Eldon DeWeerth

1941 - 2025

Eldon DeWeerth, loving husband, father, grandfather, partner and retired Lutheran Pastor, passed away, after a brief illness, on Monday, April 14, 2025. He was 83.

Eldon was born on November 2, 1941, in Bradford, IL. He grew up on a farm in Bradford and graduated from Bradford High School and Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Eldon married his high school sweetheart, Mary Dewey, on June 22, 1963.

Eldon earned Master's Degrees from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He was ordained to the ministry and served congregations in Edmonds and Longview, WA. Eldon and Mary moved to Bloomington, MN, in 1972, when Eldon began working at the headquarters of the American Lutheran Church. Their life in Minnesota was filled with family camping trips, crosscountry skiing and wonderful family friends in Bloomington. The family moved to the Chicago area, in 1987, when Eldon became the inaugural Executive Director of Congregational Life in the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In 1992, Eldon began 15 years of ministry at Redeemer Lutheran Church, in White Bear Lake, MN. Eldon was devoted to serving others through his ministry. He was creative in leading worship, whether preaching dressed as Martin Luther for Reformation Sunday or engaging in clown ministry and storytelling. Eldon cared deeply about other people and walked with countless church members through the joys and sorrows that life brings. Eldon was gracious and open-hearted, a natural mediator.

He loved people, music and travel adventures. He was a gifted cook and baker all his life. He also enjoyed photography and fishing and he and Mary were avid Minnesota Twins fans. They were blessed to spend many summers on family trips with their daughters and grandchildren.

From 2013-2017, Eldon lived in New Hartford, NY, and was active in membership and ministry at Zion Lutheran Church in New Hartford.

Grateful for having shared his life are his daughters, Jennifer DeWeerth (Steve Ellingson) and Deborah Hofland (John). He is also survived by his four grandsons, Zach and Mesafint Ellingson and Evan and Sam Hofland, who loved their "Poppy"; and Barbara McGary, his partner for the last nine years.

Eldon was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; their daughter, Rebecca; his parent; and his brother, Paul.

There will be a Memorial Service at First Church in Ipswich, MA, on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. A service celebrating Eldon's life is being planned for this summer at Redeemer Lutheran Church as well.

Memorial gifts may be made to any of the congregations where Eldon lived out his life of faith, Philips Academy of NC or the YWCA Mohawk Valley.