Rev. Dr. Douglas Janetzke

1948 - 2022

Rev. Dr. Douglas Janetzke
Rev. Dr. Douglas Kirk Janetzke (73), of Midland, Michigan, went to his home in heaven on November 19, 2022. Pastor Janetzke was born December 2, 1948 in Lansing, MI, the son of Reinhold and Mary Lou (nee Jolliff) Janetzke. After attending school in Lansing, Pastor graduated from Concordia colleges in Ann Arbor, MI and River Forest, IL, and from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL. He was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in Lansing, MI, on June 16, 1974. He received the Doctor of Ministry degree in October of 1983 from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. He served one parish in Fairmont, MN, and three parishes in Michigan - Roseville, Boyne City, and Midland.
After the death of his uncle at the age of 12, Pastor wanted to enter the ministry so he could share the path to salvation. As a pastor, he touched the lives of young and old by showing the love of the Savior Jesus. He encouraged, counseled, and taught children, teens, and adults that, while this life is temporary, faith in Jesus Christ would lead to eternal life.
Pastor loved being a son, brother, husband, uncle, father, and grandfather. His love of the Lord showed his family and friends that they could do all things through Christ who strengthens them. (Philippians 4:13) Now he has been taken home to the place His Savior promised. Even when adversity struck with his diagnosis of Kennedy Disease and he was disabled from being a parish pastor, he knew that the "best was yet to come."
He was an avid reader, loved traveling and gardening, researched family history, and donated 10 ½ gallons of blood. He enjoyed playing tennis, swimming, biking, and golf. Besides his parish duties as a pastor, he also participated in Minnesota South District and Michigan District committees and activities. He cherished his 18 years as a Lutheran Women's Missionary League Zone Counselor. He coordinated the collection of thousands of Bibles and religious books for New Directions Prison Ministries during his ministry and retirement. In his retirement, he assisted the Friends of the Grace A. Dow Library sorting books for the library book sales.
He married Marguerite Zerbst on February 28, 1970 in Alpena, MI. She survives him along with two sons, Joshua (Kari) and Andrew (Emily) and six grandchildren: Abigail and Jakob; Julia, Hannah, Caleb, and Matthias. Also surviving are brother Philip, and sister Shari (Terry) Roe; sister-in-laws Tammy Janetzke, Sue Janetzke, and Kaylyn (Rev. Daniel) Wurster; aunt Vivian Buscemi; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pastor Janetzke was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Barry and Randy.
Visitation will be on Sunday, November 27, from 2 to 4 PM and 5 to 7 PM at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home 1200 West Wheeler Street, Midland. Funeral service will be at St. John's Lutheran Church, 505 E. Carpenter St., Midland, at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 28, with family greeting guests starting at 10:00 AM at the church. The funeral will be shown online on St. John's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sjlmidland. Burial will take place at Fairmount-Willow Hills Memorial Park in Willow Springs, Illinois at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested for the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund (St. Louis, MO), Lutheran Indian Ministries (Brookfield, WI), or to any of the churches where Pastor Janetzke served.