STAEHLING, Otto C. 1913-2002

STAEHLING

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 4/19/2009 at 20:05:42

PASTOR OTTO C. STAEHLING

NORTHWOOD, IOWA - Pastor Otto C. Staehling, 88, of Northwood, died Saturday (March 9, 2002) at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood with the Rev. Paul Holmer officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at First Lutheran Church in Northwood and also for one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Conner Colonial Chapel of Northwood is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the First Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Retirement Home, both in Northwood.

Otto was born May 4, 1913, in Myrtle, Minn., the son of Pastor J.O. and Anna M. (Ide) Staehling. He was baptized and confirmed by his father at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle, Minn. He attended grade school in Myrtle and in 1931 graduated from Albert Lea High School.

He graduated from Wartburg College in Clinton, Iowa, in 1935 and continued his education at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, graduating in 1938. On May 29, 1938, he was ordained at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle, Minn., by his father and installed as pastor of the Bethlehem congregation.

Pastor Otto was united in marriage to Ruth Studier at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Aug. 21, 1938. He served as pastor there until September of 1969. From December 1945 until September 1969, he also served as Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Northwood, which later united with First Lutheran Church in Northwood.

From September 1969 until May 1972, Pastor Otto worked for Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn., after which, he served as pastor at two congregations in North Dakota - Trinity Lutheran Kintyre and St. Andrew's Zeeland. In 1978, Pastor Otto and Ruth moved to Northwood where he served as chaplain at the Lutheran Retirement Home for six years.

Pastor Otto is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Northwood; two sons, David Staehling and his wife, Deanna, of Raytown, Mo. and Philip Staehling and his wife, Sheryl, of Bethany, Mo.; two daughters, Ruth Schlange and her husband, Darrell, of Palos Heights, Ill., and Mary Dick and her husband, David, of Streator, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, four sisters, and one great-grandchild.

Conner Colonial Chapel, (641) 324-1543.

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