1926
Rev.
2015
Rev. Joel Lunde
December 13, 1926 — March 26, 2015
Reverend Joel S. Lunde, 88, of Fergus Falls, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2015, at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls.
Joel Stanley Lunde was born on December 13, 1926 to Jens and Elizabeth (Bakken) Lunde in Rochert, MN. He attended a rural school, and graduated from Hillcrest Academy in 1945. Joel continued his education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, graduating in 1948. He then entered the National Guard for a short time before going to Seminary, graduating in 1951.
Joel married Alice Nordtvedt on June 18, 1954 in Ferndale, Washington. They went to Paris, France, where they studied French before going to Africa as missionaries. Joel was involved in translation work and spent time in the villages with the people. He was also director of the seminary before coming home. Due to illness, they left Africa in 1961.
Joel served as Senior Pastor of the 59th Street Church in Brooklyn, NY, until 1963, when he accepted a call to teach at the Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Bible College and Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls, retiring in 1995. Throughout the years, Joel served churches in North Dakota, New Jersey, New York and Minnesota, serving in interim pastorates while teaching at the schools.
Joel had a deep love for his Savior and expressed that love in many ways, including his love for the people in Africa, for his students, and in his chalk drawings which he did using black lights and a tape to enhance them. He did these in many churches and organizations and many are still found in some of the places where he drew them. He also founded and directed the Bible School Choir (Good News Singers) and toured Norway in 1981. In retirement, Joel drove school bus and motor coach for OtterTail Coaches. He loved to hunt, fish, chop and sell wood, collect stamps, and had a very large garden every year.
Most of all, Joel was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved us all and prayed for each of us by name.
In addition to his parents, Joel was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law, Lenore and Ben Hauge, sister, Hazel; brother, Floyd; and brother and sister-in-law, Palmer and Freda Lunde.
He is survived by his wife, Alice of Fergus Falls; his six children: Cyndi (Dennis) Sunwall of New York, David (Lynn) Lunde of Washington State, Jonathan (Pam) Lunde of California, Steve Lunde of New York, Barbara (Rick) Johnson of Fergus Falls, and Becky (Dave) of New York; thirteen grandchildren, Jason (Danielle), Aaron and Tami Sunwall of New York, Mark and Nicholas Lunde of Washington, Ryan, Connor and Trevor Lunde of California, Joe Johnson of Alexandria, Jami Johnson of New Zealand, Jesse Johnson of Fergus Falls, Joshua and Amanda Burfeind of New York; two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Kara Sunwall; his sisters, Gladys (Rick) Schauland of Marquette, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Wednesday, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, and one hour prior to services at the church.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Pastor David Foss and Pastor Ed Monson
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Joel's Memorial Folder
Joel Stanley Lunde was born on December 13, 1926 to Jens and Elizabeth (Bakken) Lunde in Rochert, MN. He attended a rural school, and graduated from Hillcrest Academy in 1945. Joel continued his education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, graduating in 1948. He then entered the National Guard for a short time before going to Seminary, graduating in 1951.
Joel married Alice Nordtvedt on June 18, 1954 in Ferndale, Washington. They went to Paris, France, where they studied French before going to Africa as missionaries. Joel was involved in translation work and spent time in the villages with the people. He was also director of the seminary before coming home. Due to illness, they left Africa in 1961.
Joel served as Senior Pastor of the 59th Street Church in Brooklyn, NY, until 1963, when he accepted a call to teach at the Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Bible College and Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls, retiring in 1995. Throughout the years, Joel served churches in North Dakota, New Jersey, New York and Minnesota, serving in interim pastorates while teaching at the schools.
Joel had a deep love for his Savior and expressed that love in many ways, including his love for the people in Africa, for his students, and in his chalk drawings which he did using black lights and a tape to enhance them. He did these in many churches and organizations and many are still found in some of the places where he drew them. He also founded and directed the Bible School Choir (Good News Singers) and toured Norway in 1981. In retirement, Joel drove school bus and motor coach for OtterTail Coaches. He loved to hunt, fish, chop and sell wood, collect stamps, and had a very large garden every year.
Most of all, Joel was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved us all and prayed for each of us by name.
In addition to his parents, Joel was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law, Lenore and Ben Hauge, sister, Hazel; brother, Floyd; and brother and sister-in-law, Palmer and Freda Lunde.
He is survived by his wife, Alice of Fergus Falls; his six children: Cyndi (Dennis) Sunwall of New York, David (Lynn) Lunde of Washington State, Jonathan (Pam) Lunde of California, Steve Lunde of New York, Barbara (Rick) Johnson of Fergus Falls, and Becky (Dave) of New York; thirteen grandchildren, Jason (Danielle), Aaron and Tami Sunwall of New York, Mark and Nicholas Lunde of Washington, Ryan, Connor and Trevor Lunde of California, Joe Johnson of Alexandria, Jami Johnson of New Zealand, Jesse Johnson of Fergus Falls, Joshua and Amanda Burfeind of New York; two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Kara Sunwall; his sisters, Gladys (Rick) Schauland of Marquette, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Wednesday, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, and one hour prior to services at the church.
Funeral Service: 11 AM Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Pastor David Foss and Pastor Ed Monson
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Joel's Memorial Folder
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