Luther Gerhard Wachholz, 89

Luther Gerhard Wachholz of Kalispell, son of Arthur R. Wachholz and Minnie Benson, was born on July 2, 1929, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

He passed away at age 89 on March 21, 2019.

He grew up in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas, graduating from Wilson High School in Wilson, Kansas, in 1947. He attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951. He then attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, which included an internship in Waterloo, Iowa. He completed his studies in 1955 graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity degree.

His ministry included serving churches in Ellis, Kansas, Enid, Oklahoma, Monticello, and Cedar Falls, Iowa. He concluded this ministry in 1975 at Blue Island, Illinois, In 1958 he married Geraldine Van Dyke in Omaha, Nebraska. This marriage was blessed with two children, Timothy and Barbara. Following the advice of several physicians, he changed direction in his life. In 1975 he and the family moved to Montana, residing in the Many Lakes area. He worked for 15 years at Pacific Telecom, which is now Century Tel. He retired in 1991. Then he and his wife jointly ran a maintenance business until 2001. In 2002 he moved to 120 Fairway Blvd. in Kalispell.

He served for many years as an officer of the Many Lakes Homeowners Association and served two terms on the board of Immanuel Lutheran Home.

In June 2014 he and his wife moved to the Prestige Assisted Living Center and then on March 7, 2017, they moved to Buffalo Hill Terrace.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and one sister Ruth Sanderson.

He leaves to mourn his wife Geraldine, son Timothy Wachholz of Grand Canyon, Arizona, and daughter Barbara Nason living in Tucson, Arizona, three grandchildren Elle, Brett and Jordan Nason of New York, two brothers Paul Wachholz of Kalispell and John and wife Bette Sue Wachholz of Lawrence, Kansas, plus one sister Priscilla Roby of Omaha, Nebraska, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials may be sent to Wartburg Theological Seminary, 333 Wartburg Place Dubuque, Iowa 52003, or the family’s choice.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, at Buffalo Hill Terrace Chapel, with burial to follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Friends and family are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.