Reverend Arthur John Bode

Former Shelby resident, Reverend Arthur John Bode, 68, of Gould City, died suddenly Monday Jan. 24, 2022 at his residence.

Born March 12, 1953 in New Ulm, Minn., son of the late Wilmer and Marie (Gurgel) Bode, Pastor Bode was a 1971 graduate of Weseca High School in Weseca, Minn., graduate of the University of Minnesota-Crookston with an associate degree in agriculture and later from the University of New Hampshire at Durham with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry.

From 1983 to 1984 he trained and performed with the Lipizzaner Stallion Show for a year throughout the United States and Canada. He met and married his wife, the former Jody Pettengill, July 6, 1984 at East Waterboro, Maine and shortly thereafter entered ministry training and graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary of Fort Wayne, Ind. in 1988.

Pastor Bode served at St. James Lutheran Church and School, Howard Lake, Minnesota until 1991; St. Stephen Lutheran Church of Shelby, Mich. until 2003, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Engadine and Grace Lutheran Church in Germfask until his retirement in April 2021. Pastor Bode also served mission churches at Lighthouse Lutheran in Pentwater, Trout Lake Lutheran in Trout Lake, Hope Lutheran in St. Ignace and Victory Lutheran in Manistique. In 2018, he was a recipient of the Michigan District LCMS's Paul Award for his tireless work for the expansion of the Kingdom in the Upper Peninsula. Since retirement, he has led some services at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Preschool in Munising while they are in vacancy.

Pastor Bode enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, hunting, fishing and competition archery as a member of the ECUPAA in Curtis.

In addition to his parents, Pastor Bode is preceded in death by his sister, Flora Cole; brother, Mark Bode, sister-in-law Linda Bode; brothers-in-law Rick Harkins and Dana Pettengill.

Survivors include his loving wife, Jody, of Gould City; children, Kiel Bode of Ludington, Mich., Bree Bode of Hudsonville, Mich., Adrienne (Daniel) Goldstein of Portsmouth, N.H. and Jeffrey (Erica) Bode of Grand Rapids, Mich.; grandchildren, Brooke, Kaden, Kolby, Kameron, Kora, Jack, Samuel and William; siblings, Gerald Bode of Mapleton, Minn., Nathan (Cheryl) Bode of Courtland, Minn., Paul (Sue) Bode of Henning, Minn., Carol Harkins of Hamilton, Ind., Edward (Vicky) Bode of New Ulm, Minn., Martin (Deb) Bode of St. Cloud, Minn.; sister-in-law, Heidi Raynes of Waterville, Maine, Wendy Ramsay of Sheboygan, Wis.; Patti (Yvan) Landry of Arundel, Maine; several nieces and nephews; former wife, Annette Leroux of York, Maine.

A gathering of family and friends took place Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Engadine. Funeral services celebrating the life of Reverend Bode followed at noon at the church with Reverend's Charles Burhop and Kyle Kuehl co-celebrating.

Memorials may be directed to Concordia Theological Seminary, Attn: Student Aid Fund, 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 or donor's choice in his loving memory.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.