Rev. Theodore Louis Staudacher, age 81, of Pingree Grove, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 20, 2018, surrounded by family after a lengthy battle with many ailments.
Ted was born in Saginaw, Michigan on March 28, 1937 and was the son of Rev. Raymond & Gladys (nee Steffens) Staudacher. The oldest of 8 children, he left home at the age of 14 to attend Concordia Prep School in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his time in preparation for the ministry, “Pastor Ted” as he was affectionately called, worked various odd jobs.
Pastor Staudacher earned both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Divinity from Concordia University, Fort Wayne, where he also utilized his musical gifts singing bass/baritone and touring with the men’s acapella singing group, The Choralites. He was ordained into the Christian Ministry on July 8, 1962 at St. Peters Lutheran, Kinde, NE. Over his 37 years in the ministry, he served as an Associate Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee (1963-1965), Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Thornton IL (1965-1974), Head Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect, IL (1974-1979), and twenty years as Head Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Topeka, KS (1979-1999). In retirement, he served as Associate Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Good Harbor, MI and filled in from time to time at various parishes in and around Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula, MI from 1999-2015.
Pastor Staudacher and his wife, Carol, returned to the Fox Valley area in 2015 to be closer to family and re-connected with Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Dundee where he was a member until joining the church triumphant. Pastor Staudacher is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Carol L. Hochsprung to whom he was married on June 24, 1962 at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Chicago. Over their 56 years of marriage, God blessed them with 4 children, Timothy P., MD (Janine), David J. (Stephanie), Mark A., MD (Heather) Staudacher and Teri (Luke, MD.) Evans, 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his sisters, Lois Porath, Barbara (Alan) Buelt as well as a brother, Jon (Kim) Staudacher, his In-Laws include Kenneth (Marysue) Hochsprung, Robert (Deanna) Runge and Ronald (Lynda Bowlin) Hochsprung.
Visitation will be held in Luther Hall at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Luther Hall, 310 E. Main Street, East Dundee on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Dundee with Rev. William P. Yonker, Senior Pastor officiating. Burial will be at East Leland Cemetery, Leland Township, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either; Immanuel Lutheran Church Foundation Fund, Immanuel Lutheran Church Professional Church Workers Educational Fund or Concordia Theological Seminary Ft. Wayne Seminarian Scholarship Fund.