Luther O. Spaude

Luther O. Spaude, age 90, of Belle Plaine, MN, passed from temporal to eternal life on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. He was born April 10, 1921 in Mason City, IA, the son of Paul and Helen (Bade) Spaude. He became a child of God by the sacrament of Holy Baptism on May 9, 1921 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA. He reaffirmed his baptismal faith on June 9, 1935 when he was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, MN. Rev. Spaude attended high school at Dr. Martin Luther College Preparatory School in New Ulm, MN. He continued his education at Northwestern College in Watertown, WI. Following his graduation in 1943 he studied theology at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. He completed his seminary studies in December of 1945 and was ordained into the holy ministry on September 25, 1946. Rev. Spaude pursued graduate studies in mathematics and science at the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee achieving a Master's Degree in Physics. On June 26, 1949, Rev. Spaude was united in holy matrimony to Ruth Katharine Wilch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jenera, Ohio. Their union was blessed with four children, Naomi Ruth (Mrs. Paul Doehling), Bethel Ann (Mrs. Glen Schmiege), Stephen John, and Rev. Michael James (Rachel). Luther also has 10 grandsons, 5 granddaughters and four great-granddaughters. Rev. Spaude served the Lord and the church as a teacher of mathematics and science at Michigan Lutheran Seminary from 1946 to 1957. Luther then accepted a call to teach physics and mathematics at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee. He taught there until 1979 when he began his ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran College as professor of physics. He retired in 1989, but continued to teach part time and serve in a variety of voluntary positions. Rev. Spaude enjoyed a wide range of interests including the outdoors, especially boating, fishing, hunting, and camping. He was an avid Packer fan and loved dogs, tropical fish, the game of chess, and electronics. He loved his wife and family, and was very interested in people, the church, and the Bible. Rev. Spaude was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and brother-in-law Lillian and Merle Werner, a brother and sister-in-law Prof. Cyril and Adela Spaude, and a brother-in-law John Sazy. He is survived by his wife Ruth, his children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law Prof. Milton and Nila Spaude and Prof. Jerome and Lily Spaude, sisters and brothers-in-law Virginia and Prof. Bruce Backer, Victoria and Marvin Ulrich, and a sister, Marie Sazy and many nieces and nephews. Rev. Spaude is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Funeral services will be held at the church on Monday, November 28th at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Zeitler officiating. Friends may call at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to any WELS or ELS ministry with special consideration given to The Lutheran Home-Hope Residence, Friends of China, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.