALC congregation for twenty years and was much beloved by a good percentage of the membership as he was the intake pastor with whom they had first and often quite memorable contact.

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In Memoriam: Natalie Rimmer

We pray for Rev. Chad Rimmer, his children, and the family and friends of Natalie Rimmer, who died August 28, 2023. Many in our synod know them through their work as ELCA missionaries in Senegal.

A celebration of life was held Saturday, 2 September, at St. Philip Lutheran Church, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Excerpts of Pastor Chad’s sermon and an acknowledgment of grief can be found here, and the full service can be watched here.

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In Memoriam: Rev. Larry Resmer Stiles

We pray for Pastor Adele Stiles Resmer and the family and friends of Rev. Larry Resmer Stiles, who died unexpectedly after a fall on August 16, 2023.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023, 11 am, at The Fountains, A United Methodist Church, 15300 N Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. There will be no clergy vesting. There will be a brief reception following. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the borderlands ministry of Cruzando Fronteras.

We will provide updates as we receive them.

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In Memoriam: Larry Struve

We share a letter from Vic Williams regarding the 4/15/2023 passing of Larry Struve, who was LEAN’s advocate for many years and was a lifelong member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Reno. “He was know by many people at both ends of the state of Nevada as a tireless advocate for our state’s voiceless and underserved.“

We also share a link to Larry Struve’s book, “A Humble Walk For Justice,” in which he recounts his years as LAMN/LEAN advocate.

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