Letzring, Rev. Theodore A. (1929-2018)

LETZRING, OESTREICH, BARGMANN, OHM, FRIEDRICHSEN, ELYEA

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/29/2018 at 14:44:24

Rev. Theodore A. Letzring
February 8, 1929 - August 6, 2018

At the age of 89 years, 5 months, 28 days, the soul of Reverend Theodore Alvin “Jackie” Letzring was taken up by his guardian angel from his home on Monday, August 6, 2018, into the eternal presence of the One True Triune God. The only son of Theodore August Letzring and his wife, Helen Minnie, née Oestreich, he was born at home in New Salem, North Dakota, on February 8, 1929. Baptized in the Holy Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem by Rev. Ralph T. Schuriet and confirmed in his faith there in July 1944 by Rev. Walter A Haneman, he attended public elementary school and high school at New Salem, graduating in 1947. In 1949, at the suggestion of Pastor Vernon Harley, he enrolled in Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, and graduated in 1956. As a member of the Concordia Seminary Choir during his school years, he sang for the Lutheran Hour Radio Broadcast and had many chorus tours in the United States and Canada. In 1951, the choir went on a six-week tour to England as well.

In 1955, he married Caroline Bargmann of New Salem. A graduate of Concordia Teachers College of Seward, Nebraska, she taught in public grade schools in North Dakota and in a parochial school in Minnesota. Subsequently, they had five children: Carlotta Lee (1956 – married Ron Ohm in 1979); Thomas Theodore (1957 – married Mardi Schwichtenberg in 1979); Timothy Albert (1958 – married Janice Hoganson in 1990); Crystal Lynn (1962 – married Steven Friedrichsen in 1981); and Charlene Ruth (1966 – married Roger K. Elyea in 1990). They were, further, blessed with fifteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Pastor Letzring served as vicar at Council Bluffs under the tutelage of Dr. Lobeck, the former president of Iowa District West. After graduating from the Seminary, he was ordained and installed as Pastor at Anthon, serving there from 1956 to 1959. Over the years to come, he would serve at several other communities: from 1959 to 1966, at Yorktown; from 1966 until 1975, the dual parishes of Zion, in Auburn, and St. Peters, in Sac City; from 1975 until 1981, at Immanuel in Schleswig; from 1981 until 1988, in Iowa District East at Immanuel in Charlotte; and finally from 1988 until 2002, at Trinity in Royal, bringing his ministry to a close. Afterwards, he filled in for many vacancies and provided cover for various pulpits throughout the years.

As a member of the Concordia Cub Weeks staff for twenty-five years and a board member of Io-Dis-E-Ca Camp in Eastern Iowa for six years, he performed other services and works for the Lord. He served as circuit counselor numerous times throughout his ministry. In addition, he attended State of the Church and Free Conferences where he stood firm to uphold the tenets of the One, True Faith. Daily, he enjoyed reading Christian News, and he kept informed on world politics through Fox News.

Pastor Letzring is survived by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Pastor Theodore Letzring of Alta will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, August 12, 2018, at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hanover, Iowa. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church at Hanover with the family present. Services are under the direction of the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.

Redig Funeral Home, Aurelia, Iowa, 2018.

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