Esther Eileen Jurchen, 83, of Seward, died April 4, 2026. Esther was born April 22, 1942, in rural Crookston, Minnesota, the sixth of eight children, to Willie A. and Alice (Hoppe) Jurchen. She was baptized and later confirmed her faith at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Crookston.
Esther attended school in rural Polk County and in Crookston, graduating from Crookston High School in 1960. Following high school, she graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1964, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a Vocational Education Certification. She worked for the Little Falls Community Schools District and Morrison County Social Services in Little Falls, Minnesota.
In 1982, Esther moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was on the faculty of Concordia University as Resident Director and Director of Housing; Director of Parish Assistant Program. While there, she received a Parish Assistant Certification, majoring in religious studies with additional credits in psychology and sociology. She received her Master of Social Work and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Eastern Michigan University in 1998 and worked as a social worker and in hospice care until her retirement.
In 1990, Esther completed the Stephen Ministries Training Course, and in 1994, became Director of Stephen Ministry for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. She was also a member of the choir.
Esther loved and served the Lord all her life. She had a particular concern for people in need. Esther did much volunteer work in the area of social services, particularly for refugees, in her communities and local churches. She served on the Minnesota North LCMS District Board of Social Ministry and on the LCMS Task Force on Human Care.
In 2018, Esther moved to Seward. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and served as a Stephen Minister. She loved helping with yearly Thanksgiving meals.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Alice Jurchen; infant brother, Carl; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marlys (Dean) Ard, Gladys (Eugene) Wagner; and sister, Irene Schneider.
She is survived by her sister, Lauraine Jurchen of Crookston; brothers, Erwin (Marcie) Jurchen of Lincoln, and Arnold (Tamra) Jurchen of Seward; brother-in-law, Terry Schneider of Plover, Wisconsin; numerous nieces, including Heidi (Joe) Gubanyi of Denton, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday, April 8, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Thursday, April 9, at 1 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with committal at the Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Human Care Ministries of St. John Lutheran Church.
Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
