Joseph Ardy

Joseph Michael Ardy was born September 27, 1951 to Joseph J. & Evelyn (nee: Urban) Ardy of Chardon, Ohio. He was baptized at St. Mary's Catholic in Chardon on November 21.

He passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025 with his wife at his bedside.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of almost 20 years, Karen, siblings Joyce Ruznak and John Ardy, his wife Jennifer and numerous nieces and nephews. When he married Karen in 2006 he inherited a family Wayne & Jennifer Roper their sons Jeremy (Laurie), Evan, Trent (Sydney) and Kyle (Kayleigh), Brandon & Bianca Kovach their children Megan and Dylan, Tim & Lori Sloan their children Alex (Kaitlyn), Brooke and Courtney. Joe is also a great-grandpa of two additional little ones.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Joen.

When he was three years old, the family moved to Hinckley, Ohio, where he attended Hinckley and St. Ambrose Grade Schools. Confirmed in the Roman Catholic Faith in 1962 by the Archbishop of the Cleveland Diocese, Joe went on to serve as an altar boy, attaining "Grand Knight" - the highest earned level in the Knights of the Altar. In 1966 they moved to Berea, Ohio, and he graduated from Berea High School in 1970. Joe participated in Thespians, band, choir and orchestra, and was awarded the Hilty Award (now John Philip Sousa award), and was band president his senior year. While in Berea, the family's church membership was at St. Adelbert Catholic, and Joe joined the servers there also.

Pastor Ardy graduated in 1976 from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. While at Kent, he was President of the Music Student Council and Assistant Recording Engineer. He received instruction in the Lutheran faith under The Reverend David Schilling and was confirmed in that faith in May 1978. Between college and Seminary, Pastor Ardy was active as church choir director, member and President of the Cleveland Lutheran A Capella Choir, Director of the Cleveland Messiah Chorus, church officer, member of the evangelism team, Anniversary Committee Chairman, Church Growth Chairman and was employed as a machinist. At the urging of his pastor, The Reverend Raymond A. Mueller, he began to consider full time ministry.

Pastor Ardy received his Master of Divinity Degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri on May 24, 1991. His vicarage was under The Reverend Charles L. Houska at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas. His Call from the Seminary was to Salem Lutheran Church, Malone, Texas, where he served for nearly seven years prior to the Call to Ascension Lutheran Church, Cleburne. He has been a member of the District Constitution Review Committee, and has served as Chairman of the District Convention Constitution Committee, Church Extension Fund Chaplain, Area B Convocation preacher, and Circuit 18 Special Choir director. He was the musical director of 'Oliver!' twice, and 'The Wizard of Oz' with the Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players, and has been a sound mixer/tech for several other productions. For more than 20 years, Joe was volunteer chaplain for the staff at the Johnson County Child Advocacy Center, meeting weekly for Bible study and prayer. He has also served 6 years as a member of the Johnson County Steering Community of Habitat for Humanity. In 2009, Joeearned certification as a Biblical Counselor from the Biblical Counseling Institute of Fairhope, Alabama through Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Joe was also the newsletter editor for the newly-formed Chapter P in Grandbury, Texas of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

Pastor Ardy was married in 1977, and maintained that marriage for 24 years. There were no children. Divorced in 2002, he was certified by the Texas District President as eligible to continue service as a pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Ascension congregation overwhelmingly responded to retain him as their pastor. Joe retired in 2014, and continues to preach and teach in congregations in Texas. He has been Vacancy Pastor many times, helping while churches find their next full-time minister. He has volunteered to direct the adult choir at St. John Lutheran in Mansfield, Texas in 2024. Currently, he is Intentional Interim Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran in Palestine, Texas.

Joe enjoyed several hobbies, particularly woodworking, golf, fishing, music, creating Bible studies, and flying kites.

Joe has both a Facebook page with the word pastor before his name. Under videos, there are a lot of Bible classes, Confirmation classes, and sermons. His YouTube channel is @joeardy2074. Some of the Bible studies and sermons are on that channel, plus a lot of music he enjoys.