Rev. Dr. Wayne Curtis STUMME

Died peacefully at home in the care of his family on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, after a brief illness. Wayne was born June 28, 1929, in Northfield, Minnesota, the first child of Rev. Lawrence and Esther (Englestad) Stumme. He married Carol Alden, September 19, 1953, sharing together in life and ministry until her death, July 10, 2020. During their nearly 67 years of marriage, they made their home together in Iowa, Corby, England, Ohio and Minnesota. Together they formed a family through birth and adoption. Wayne graduated from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, in 1951 with a BA in history. He enlisted in the Army in July of that year, and served as an infantryman on the front lines in Korea. After marrying Carol, Wayne returned to school at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1958. He spent the next year at St. Andrew's University in Scotland, working on a PhD in New Testament. Wayne's first pastoral ministry was in Corby, England, where he established and served a congregation of eighteen nationalities: refugees from Europe, immigrants from the Commonwealth, and people from every part of the United Kingdom. Common to all of them was their work in the steel mill and loyalty to the Labor (Socialist) Party. Following his time in Corby, Wayne served congregations in Waverly and Waterloo, Iowa. Waterloo was a very racially divided city in the late '60s and Wayne joined local Black pastors and others in actively working for changes in the discriminatory attitudes and practices of the white majority. Wayne's experiences among the various people he served, deeply informed and fed his lifelong passion for worker justice, racial equity, and care for the poor. After his time in congregational ministry, Wayne served as founder and director of CHARIS, an ecumenical center for theological education based at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. In 1974 he became the assistant director of the Division of Theological Education of the American Lutheran Church. Working with other units of the national church, he helped to organize conferences dealing with Lutheran theology, the church's concern for the poor, and Christian-Marxist dialogue. In 1984, Wayne began a thirteen year term as the first director of the Institute for Mission in the USA, at Trinity Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and also served as associate professor of Theology and Mission. During his time in Columbus, Wayne continued to be actively engaged in the church's mission, particularly in areas of social justice, ecumenical theology, church and labor relations, social ethics, and the theology of Karl Barth. Throughout his life, Wayne was a proud supporter of his wife Carol and her own call to ministry. He enthusiastically contributed to her work in congregations in Columbus, Ohio, and north Minneapolis. They truly were partners in life, love and ministry. In Wayne's own words: Carol and I have lived most of our life and ministry in close relationship with people who have lost homes, loved ones, property, livelihood, or even country. Many of them were victims of historical forms of injustice, economic and social deprivation, discrimination, and prejudice. Many of them were the poor whom Jesus loved and to whom he promised the Kingdom. As we were united with them in the community of Christ, we have come to know ourselves as upheld by the Gospel of all-inclusive and all-sufficient grace, and we give thanks to God for what life has brought us and made possible. Wayne is survived by his children: Mary (John) Froiland, Ann (Ken) Ashton-Piper, John (Kyle Hanson) Stumme, Peter (Thalia Novak) Stumme, Sarah (Duane Carter) Stumme Carter; grandchildren: Andrew Froiland, David Froiland, Amy (Carlos Parada) Froiland-Parada, Leuallem (Gyuri Papp) Solomon, Amani (Mara Stommes) Stumme-Berry, Jonathan Ashton-Piper, Nathanael Ashton-Piper, Eloise Ashton-Piper, Jacob (Kristen) Stumme, Peter Stumme, Gabriel Stumme, Jace Stumme-Hanson, Henry Stumme-Hanson, Michael Stumme, Pierce Novak, Austyn (Theresa Glasgow) Novak-Stumme, Duane (Mariah) Carter Jr., Donovan Carter; great grandchildren: Sienna, Sydnie and Skylar Stumme, Isaac and Elsa Froiland-Parada, Duane III (Tre), Jovanni, Raylene and Marliana Carter, Viola Beata Solomon-Papp; brothers: Larry (Eleanor) Stumme, John (Sandra) Stumme, and sister Carolyn (Ken) Riswold; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Luther Stumme, sisters Lois Woodhouse, Kathryn Tutton, Naomi Orsay, and infant son, Andrew Paul. A memorial service will be held on June 9, at 11:00 am, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 2499 North Helen St. in North St. Paul, with a visitation 2 hours prior. This service will also honor Carol, since a public service was not possible at the time of her death due to pandemic restrictions. Memorials may be directed to Lutheran World Relief (lwr.org).