Nolan W. Obermueller
Nolan W. Obermueller
Feb. 13, 1920 – June 15, 2019
Nolan Obermueller went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 15, 2019 in Seward, at the age of 99. He was born on Feb. 13, 1920 in Lincoln, Kansas, to Theodore and Frieda (Von Fange) Obermueller, was baptized as an infant and later confirmed into the Christian faith.
As a child he attended parochial school. At age 14, he began attending St. John’s Lutheran Academy in Winfield, Kansas, where he also went on to graduate from St. John’s Lutheran College. He received pastoral training at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1945.
During his ministry, Pastor Obermueller served the congregations of St. Paul in Plainview, Texas; Immanuel in Sheridan, Wyoming; St. John’s in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Trinity in Cheyenne, Wyoming; and St. Luke’s in Worland, Wyoming, as well as other congregations with pastoral vacancies.
In Sheridan, Nolan led the congregation in building a beautiful new church on the hill. In Fayetteville he was campus pastor for the University of Arkansas and in Wyoming he served for many years as First Vice President of the Wyoming District of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. What always rose to the fore was his faithfulness to the Word of God and his pastoral heart. His sermons always included Law and Gospel, declaring that “it is by grace you are saved, through faith. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” For more than 40 years, he was a true shepherd who loved those whom God gave to his care. He was humble.
Nolan married Cordelia (Hedemann) in 1945, his sweetheart of six years, two days after graduating from the seminary. The Lord blessed them with three children: Stan and Jerry were born in Plainview, Texas, and Victoria in Sheridan, Wyoming. Nolan loved his family! He embraced his two daughters-in-law, Liz (Stan) and Vickie (Jerry), and his son-in-law Dave (Victoria). He was proud of his nine grandchildren and their spouses: Marie (Davis) Willweber, Tasha (Daniel) Fingerlin, Martin Obermueller, Megan Obermueller, Ed (Lisa) Obermueller, Pete (Stacy) Obermueller, Joe (Janette) Obermueller, Julie (Dave) Ayer and Becky (Greg) Buell. He followed their lives, families and careers. He prayed for them.
Nolan was an outdoorsman. He was an accomplished baseball player in his high school and college years. His recreation included hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, mostly in the wonderful Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Pinochle was his game of choice.
Nolan was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Cordie, his parents, and his brothers Louis, Milfred, Reinhold, Vernon, Virgil and Delbert and sisters-in-law Mildred (Louis), Bernice (Milfred) and Martha (Reinhold). He is survived by his children and their spouses, his nine grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, his only sister, Lorene Buttenhoff, and sisters-in-law Evelyn Obermueller, Dolores Obermueller, Sidona Obermueller, Celia Kershaw, Jean Zessin and Eloise Roskovich, as well as many nephews, nieces and several generations of their offspring.
God gave Nolan 99 years. He blessed him with the love of family and friends and a purposeful life. Now he has finished his race and is beholding His Savior face-to-face. He is HOME.
Visitation will be Monday, July 1, from 2 to 8 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Tuesday, July 2, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with the Rev. David Rempfer officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
