Rev. Walter Michael Schoedel

February 26, 1926 – November 9, 2023

Walter M. Schoedel, a church and community leader, died November 9, 2023, at the age of 97.  Rev. Schoedel was a pastor, teacher, administrator, consultant, writer, and counselor during his 70+ years of ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and in the communities where he served.

Son of the Rev. G. Walter and Mrs. Vera Schoedel, he was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada on February 26, 1926. He was baptized and confirmed by his father at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Stratford, Ontario. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1949, and earned advance degrees from the University of Richmond (Richmond, VA), and Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, MO).

From 1950 to 1971 he served as an educator at Concordia High School and Junior College in Fort Wayne, IN, and then as Senior Pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN. In 1971 he became Senior Pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, MO, where he helped establish Christ Community Lutheran School and the building of Concordia House, an apartment complex for older adults, while promoting several interfaith initiatives in the community, including the creation of Kirkwood-based Kirk Care.

In 1991 he completed his ministry as a parish pastor and repositioned with a focus on serving older adults, looking for ways to keep seniors active and involved in their communities. He continued this work for the rest of his life, becoming one of the most vocal advocates for older adults in the St. Louis region, touching the lives of many.

Rev. Schoedel was preceded in death by his beloved wives, Barbara Anne (nee Nolde) and Leota Henline (nee Meyer), by his sisters Marion Ravell and Margaret Domroese, and by his daughter-in-law, Heidi Moll Schoedel.

He is survived by his brother William and his children, John (Mary Ann) Schoedel, Mark (Sue) Schoedel, Marcia (Jim) Eckrich, David (Sara) Schoedel, Peter (Carla) Schoedel, Paula (Bill) Burnett, and Michael (Alyson) Schoedel; his step-children, Carol (Mitch) Henke, Candace (Tom) Prochaska, Connie Gilman, and Colleen (Linn) Kracht; twenty-seven grandchildren; and thirty-four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, MO; Camp Arcadia, Arcadia, MI; Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, IN; or Lutheran Senior Services, St. Louis, MO.

Service at Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood

Visitation
Saturday, November 25, 2023
9:00 am – 10:45

Funeral
Following the visitation at 11am. Clergy are invited to robe and process (red stoles).

Private burial to follow.