Reinhard Herman Wuensche Jr

The Reverend Reinhard H. Wuensche, Jr. was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Born in Three Rivers, Texas on June 13, 1945, he was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on July 8, 1945. He confirmed that faith as a young adult at Grace Lutheran Church in Premont, Texas in 1959. He graduated from Premont High School and Southern Methodist University. After a short career as a mechanical design engineer at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, he joined the United States Navy. It was during training as a pilot that he made the decision to attend the seminary and become a Lutheran pastor. Because of the slowing of the need for pilots for the Viet Nam war, pilots in training were given a chance to separate from the Navy. Dick then attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, graduating in 1975 with a Master of Divinity degree. He served at four churches in Texas: Trinity Lutheran in Taylor, Zion Lutheran in Fort Worth, St. Matthew Lutheran in Houston, and Faith Lutheran in Huntsville. Since his retirement, he has served as vacancy pastor, vicar supervisor and visiting pastor for vacationing pastors in communities in the Huntsville area. He served as Circuit Counselor for two circuits in the Texas District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and served on the district worship committee. He held a certificate in Spiritual Direction, and was a lecturer for Formation in Direction (FinD) affiliated with the Episcopal Church. He enjoyed studying Hebrew, model railroading, hiking in Big Bend National Park, camping and learning to play the violin. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Reinhardt H. Wuensche, Sr. and Margaret Elizabeth Nordmeyer Wuensche. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Patricia Wuensche, sons John (Cassie) Wuensche, Stephen (Renee) Wuensche and David (Crystal) Wuensche, and daughter Karen (Chris) Lacy; grandchildren Charlotte and Jack, Monty and Pierson, Ben, Sarah and Mack; his brother Fred Wuensche and sister Judith (Ed) Schroeder. He is also survived by a large family of brothers-and sisters-in law, cousins, nieces and nephews. Special thanks are extended to A-Med Hospice for their gentle care of him during the last two months of his illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scholarship Endowment Fund at Faith Lutheran School, 111 Sumac Rd, Huntsville, Texas 77340. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas.

Reinhard Herman Wuensche Jr

June 13, 1945 - July 25, 2017