Pastor Joel Gerlach of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, was called home on April 20, 2026, at the age of 97. After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1953 (Mequon, Wis.), he served as a pastor at five churches in Arizona, California, and Wisconsin (St John, Wauwatosa). From 1971 to 1981, he was a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Other service includes California Mission Counselor, Wisconsin Lutheran College Board of Regents, various boards of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, contributing editor for the Northwestern Lutheran, and part-time retirement service in New Jersey, Oregon, Alaska, Virginia, Florida, and Germany. A memorial service will take place on May 30 at 11 a.m. with visitation at 10 a.m. at St. John Ev Lutheran Church, 7809 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa. The service may be viewed at the church’s website. Please visit the Schmidt and Bartelt website for more information and details.

Pastor Wayne Mueller of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was called home on April 21, 2026. A funeral service was held at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 11 a.m. Pastor Mueller served parishes in Crete, Illinois and Waukesha, Wisconsin, before serving as professor of theology at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary from 1984 to 1990. From there he served as Administrator of Parish Services before acting as WELS Vice President of Mission and Ministry. He returned to the pastoral ministry in Jefferson, Wisconsin and Tucson, Arizona. He was a regular contributor to Forward in Christ, a television and radio preacher, especially Message from the Master, producer of the Lutheran Radio Church Service, board chairman for Lutherans for Life, board member at Wisconsin Lutheran College, missionary, published author, nationwide lecturer and motivational speaker.