Paul M. Cornell

1927 - 2014

Rev. Paul M. Cornell, 87, husband of the late Betty R. (Lance) Cornell, died Monday, at Meadowood, Worcester Twp. He was a former resident of Skippack Twp. Rev. Cornell was born on March 17, 1927, in Fort Dodge, IA, and was the son of the late Rev. Martin Luther Cornell and the late Elsa Sophia (Olson) Cornell. He served in the US Coast Guard during World War Two. Rev. Cornell earned a bachelor of arts degree from Augustana College, in 1949; earned a masters degree in sacred theology from Augustana Theological Seminary, in 1953; served on the Board Of Directors, Augustana Heritage Assn.; chaired several Augustana Heritage Gatherings; and received Augustana College's Distinguished Life Service Award in 2003. He later studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, Boston University, Temple University, and the University Of Pennsylvania. Rev. Cornell served the Lutheran Church for 53 years. He was ordained on June 15, 1953, served as pastor to Calvary Lutheran Church, Busleton, Phila. from 1953 to 1956, and served as pastor to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Mt. Jewett, from 1956 to 1960. He then served the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America as a staff member, Board Of Parish Education; Dir. Of Field Support, Div. For Parish Services; and Dir. Of Evangelism, Div. Of Field Support; until he retired in 1988. From 1988 to 2006, he served as an interim pastor to 13 churches in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, and Delaware counties. Rev. Cornell was a member of Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schwenksville. He chaired the Southeast PA Synod Evangelism Committee and the synod's "Time To Act" campaign. He was a consultant and workshop leader for the American Guild Of Organists, and the Assoc. Of Lutheran Church Musicians. He also was a member of the Board Of Directors, East Berks Historical Trust and a member of Singing City, Philadelphia. Rev. Cornell was Swedish and proud of his ancestry. He was a member and chair of the Swedish Council Of America, a chairman of the Board Of Governors, American Swedish Historical Museum; a member of the Scandinavian Vikings Landing Millenium Committee, and a member of the National Conference On Swedish - American Affairs. In 1995, he was made a Commander 1st Class, Royal Order Of The Polar Star by Sweden's Ambassador to the US, on behalf of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Rev. Cornell is survived by his children, Stephen, husband of Pamela (Heflin) Cornell, Perkiomen Twp., and Melissa, wife of James Pergine, Skippack Twp.; his grandchildren, Sarah Pergine, Katlyn Pergine, Eric Pergine, Haleigh Cornell, and Matthew Cornell; and his sisters, Elsa Cornell, St. Peter, MN, and Marilyn, wife of Jerry Dupre, Montclair, NJ. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, at Augustus Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Daniel M. Schaefer, Pastor, Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be private in Augustus Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, Monday, at church. Memorial contributions may be made to Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 Second St., Schwenksville, PA 19473; Augustus Lutheran Church, 717 W. Main St., Trappe, PA 19426; or Meadowood-Holly House, PO Box 670, Worcester, PA 19490. Arrangements are by Holcombe Funeral Home, Inc., Trappe.