Pastor William Stache

Pastor William Stache, 89, entered his eternal rest on Monday, July 21, 2025 at Traditions of Columbus in Columbus, Indiana.

Bill was born on February 18, 1936, to William and Christina (Reimer) Stache in Hilbert, WI.

He attended high school at the age of 13, followed by two years of college at Concordia University in Milwaukee, WI, before heading to Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO, to become a pastor. After two years at the Seminary, he was a Vicar in Hitchcock, TX. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1960. His first church out of Seminary was Peace Lutheran in Alcester, SD, where he met Doreen Numsen, and they married on July 31, 1961.

In November of 1961, he was called to active duty as a US Army Chaplain at Ft. Riley, KS for eight months. He spent September 1962 through July 1968 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour, SD. He then became the pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, IN in July 1968, and served there until his retirement in May 2002. He served many area Lutheran churches in his retirement. He enjoyed visiting shut-ins, helping others, and working for Home Helpers, Housing Partnerships, and building wheelchair ramps through Thrive Alliance. He was a faithful and humble servant of God who shared the love of Jesus with the promise of forgiveness and eternal life.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doreen; his son, Tim Stache, and daughter-in-law, Ginger, of High Ridge, MO; daughter-in-law, Kristen Stache, of Hudsonville, MI; and daughter, Jill (Stache) Baker, and son-in-law, Jeff, of Columbus. Grandchildren include Dr. Taylor Harris, and her husband, Keith; LT Morgan Dossey and her husband, Ryan; Derek, Jonathan, and Emma Stache; and Ben and Ryan Baker, plus two great-grandchildren, Elsie Harris, and Grayson Dossey, and another to be born in October. Surviving siblings include Eugene, Larry, Jerome, Delilah, and Sharon.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark; parents; and siblings, Earl, Beverly, Virginia, Elliot, Doris, and David.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6045 E. State Street, with Pastor Doug Bauman officiating the service. Calling hours are from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, July 25, 2025 and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. He will be buried in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.

Those wishing may make memorial donations through the funeral home to LCMS World Relief & Human Care, Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, Orphan Grain Train, and ProjectGRL.org - rescuing women and girls from human trafficking.

You are invited to light a virtual candle of remembrance, and leave a condolence message for the family online at www.jewellrittman.com.