Norman Minich

1926 - 2025

Norman Minich, age 98, Frederick, Maryland, passed away on March 5, 2025.

Norman spent 62 years married to the love of his life, Joanne Minich. She passed away on October 2, 2019. He is survived by his daughters, Jeannine Willey (Christopher), Cross Junction, Virginia; Janice Milkis, Frederick, Maryland: Ruth Hobson (Gary), Richmond, Virginia; and two grandsons, Ian and Christopher.

Norman was born on October 29, 1926, the son of Urban & Anna Minich of Gibsonburg, Ohio. Norman grew up on an Ohio farm and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. After graduation from Gibsonburg High School in 1944, Norman enlisted in the Navy and graduated from the Naval Air School in Memphis, Tennessee. After being discharged he received a BS degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from the Evangelical Lutheran Theological (now Trinity) Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Norman began his ministry at First Lutheran Church in Fairport Harbor, Ohio where he met his future wife, Joanne M. Hirz. They were married in 1957. Norman then served for twelve and a half years as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brook Park, Ohio which he organized as a new mission congregation. Norman received a scholarship to attend the graduate school at University of Pennsylvania where he received a Master of City Planning degree.

He was called by the Lutheran Council in the USA (LCUSA) in New York to assist three Lutheran denominations in planning new mission congregations throughout the United States. He served as Regional Planning Director and as the Executive Director of the Division of Mission and Ministry. He concluded his active ministry by organizing Ascension Lutheran Church Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, which he served for six years.

After retirement from LCUSA Norman served as an interim minister for three congregations in Pennsylvania and Delaware. He and Joanne retired to Dover, Delaware where they lived for 13 years. In 2007 they moved to Frederick, Maryland to be near their daughters and where they became members of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fredrick, Maryland.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Homewood at Frederick, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, Maryland on April 26 from 10:30-1:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at a later time in Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brook Park, Ohio; Ascension Lutheran Church, Newtown, Pennsylvania; Tree of Life Lutheran Church, Odessa, Delaware; and Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, Maryland. Norman Minich