Rev. Henry Gieschen

The Rev. Henry Daniel Walter Gieschen, 60, pastor of Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELS), 3587 County Road 635 in Cape Girardeau, died Friday, May 28, 2010, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Nov. 21, 1949, in Litchfield, Minn., son of the Rev. Henry C. and Lily Gieschen.

Gieschen graduated from Wausau Senior High School in Wausau, Wis., in 1969. He completed a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1973. After college, he followed his father's footsteps in preparing to be a Lutheran pastor, graduating from Martin Luther Institute of Sacred Studies in Shepherd, Mich., in 1977.

He was ordained into the holy ministry and installed as pastor of Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church on March 6, 1977, where he served until 1987. During those years the congregation constructed the brick church in which they currently worship.

Gieschen served as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Hillman, Mich., and Faith Lutheran Church in Alpena, Mich., from 1987 to 1998. He then returned to Scriptural Evangelical Church, where he served until his death. He also did pastoral care each month for Grace Lutheran Church in Piedmont, Mo.

He was a pastor dedicated to the word of God, who cared deeply for the people he served. He faced his own health challenges and death with confident faith in Jesus Christ.

A memorial service, led by the Rev. Richard Tragasz, was held Sunday at Scriptural Evangelical Church. His body will be laid to rest at Snow Hill Cemetery in Merrill, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In addition to his congregations and extended family, his death is mourned by three brothers and a sister, Darrell Gieschen of Wausau, Susan Gieschen of Merrill, Steven Gieschen of Wausau and the Rev. Dr. Charles Gieschen of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Any memorial gifts should be given to Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.