The Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Laesch, 66, of Fairfield Glade, passed away Nov. 3, 2001. Funeral services were conducted Nov. 8 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Niles, MI, with burial in Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, MI.
The Rev. Dr. Laesch was born July 20, 1935, in Benton Harbor, MI, the son of the Rev. and Mrs. E. Theodore Laesch.
His childhood was spent in Niles, MI, where his father was pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church from 1931 to 1981.
After attending Concordia College in Milwaukee, Pastor Laesch entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, from which he graduated in 1960. During this time he received his bachelor of arts, bachelor of divinity and master of divinity degrees. An additional year was spent in the graduate school of St. Louis Seminary, majoring in New Testament studies, working toward his master of sacred theology degree. In 1994, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, and in 1998, a Doctor of Law degree from Concordia University, River Forest, IL.
Following his vicarage/internship in San Francisco, CA, and following ordination into the pastoral ministry in 1961, Pastor Laesch became missionary pastor in the area of Monroe, NY, a suburb of New York City, where St. Paul Lutheran Church was born. Early in 1969, Pastor Laesch accepted the call to become senior pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton, IL, where he served until his election as president of the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1985.
Besides serving as president of the Northern Illinois District until 1997, Pastor Laesch served for six years as chairman of Synod's teacher placement committee, and for 10 years as chairman of Concordia University, River Forest, Board of Regents. He also served actively in speaking and preaching ministries, and as a contributor to various religious publications and periodicals.
The Laesches retired to Fairfield Glade, Tennesee in 1999, and are members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Crossville,Tennesee

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