Bunge, Rev. Franz Otto 1880-1969

BUNGE, STUEMKE, WOJAHN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/19/2020 at 18:02:54

LeMars Globe-Post
September 29, 1969

Rev. Bunge Dies At Age 89;
Rites Thursday

Rev. Franz Otto Bunge, 89, a longtime Plymouth County resident, died Sunday at Floyd Valley hospital where he had been a patient for five months.

He was born in Bruessow, Germany, March 9, 1880, the son of Carl and Bertha Stuemke Bunge.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. In order to prepare himself for the holy ministry, he entered the mission institute at Breklum, Germany.

In April 1906, he emigrated to the United States and continued his studies at Luther seminary, St. Paul. He was ordained in the seminary church by Dr. H. Ernst, assisted by Dr. H. Doerman.

He was married May 11, 1909, to Ida Wojahn at Comfry, Minn. Rev. Bunge began his work in the newly opened mission field of New England, N.D.

After 13 years of untiring work, he served congregations in Sterling, Colo., and Grimes, Ia., before coming to Christ Lutheran Church, Grant township near LeMars, in 1933.

In the church at large he served as conference chairman, visitor, mission board and finance committee. He retired from the ministry in May 1950 and moved to LeMars where he since resided.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. John American Lutheran Church, LeMars.

Rev. Paul Tobiason and Rev. Palmer Wold, secretary of the Iowa district, American Lutheran Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Grant Township. The Mauer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors are his wife, Ida, LeMars; two sons, Victor of Cedar Rapids and Roland of Lake City; two daughters, Mrs. William T. (Esther) Meyer, Alamosa, Colo., and Mrs. LaVern (Martha) Pageler, LeMars; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Martin; two brothers and two sisters in Germany.