Rev. Dr. Frederick Stiemke

REV. DR. FREDERICK A. STIEMKE ASHEVILLE – The Rev. Stiemke, 81, trusting in Jesus’ grace and forgiveness, was called out of this life on Friday, October 8 2010, to the waiting arms of his heavenly Father. He was born in Baltimore, MD, son of the Rev. Dr. Adolf John Stiemke and his wife, Adele Hoffman Stiemke. He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, after internships in institutional chaplaincy in Baltimore, MD, and Columbia, SC. He initially served Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregations in Georgia and Virginia. After receiving certification as a clinically trained hospital chaplain at the Medical College of VA, he became a Lutheran Institutional Chaplain in Raleigh and Butner, NC. There he divided his ministry between psychiatric and mental retardation facilities, and also as a guest preacher at the NC Correctional Center for Women from 1967-1974. He completed his years serving with institutionalized persons as the chief chaplain for Bethesda Lutheran Home and Services, Inc. in Watertown, WI, a corporation then providing institutional, and community residential training, supported and independent living homes in States east of the Rocky Mountains for individuals who happen to be developmentally disabled. As such he also helped develop religious educational materials for persons in this target population and provided workshops, printed and audio-visual materials to assist community churches to provide inclusive ministries for persons with special learning and physical challenges. He held positions with his national church body as a member of its Commission on Services to the Persons with Developmental Disabilities, as well as the Lutheran Council USA’s Committee on Specialized Pastoral Care and Services. Since his retirement in Asheville in 1994, he has most recently served as Visitation Pastor and one year as Vacancy Pastor for Emmanuel Lutheran Church, of which he was an active member. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of the Cloisters Homeowners Association and as its president. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jean Stiemke, 3 sons – John, of PA; Mark and Cheryl of NC; and David and his wife Susan, of WI. He is also the proud grandfather of 15 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He has a deceased sister, Eugenia Stiemke, and is survived by a sister, Emily Stiemke, of Salisbury, MD, and sister-in-law, Carol Seeley and family of Bishopville, MD and New York. His family and those he served remember Dr. Stiemke for his deep commitment to Jesus and Christ’s saving love, and for his compassionate heart for all people – especially the “underdogs of society”. A service to the witness of the resurrection through the Lord Jesus Christ will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 24th at 4:00 p.m., with the Rev. Dr. Michael McFarland officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to the Bethesda Lutheran Communities (Foundation), 700 Hoffmann Dr., Watertown, WI 53094, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 51 Wilburn Pl., Asheville, NC 28806-2752 or to the Student Scholarship Fund, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.