Rev. Theodore L. Staudacher, Died December 20, 2018

Rev. Theodore Louis Staudacher

Died Dec. 20, 2018

EAST LELAND - Rev. Theodore Louis Staudacher, age 81, of Pingree Grove, former Associate Pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran - East Dundee, St. Paul’s Lutheran - Thornton, and St. John Lutheran Church - Mount Prospect, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 20th, surrounded by family at the Grove of St. Charles Nursing and Rehab Center after a lengthy battle with many ailments.

Ted was born in Saginaw, Michigan on March 28, 1937 and was the son of Rev. Raymond & Gladys (nee Steffens) Staudacher.  The oldest of 8 children, he left home at the age of 14 to attend Concordia Prep School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

During his time in preparation for the ministry, “Pastor Ted” as he was affectionately called, worked various odd jobs.  He was a cowboy, railroader, barber, and stock boy at a five and dime that Senator Joseph McCarthy once patronized.

Pastor Staudacher earned both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Divinity from Concordia University, Fort Wayne, where he also utilized his musical gifts singing bass/baritone and touring with the men’s acapella singing group, The Choralites.  He was ordained into the Christian Ministry on July 8, 1962 at St. Peters Lutheran, Kinde, Nebraska.

Over his 37 years in the ministry, he served as an Associate Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee (1963-1965), Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Thornton IL (1965-1974), Head Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect (1974-1979), and twenty years as Head Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Topeka, KS (1979-1999).

In retirement, he served as Associate Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Good Harbor, Michigan and filled in from time to time at various parishes in and around Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula, MI from 1999-2015. Pastor Staudacher and his wife, Carol, returned to the Fox Valley area in 2015 to be closer to family and re-connected with Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee where he was a member until joining the church triumphant.

Pastor Staudacher is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Carol L. Hochsprung to whom he was married on June 24, 1962 at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Chicago. Over their 56 years of marriage, God blessed them with 4 children, Timothy P., MD (Janine), David J. (Stephanie), Mark A., MD (Heather) Staudacher and Teri (Luke, MD.) Evans, 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.  Other survivors include his sisters, Lois Porath, Barbara (Alan) Buelt as well as a brother, Jon (Kim) Staudacher, his In-Laws include Kenneth (Marysue) Hochsprung, Robert (Deanna) Runge and Ronald (Lynda Bowlin) Hochsprung.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Leland with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m.  Pastor Joshua LaFeve will officiate.  Burial in East Leland Cemetery will be announced in the Spring.

  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either; Immanuel Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 436, Leland, MI 49653.

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