Rev. Raymond G. BARZ

BARZ, DOMBROWSKI, HAGEN, THIEMANN, BORN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/11/2010 at 12:28:53

The Garner Leader & Signal - Iowa
April 9, 2008

The Rev. Raymond G. Barz, age 95, of Weyauwega, Wisconsin, died on Thursday, March 27, 2008, at the Bethany Home in Waupaca. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 2, at the Hope United Church of Christ in Fremont. Pastor Alex Tychkin and Pastor Harvey Kandler officiated. Burial was in the Wolf River Cemetery. The Lewin Funeral Home of Fremont was in charge of the arrangements.

He was born on March 5, 1913 in Klemme, Iowa, the son of the late Henry and Clara (Born) Barz. Raymond graduated from the Klemme High School in 1930. He then attended Mission House College and Seminary from 1931 to 1939, and then returned home to the family farm. On January 14, 1942, Raymond married Viola Thiemann in Klemme. Together they farmed the family farm from 1941-1953. Viola preceded him in death on July 21, 1997. In 1953, Raymond returned to the Seminary for an abbreviated course and graduated from the Seminary on May 15, 1953. He was then ordained in Klemme in 1953. Pastor Barz then accepted a call on May 25, 1953 to become the pastor of the St. John’s United Church of Christ in Peterson, Iowa. On September 1, 1960, Pastor Barz and his family moved to Fremont, Wisconsin where he served at the Hope United Church of Christ until retiring in 1984. Following retirement, Pastor Barz served as an interim Pastor for churches in Stockbridge, Brillion, Neenah, Black Creek, Hancock, Royalton and Clintonville until September 1994. After retirement, Pastor Barz continued on as a member of the Hope United Church of Christ in Fremont, where he sang in the choir and served as the outdoor custodian. He was also a member of the Fremont Friendly Seniors and delivered Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed playing senior citizen dart ball and bowling, and loved traveling with his wife, Vi, golfing, and playing cards.

Pastor Barz is survived by two sons, Leland of Plover and Gaylon (Mary) of Amherst Junction, Wisconsin; daughter, Heidi of Portland, Oregon; two grandchildren, Lisa (Joel) Dombrowski of Amherst and Ryan (Heidi) Barz of Amherst; two great-grandchildren, Noah and Marcus Barz; a sister, Avis (Eldon) Hagen of Klemme; three sisters-in-law, Ihla Barz of Garner, Gladys Barz of Waterloo and Grace Thiemann of Klemme; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.