Arthur Rode

RODE
Arthur Emil Rode died on Monday, February 28, 2011 in the hospice unit of Knopp Healthcare and Rehab Center in Fredericksburg. A descendant of German immigrants to the Hill Country in the mid-nineteenth century Art Rode was the son on Arthur Daniel Rode and Lydia Hannemann Rode. He graduated from Taylor High School and followed his father and grandfather into the ministry of the Lutheran Church. He graduated from Texas Lutheran College, The University of Texas at Austin and from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa having earned a Master of Divinity degree. During his ministry he served congregations in Sinton (Grace), San Antonio (Government Hill), Fort Worth (Our Savior), Victoria (First English), Austin (Faith) and San Antonio (Christ/Alamo Heights). In 1983 Wartburg Theological Seminary recognized his life work by awarding him the Honorary Degree Doctor of Divinity. Following his retirement from parish ministry he served as the first bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from 1987 - 1990. In service to the larger community and church he served on many boards and committees including St. Luke's Lutheran Hospital as a director, Texas Lutheran University as a regent and as District Director for Commitment to Mission of the Southern District of the American Lutheran Church. During his military service he was a chaplain in the Texas National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. He retired with the rank of Colonel. Art Rode was a visionary leader, a faithful steward of the Gospel, a man of integrity, compassion and love. He married Dorothy Mae Arning in April 1948. He is survived by his wife and their two children; Steve and his spouse Bitsy Pratt of Boerne and Christine and her spouse Craig Borchardt of Bryan; four grandchildren, Katie Rode and her spouse Romeo Caridad of San Antonio, Anna Freemyer and her spouse Jeff of Dripping Springs, Emilie Borchardt and Joshua Borchardt both of San Antonio; and by four great grandchildren, Kaley Snyder, Jocelyn Freemyer, Cora Freemyer and Alejandro Caridad. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Mary Margaret Rode of San Antonio, a nephew Benjamin Rode of Leander and a niece Sharon Ruiz and her husband Rene of San Antonio. The funeral service for the Reverend Doctor Arthur Rode will be on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church of Alamo Heights (6720 Broadway, San Antonio 78209) followed by interment in Rode Chapel and Columbarium and a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cave Creek, Texas (P.O. Box 1218, Fredericksburg, TX 78624) or to the Dr. Arthur E. Rode Scholarship Fund at Texas Lutheran University (1000 W. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155) Local arrangements and direction by the Schaetter Funeral Home of Fredericksburg, Texas. Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com.
Schaetter's Funeral Home
301 East San Antonio Street
Fredericksburg, TX
(830) 997-2151