(Fort Wayne, IN)-The Rev. Dr. G. Waldemar Degner, professor emeritus of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, died on Nov. 7, 1998 in Fort Wayne. He was 73 years old. Dr. Degner was currently teaching a course in New Testament Greek at CTS this fall. Visitation hours will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Kramer Chapel on the CTS campus where services will be held at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Concordia Cemetery Gardens, Fort Wayne. The Rev. David Mommens, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Columbia City, will lead the service. The Rev. Daniel G. Reuning will serve as liturgist.
"The seminary family has lost one of its most productive and pastoral professors in Dr. G. Waldemar Degner. His teaching in Latvia and Taiwan, his recent authorship of a hermeneutics text, and his fall quarter course in New Testament Greek displayed his dedication to Christ's church, Concordia Theological Seminary, and his students," said Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, President of CTS. "His wisdom and kind heart will be missed. Our sympathy is extended to his wife Anita and their children even as our hymns and worship service will confess his victory in Christ."
Dr. Degner joined the CTS faculty in 1975 as an exegetics professor. He retired in 1990 after 15 years of service. Survivors include five children and his wife, Anita, who survives.
Dr. Degner graduated from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1945 and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. in 1950. He continued his education at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., where he received an M.A. in Classics in 1951. He attended the University of Chicago where he received the Ph.D. degree in the areas of classical languages, literature and philosophy. As a Fullbright scholar he also attended the American Academy in Rome.
The Rev. Degner served as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Tyndal, South Dakota from 1951 to 1953 and Grace Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, Minn. from 1953 to 1957. From 1957 to 1959 he served as an instructor at Milwaukee High School and as a professor at Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wis. from 1959 to 1967 where he taught the classics and religion. Here he became chairman of the Department of Foreign Languages.
He also served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ithaca, N.Y. from 1967 to 1975 where he did extensive work with students at Cornell University and Ithaca College.
In 1975 he accepted a call to Concordia Theological Seminary where he served as a professor in the exegetical department.
"Dr. Degner was a faithful professor whose exegetical courses were greatly appreciated for their Gospel content and pastoral focus," said Dr. Charles A. Gieschen, Chairman of the Exegetical Department at CTS. "His keen wisdom and humble manner will be missed by our faculty and students."
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