Rev. Ellis Karl Kretschmer

Ellis Karl Kretschmer was born in Louisville, Kentucky, November 30, 1919. He attended J.B. Atkinson Elementary School, and graduated from Louisville Maie High School in 1937. He received his A.B. Degree from the University of Louisville in 1941. He went to Springfield, Ohio attending Hamma Divinity School connected with Wittenberg University, graduating with B.D. Degree. In 1945, he was married to the late Doris G. Williams of Springfield, Ohio by Dean Elmer Flack of Hamma Divinity School. Reverend Kretschmer moved to Croton on Hudson, New York where he received a call to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, serving there from 1944-46. In 1946, he moved to Brooklyn, New York pastoring St. Mark's Lutheran Church from 1946-52. While in Brooklyn, he attended New York University receiving his M.A. in education in 1948. He also taught Religion at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Rensselaer, New York called Reverend Kretschmer as its pastor in 1952. where he served until 1957. Receiving a call in 1957 to serve the congregation of Prince of Peace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he also became a member of the Olney Symphony Orchestra as violinist. He also served as a substitute teacher in several High Schools. He received The American Legion Citation for Meritorious Service in 1959. Immanuel Lutheran Church of Manchester, Maryland called hirn Lo become their pastor in 1968 where he served until 1988. Retiring from that parish, he was appointed by the Bishop of the Maryland Synod ELCA as the first Chaplain of Frostburg Village Nursing Home, Frostburg, Maryland. While serving as Chaplain, he resided in Cumberland, Maryland and he served parishes as Interim and supply in Frostburg, Maryland churches, and Lutheran Parishes in West Virginia. The Kretschmers moved to a retirement setting in Luther Ridge,Chambersburg, P.ennsylvania in 2001. He served as Interim pastor of the Orrstown Parish, Orrstown Pennsylvania. Upon his completion of service as Interim Pastor at Orrstown, Pastor Kretschmer actively engaged in continuous education and occasionally provided chapel services for Luther Ridge residents. In August, 2014, Pastor relocated to Plum Creek. He enjoyed the Creekside assistant living facility until December. As a result of a fall, Pastor was then a resident of Plum Creek's nursing unit and it was there that he died on the afternoon of June 2, 2015, at the age of 95. He has survived by his dear friends and caregivers, Gary and Karen Ganjon. His funeral will be from Immanuel Lutheran Church on Monday,June 8, 2015. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 to 10:30 a.rn., the funeral service will begin immediate!y after visitation and burial at the New Lutheran Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3184 Church Street, Manchester, Maryland 21102. Online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com. Funeral arrangements by the ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A. of Manchester.