The Rev. John W. Stehr, age 95, of Waconia, died Saturday Feb. 24, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waconia.
Services took place Wednesday Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia with the Revs. Peter Peitsch and Donald Taylor officiating. Interment was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
Rev. Stehr was born May 31, 1911 in Chester Township, Lake City, the son of John Wilhelm and Pauline (Sprikes) Stehr. He was baptized July 11, 1911 at St. James Lutheran Church, Chester Twp., Lake City by the Rev. Paul Beck, and confirmed June 7, 1925 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lincoln Twp., Lake City by the Rev. W. F. Rolf.
He was united in marriage to Martha Ann Hass June 22, 1937 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tenstrike, Minn. by the Rev. Arthur A. Dierks.
John was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Janet Stehr; parents John Wilhelm and Pauline Stehr; brothers Ernest, Rudolph, Albert and Herbert; and sisters Henrietta, Ida, Florence and Lenora.
John was educated at Concordia College in St. Paul, Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind., and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. He was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry Missouri Lutheran Synod Aug. 25, 1936 at Tenstrike – Blackduck parish by the Rev. J. C. Meyer, district president.
He served as pastor in many churches, assisted at Faith, Mount Zion, Mount Calvary Minneapolis under Pastor VanHusen, Tenstrike – Blackduck Parish, Red Lake Falls, Wylie, Plummer Parish, and St. John, Wood Lake, retiring from Trinity, Waconia May 31, 1981.
He was involved as Lutheran Laymen’s League counselor, served on the MN South District Board for a number of years, was Carver County Circuit Counselor for six years, helped organize Trinity Seniors for Christ at Waconia, served as a money counter at Trinity after retiring, from 1976-1998; and was Carver County Circuit Director for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.
John treasured the 45-plus years the Lord gave him to serve in the various congregations. He enjoyed his family and attending family gatherings. He also loved the great out-of-doors, hunting, fishing, golfing, camping, gardening, lawn work, and traveling to observe the great and many wonders of God’s world.
Rev. Stehr is survived by his loving family: wife Martha; children and spouses Harriet and Rev. Myron Sordahl of Hartford Wis., Phyllis and Donald Schneewind of Cologne, John and Kathryn Stehr of Minnetonka, Richard Stehr of Maplewood, and Rev. Ronald and Gloria Stehr of Redwing; grandchildren Peter Sordahl, Wanda and Brian Schwartz, Wanita and Brian Stray, Mark and Joelle Sordahl, Steven and Stacy Sordahl, Cynthia and Rev. David Hormann, Pamela and Timothy Bierbaum, Randall and Allison Schneewind, Jennifer and Randy Cislo, Tiffany Stehr, Stephanie and Dan Brown, Samantha and James Taveirne, Mark Stehr and fiancée Heidi Niedernhofer, Amanda Stehr and fiancé Marcus Didion, Joshua and Jennifer Stehr, Heidi and Brian Schwartz, Greta Stehr and fiancé Paul Ford, and Spencer Stehr.
He is further survived by great-grandchildren Zacharie Hormann, Matthew Hormann, Katelyn Schneewind, Brooke Schneewind, Jacob Sordahl, Nickoly Bierbaum, Jonah Cislo, Lucas Stray, Myra Stray, Isabel Schwartz, and Ethan Stehr; sister Alice Finstuen of Redwing; sisters-in-law Luella Stehr of Lake City, and Vera Hass of Tenstrike; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. ,
Rev. Stehr’s grandchildren were his casket bearers.
Arrangements were with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia.
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