Born: September 24, 1937

Died: April 11, 2013

Services: 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church, 400 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam

Visitation: Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the church

The Reverend Melvin Ernest Thur was called to his eternal rest on Thursday, April 11, 2013 and looks forward to the resurrection of all flesh on the last day.

He was born on Friday, September 24, 1937 on a farm in the Township of Cleveland, Jackson County, near Fairchild, Wisconsin. He was the son of Ernest Robert Frederick Thur and Freda Marie (Hefty) Thur. He was baptized in the Christian faith on October 5, 1937 by the Reverend Paul F. Buck, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fairchild, WI. He confirmed his faith in his savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on March 20, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Granton, Wisconsin with the Rev. Arthur A. Oswald officiating.

He graduated from Oriole Hill grade school, RR Neillsville, WI on May 22, 1951. During the spring of 1951 he decided that he wanted to become a pastor. He enrolled in the pre-ministerial program in September of 1951 at the Concordia College High School Department, Milwaukee, WI graduating on June 8, 1955. He graduated on June 6, 1957 from Concordia College, Milwaukee, WI. He then went to the Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, IN from which he graduated with a BA degree on June 7, 1959. While at the Senior College he met his wife, Mary Lou Fahlsing. He continued his studies for the Pastoral Ministry at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO from which he received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree on May 31, 1963 and his Master of Divinity in December of 1963.

He was united in Holy Matrimony with Mary Lou Fahlsing on June 10, 1961 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN by the Rev. Harold Ott. This union was blessed with four children, Paul, Lois, John and Rebekah.

From August of 1961 to August of 1962 he served as vicar at St. Mark Lutheran Church of Cleveland, Ohio. He was ordained into the holy ministry at Zion Lutheran Church, Granton, Wisconsin on June 23, 1963 by the Reverend Gustav M. Krueger. His first assignment was a dual parish in Nebraska. He was installed on July 14, 1963, as pastor of two congregations, Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church of rural Davenport, NB and St. Mark Ev. Lutheran Church in Ruskin, NB. During his last year of Ministry in Nebraska, Bethlehem congregation voted to close and did so on January 1, 1967. He served St. Mark until July of 1967. He was installed as pastor of Zion Lutheran, Paullina, Iowa on June 25, 1967 and served there until December of 1971. In December of 1971 he was installed as associate Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Racine, Wisconsin. He became the senior pastor in 1982. He served at Grace until he accepted a call to become pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Keystone, Iowa and was nstalled as their pastor on June 24, 1984. On October 8, 1989 he became pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Suring, Wisconsin where he served until he retired in October of 1999. During that time he also served as Circuit Counselor. On October 1, 1999 he retired from the active ministry and moved to Beaver Dam. He took an Intentional Interim Ministry workshop in November of 1999 so that he might help congregations where needed in the Beaver Dam area. He then served as an Intentional Interim pastor at Zion, Clyman for 9 months from 2000 to 2001 and continued to preach and teach confirmation classes there until they received a pastor in 2001. He then filled in as Circuit Counselor until 2003. During that time he also preached regularly at Divine Savior, Hartford until they received a pastor in 2002. He preached and taught Bible Class and Confirmation classes at Peace during two vacancies. He served as Zone Counselor of LWML and Youth Counselor and on various district boards during his ministry.

He enjoyed sharing the good news about Jesus as our Savior and Lord with individuals and through preaching, teaching Bible Classes, Adult Information classes, youth confirmation classes and working with the youth group.

Due to health issues he discontinued preaching in 2011. He enjoyed visiting the elderly in their homes and Nursing homes. He also loved reading, gardening, golfing, building with wood and watching sports on TV. He enjoyed visiting and playing with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law Stephanie (Ramsey) Thur.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, his son Paul (Michele) of Grafton, his daughter, Dr. Lois Thur of Roseville, MN, his son John (Dr. Jean) of Oshkosh, and his daughter Rebekah 'Becky' Thur of Fairfax, IA, his four grandsons - Matthew, Nickolai 'Nick', Dennis and Daniel. He is survived by his brothers - David (Judy) Thur of Winter, WI, the Reverend Richard (Jane) Thur of Florissant, MO, and the Reverend Gary (Dianna) Thur of Farmington, NM, brothers and sister-in-laws: Richard (Shirley) Fahlsing of Ft Wayne, IN, Patricia (Dean) Stigall of Orange, CA, William Fahlsing of Ft Wayne, IN, Ted Fahlsing of West Lafayette, IN, Elaine Welty of Ft. Wayne, IN, Suzan Breaz of Lowell, IN, and Ray Fahlsing (Francie Krawcke) of Brooklyn MI, also nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church, 400 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam with the Rev. Mark A. Wenzel officiating. A visitation was held on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the church. Interment took place at Highland Memory Gardens, Township of Trenton, WI.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Peace Lutheran Church, 400 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam.

Location: Koepsell Funeral Home- Beaver Dam (Map)

Church: Peace Lutheran Church (Map)