Michael J. Stelmachowicz

The Rev. Dr. Michael J. Stelmachowicz Michael Joseph Stelmachowicz, born September 18, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, was called home to heaven on December 30, 2009. He was the son of Michael J. and Esther Stelmachowicz (nee Boylan). Michael is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty, and one grandchild, Cassandra. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Dr. Ronnie L. Rivers of Winfield, KS; a sister, Shirley Judd of Baltimore, MD; and his children and 16 grandchildren. Michael was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO. He is a graduate of St. John's College, Winfield, KS, and Concordia Teacher's College, Seward, Nebraska. Rev. Stelmachowicz earned a Masters in Education, Counseling from St. Louis University and a Masters of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary (LCMS) St. Louis, MO. He earned a Ph.D in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Michael married Betty A. Rivers on June 14, 1949, in Port Arthur, Texas. The couple was blessed with five children, Candyce Kaye Seider and husband Bryan, Cheryl Wawrzyniak and husband Roland, Cary Stelmachowicz and wife Carla, Crystal Welter and husband Michael, and Corrie Klatt and husband Daniel and 17 grandchildren. The Rev. Dr. Michael Stelmachowicz served as a Lutheran Teacher, Lutheran High School principal at Lutheran High South in St. Louis, MO, Professor and Dean of Students at Concordia Teacher's College, Seward Nebraska, Superintendent of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Detroit, President of St. John's College, Winfield, KS, President of Concordia Teacher's College, Seward, Nebraska, Executive Director of the Board for Higher Education of the LCMS, CEO of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Interim President of Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin. In retirement he served as Assistant Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas and was appointed by ULBRA (Lutheran University of Brazil) as Ambassador to North America. Dr. Michael J. Stelmachowicz was instrumental in starting Concordia Academy (Lutheran High School) in Austin, Texas and established the CA High Five Club. Suggestions for memorial gifts: Concordia Academy, Austin, Texas; Living Word Lutheran High School, Jackson, Wisconsin; Kansas City Lutheran High School; and any Concordia University in the Concordia University System in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Memorials also appreciated to the Lutheran Hour and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Austin, Texas. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3501 Red River in Austin, with Rev. Mark Nuckols and Rev. Nilo Figur officiating. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville. Pallbearers will be Brett Seider, Blake Seider, Casey Stelmachowicz, Austen Welter, Cody Welter, Jake Wawrzyniak, Zachary Klatt, and Jesse Welter.