Fred Muenchow was born 9/20/36 in Honey Creek, IA to Rev. Fred H. and Helen (Parsons) Muenchow. He was Baptized 10/11/36 in Honey Creek by his father, Rev. Fred H. Muenchow and Confirmed 3/18/51 at St. Stephanus Lutheran church- St. Paul, MN by Rev. Herbert Wunderlich. He was married to Marlene Louise Scholz on 9/4/60 in Rosemont, MN by Rev. Carl Bornmann His favorite verse is 1 Peter 1:3 "3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Fred was gifted with faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in his baptism. He knew, and lived, and preached and taught the truth that he and all humans are sinners in need of forgiveness and that Jesus provided that for us in His life, death and resurrection. Fred loved to teach about being adopted into the family of God since he was adopted at age 6. His dad, Rev. Fred H. Muenchow, also a Lutheran Pastor, died suddenly and his mom, Helen, died 6 months later of tuberculosis. He and his brother spent a year in the Lutheran orphanage in St. Paul, MN, before being adopted by a farmer couple, the Ostermiers, from Pipestone MN. Fred graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1961. His pastoral ministry included: 1961-1964 Dual Parish at Grace Lutheran Grandin, ND and Trinity- Amenia, ND 1964-1968 Triple Parish in central ND at St. Paul-Kensal, Zion-Courtney and St. Paul-Wimbledon. 1968-1974 Grace Lutheran Church and School, Fargo, ND 1974-1979 St. Paul Lutheran- Eldora, IA and St. John- Wellsburg, IA 1979-1986 Development Officer for Concordia College, River Forest, IL (lived in Normal, IL) 1986-2001 Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Altamont, IL This is how Fred described his and Marlenes five children: "They are all servants of Christ and people": Carol Kagemann is an RN doing Cancer research in Pittsburgh, PA Karen Ritter is a Pre-school director for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora, IA Mark Muenchow is Senior Pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in OKC, OK Susan Bellas is a Social Worker in Boulder, CO Linda Stark is a Kindergarten Teacher for a Lutheran School in Peachtree City, GA A few thoughts from the Children, Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren: Many things could be said about our dad, grandpa. Some said he was larger than life- (it helps when you are 6 4") He did have a big personality, a big sense of humor, a big sense of competition, a big fondness for his main hobbies of gardening and woodworking, and definitely a big heart for the Lord, for his family, and a deep heart for serving others. At almost any opportunity to help at any event we had at church, you would see him there, serving with a smile. In these last years he used these gifts serving part-time as one of Messiah Lutherans visitation pastors. He loved to comfort and encourage others with scriptures and prayers and his trademark singing of hymns with great gusto. Several members of Messiah, (and even non-members) that Dad visited in the hospital commented on how they were blessed by his ministry and in particular his singing. When dad was in and out of his lucid moments the last two days of his life, he sang with us as well, including singing some of the liturgy with mom and Linda when they were in the room with him listening to Messiahs Facebook livestream of the early service Sunday morning, the day of his heavenly homecoming. One very meaningful moment was when son, Mark and his wife, Margy were with him in the hospital room. Dad was in and out of whatever visions he was seeing and all of a sudden he broke out in singing "My Faith Looks Up To Thee" and of course Margy and Mark broke out in tears and sang along with him and then sang several more powerful hymns!!! That hymn was his favorite hymn, and we will be singing it as the sermon hymn for his Memorial Service, Saturday, July 30th at 10 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, OKC. The service will be livestreamed on Messiahs Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/messiahokc It will remain on the Facebook page for later viewing and will also be uploaded to Messiahs YouTube Channel "Messiah Lutheran Church OKC" or at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpaDwe69JD01cWs20EitsQ In lieu of flowers a memorial fund in Freds honor has been established at: Messiah Lutheran Church, 3600 NW Expressway, OKC, OK 73112 (405) 946-0681 . Memorial Service Messiah Lutheran Church Saturday, July 30, 2022 10:00 AM 3600 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73112