Wolfgang Gerthe

REV. W.G. Gerthe Wolfgang Gotthold Gerthe went to be with His Lord on July 21, 2009. He had been at the Bethany Home for a time. W.G. was born in Nedlitz, Germany on October 16, 1922, to Lina (Dollefeld) and Gotthold Gerthe. He sailed for America on September 28, 1938, almost sixteen, and lived with relatives in Louisiana and Texas, and there he felt the call of God to go into the ministry. He attended the Acadia Academy in Louisiana and later came to Rochester, New York to attend the North American Baptist Seminary. While in Rochester, he met and married Martha Marschall, and together they raised five children: Paul, Susan (Butler), Ruth (Giordano), Mary (Matthews) and John. W.G. served the following churches: Germantown and Harvey, North Dakota, Hutchinson, Minnesota, Buffalo Center, Iowa, McClusky, North Dakota, Glenwood, Minnesota, and Lakewood, New York, and it was there he retired in 1984. W.G. was a faithful servant, and he loved preaching the whole counsel of God. He held many evangelistic meetings, particularly in the 1960?s and was mission minded, feeling that ?why should others hear the Gospel twice, when others haven?t even hear it once.? A graveside service was held at Kinkead Cemetery on Thursday, July 23, 2009 with Pastor Al Travaille officiating. Among those who mourn are his grandchildren, Paula Joy and James Chapman, Heidi and Shawn Vlheim, Melissa and Jason Hensley, Samantha and Joe Zwieg and Adam Butler, as well as his brother, Hans (Anne Marie) Gerthe of Colorado, and a host of people whom he loved and served in his churches. He was preceded in death by his parents a brother, two sisters, and three of their children, Ruth, Mary and their eldest, Paul. Even Ruth?s little Holly (his granddaughter) was taken. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.