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Rev. Gerhard Carl Michael obituary, 5/7/2001


Rev. Gerhard Carl Michael
Gerhard Carl Michael, age 93, died May 7, 2001. He was
born Jan. 17, 1908, in Otto, N.Y., to Carl Michael and Esther (Grube) Michael.

He graduated summa cum laude from Concordia College, Fort
Wayne, Ind. in 1927, and from Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Mo. in 1930.
In May, 1971, Concordia University, St. Paul, awarded him the honorary doctor
of letters degree.
He was ordained Aug. 24, 1930, in Power, Mont. He served
as pastor of the following Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations:
Zion, Power, Mont.; Trinity; Farmington, Mont.; St. John’s, Fairfield, Mont.
(1930-1941); Immanuel, Hankinson, N.D. (1941-1957); and St. James, Howard
Lake (1957-1985). He was instrumental in starting St. John’s, Fairfield,
Mont., and Immanuel, Litchfield.
Rev. Michael served in many leadership capacities in the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on the circuit, district, and synodical levels.
These inc1uded service as vice president in both the North Dakota and the
Minnesota South districts, as a circuit counselor, as a member of Synod’s
Board of Appeals, and as member and chairman of numerous committees. In
addition, he has written and served as editor of educational and other devotional
materials.
After his retirement in 1985, Rev. Michael remained active
in the church, serving parish vacancies and supply preaching until November
2000.
Gerhard married Augusta Kranawetter June 11, 1933, in Pocahontas,
Mo. Three sons and three daughters were born to them: Lois (Robert) Troemel
of Plymouth; Margaret (Clarence) Rivers of Valparaiso, lnd.; Rev. Gerhard
Jr. (Joan) of Orlando, Fla.; Elaine (Rev. Roger) Ruff of Bel Air, Md.; Mark
of Dayton, Ohio; and Joel (Amy) of St. Paul. There are 20 grandchildren
and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Augusta, on July
11, 1990.
Services were May 11, at St. James Lutheran Church, Howard
Lake, with the Revs. Michael Nirva and Martin Schoenfeld officiating.
Special music was provided by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League choir, with Nancy Butterfass serving as organist. Interment was at
the St. James Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Michael Troemel, Michael Ruff, Mark Ruff,
John Michael, Gregory Michael, Michael Rivers, David Rivers and Seth Michael.
Memorials are suggested to St. James Lutheran Church, Howard
Lake, or to the Gerhard C. Michael Scholarship Fund at Corcordia University,
275 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104.
Arrangements were by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home,
Howard Lake.

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Gerhard Carl Michael, age 93, died May 7, 2001. He was
born Jan. 17, 1908, in Otto, N.Y., to Carl Michael and Esther (Grube) Michael.

He graduated summa cum laude from Concordia College, Fort
Wayne, Ind. in 1927, and from Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Mo. in 1930.
In May, 1971, Concordia University, St. Paul, awarded him the honorary doctor
of letters degree.
He was ordained Aug. 24, 1930, in Power, Mont. He served
as pastor of the following Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations:
Zion, Power, Mont.; Trinity; Farmington, Mont.; St. John’s, Fairfield, Mont.
(1930-1941); Immanuel, Hankinson, N.D. (1941-1957); and St. James, Howard
Lake (1957-1985). He was instrumental in starting St. John’s, Fairfield,
Mont., and Immanuel, Litchfield.
Rev. Michael served in many leadership capacities in the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on the circuit, district, and synodical levels.
These inc1uded service as vice president in both the North Dakota and the
Minnesota South districts, as a circuit counselor, as a member of Synod’s
Board of Appeals, and as member and chairman of numerous committees. In
addition, he has written and served as editor of educational and other devotional
materials.
After his retirement in 1985, Rev. Michael remained active
in the church, serving parish vacancies and supply preaching until November
2000.
Gerhard married Augusta Kranawetter June 11, 1933, in Pocahontas,
Mo. Three sons and three daughters were born to them: Lois (Robert) Troemel
of Plymouth; Margaret (Clarence) Rivers of Valparaiso, lnd.; Rev. Gerhard
Jr. (Joan) of Orlando, Fla.; Elaine (Rev. Roger) Ruff of Bel Air, Md.; Mark
of Dayton, Ohio; and Joel (Amy) of St. Paul. There are 20 grandchildren
and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Augusta, on July
11, 1990.
Services were May 11, at St. James Lutheran Church, Howard
Lake, with the Revs. Michael Nirva and Martin Schoenfeld officiating.
Special music was provided by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League choir, with Nancy Butterfass serving as organist. Interment was at
the St. James Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Michael Troemel, Michael Ruff, Mark Ruff,
John Michael, Gregory Michael, Michael Rivers, David Rivers and Seth Michael.
Memorials are suggested to St. James Lutheran Church, Howard
Lake, or to the Gerhard C. Michael Scholarship Fund at Corcordia University,
275 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104.
Arrangements were by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home,
Howard Lake.

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