Hans George Dumpys

In Memoriam
Hans George Dumpys
After a long life of faith and service, retired Bishop Hans G. Dumpys of the Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora passed away on July 23, 2024, at Loyola Hospital in Maywood, IL, at the age of 91. He spent his last days surrounded by his wife of 57 years, Donna, and their children, Christa and Jon. Hans will be remembered as a devoted minister and student of theology, with a keen and sensitive intellect, a passion for music and the arts, and as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.
Hans was born on July 7, 1933, on his family's farm near the village of Nibrai in Lithuania. In 1944, the family was forced to flee from the advancing war front, spending years in refugee and displaced persons camps across Germany. The family was sponsored for resettlement to Hutchinson, MN, in 1949 by the Lutheran World Federation, and teen-aged Hans – the eldest child and only English speaker – absorbed responsibilities beyond his age in the transition. The experiences of war, displacement, and the challenge of faith would shape his life and vocation.
Hans was drawn to the academy and to ministry, earning a B.A. in history and philosophy from Augsburg College; a B.D (valedictorian) from Lutheran Seminary in Maywood, IL; a Master of Theology degree from Harvard Divinity School (studying with James Luther Adams); and completing all PhD requirements besides dissertation at Princeton Theological Seminary. Above all, Hans considered himself a practicing theologian in several modalities: as instructor and pastor for students at Augsburg, a leader in the summer chapel program at Harvard, and eventually, as full-time pastor of parishes in Michigan, Massachusetts, Germany, Manitoba, Iowa, and Illinois. He ministered in English, Lithuanian, and German, and his most notable service would be with the bilingual Teviske Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Home Church (Chicago, IL) and as Bishop of the Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora (1991-2006).
Hans' ordination as Bishop came shortly after the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990. He was invited to assist in the renewal of the Church after 50 years of Soviet occupation, and commenced 15 years of annual travel to Lithuania, representing the local bishop in several capacities. He served as an advisor to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) council in
ecumenical affairs and represented the Church in various LWF forums, travelling internationally to conferences, council meetings, and other assemblies where he experienced the global Lutheran family firsthand.
Hans' work in ministry depended upon the love and partnership of his wife, Donna (née Benson). They met through Donna's brothers, Tom and John Benson, who were Hans' classmates at Augsburg College. They married in 1966, drawn together in part by a shared love of Bach and public service. Across several moves for Hans' work, Donna helped them establish home and community in new places while they raised a daughter and a son. In 1987, the family finally settled in Oak Park, IL. Through Hans' retirement in 2006 and beyond, he and Donna enjoyed the rich cultural offerings of the Chicago area,particularly classical music. He described Bach as the best expositor of the faith besides the great theologians, which for him included Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard, Lu, Niebuhr, and Tillich. In retirement, Hans served as a visitation pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL, where he also coordinated an intellectual dialogue group, and wrote celebrations of historical saints.
Hans is survived by Donna, his wife; Christa, his daughter (husband Michael); Jon, his son (wife Stacey); Liv, his granddaughter; and Ruta, his sister. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Martyn, and their parents, Marie and Jonas. He cherished the people and pleasures that accompanied him in this life, and will be missed by extended loved ones, friends, and those whom he served. Hans will lie in state, Friday, August 2, 2024, 10 A.M. to time of funeral service 11 A.M. at Grace
Lutheran Church, River Forest, IL; flowers are welcome. The service will be available via livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/XZmVsEiIxLY. Family and friends will meet at Bethania Cemetery, Saturday, August 3, 2024, 11 A.M. for committal service; Donations can be made in Hans honor to: Grace Lutheran Church - Bach Cantata Fund or Teviske Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Home Church.
+ Rest eternal grant him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. + https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/hans-george-dumpys-maywood/