Dr. Rev. Herman G. Stuempfle Jr.

GETTYSBURG Rev. Dr. Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., 83, died Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the Gettysburg Lutheran Retirement Village after a long illness. He was the husband of Gretchen (Parkinson) Stuempfle, his wife of 50 years. Born April 2, 1923, in Clarion, he was the son of the late Herman G. and Helen (Wolfe) Stuempfle, Sr. Rev. Dr. Stuempfle was a resident of Gettysburg for more than five decades and was best known as the President of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, serving as professor, dean, and president for a total of 27 years. He attended Hughesville public schools, and was a graduate of Susquehanna University and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He received additional advanced degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York and a doctoral degree at Southern California School of Theology at Claremont. Before coming to Gettysburg Seminary in 1962 as professor of preaching, he served congregations in Baltimore, Md., York, and Christ Lutheran Church, Gettysburg. For four years, he was associate director of the Board of Social Ministry of the United Lutheran Church in America. In addition to his teaching, he served as seminary chaplain for a brief time and in 1981 he became dean of Gettysburg Seminary. Following his inauguration in 1976 as the 10th president of the Seminary, he spent 13 years of service as its president. He retired in 1989. Rev. Dr. Stuempfle was the author of several books and numerous articles and lectures on preaching, history, and theology. He was also among the most honored and respected hymn writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Rev. Dr. Stuempfle was known for his leadership in community and civic projects. Always taking an active stance on social issues, he participated in the creation of day care centers, served on the Gettysburg interchurch social action committee, helped create and support prison ministries and a homeless shelter, and tutored young people in the after school program of Christ Lutheran Church, where he was a long time member. He also served as Chairman of the team for the recent renovation project at the church. Rev. Dr. Stuempfle has been honored many times with honorary degrees. He became the first recipient of the Gettysburg Seminary Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989. Some of his other honors include the 2006 Eisenhower Humanitarian Award from the Gettysburg Rotary organization; the Peacemaker Award from the Gettysburg area based Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice; and the elite status of the Fellows of the Hymn Society in 2004 from The Hymn Society of the United States. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Kristin J. Stuempfle of Gettysburg; two sons, Stephen P. Stuempfle and his wife, Nancy of Miami, Fla., and David S. Stuempfle and his companion, Nancy Gottovi of Seagrove, N.C.; a sister, Jean Doneker of Easton; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Abiding Presence on the campus of the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary with the Revs. Stephen R. Herr and Mark W. Oldenburg officiating. A private interment will be held in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg. The family will receive friends following the memorial service on the first floor of Valentine Hall on the Seminary campus. Monahan Funeral Home, Gettysburg, is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to The Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. Chair of Proclamation of the Word, 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325; or to Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, PA 17325.