ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 17, 2008 Alton Zenker, Former Lutheran Bishop, Dies 08-194-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Alton Zenker, former bishop of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Nov. 12 at his home in Hot Springs Village, Ark. He was 75. A funeral service is planned for Nov. 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, (Flatville) Thomasboro, Ill. Christ Lutheran Church, Hot Springs Village, will hold a memorial service on Nov. 24. "He was a significant example of faithful ministry, an articulate mentor on proper Lutheran theology and an incredibly patient golf partner the few times we were able to get together on the greens. I will miss him, but I will always be grateful for his influence in my life and ministry," said the Rev. Warren D. Freiheit, bishop, ELCA Central/Southern Illinois Synod, Springfield. "I grieve the loss of Pastor Al Zenker," said the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop, ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod, Denver, and chair, ELCA Conference of Bishops. "His strong sense of the church and his persistent witness to the gospel were gifts to all of us," he said. Born in Gackle, N.D., Zenker earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1955 from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. In 1959 he earned a master of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, one of eight ELCA seminaries. In 1995 Zenker received a doctor of divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and Wartburg College awarded Zenker an honorary doctor of divinity in 2001. Following his ordination in 1959 by the former American Lutheran Church (ALC), Zenker was pastor of American Lutheran Church, Flasher, N.D.; St. John Lutheran Church, Carson, N.D.; Peace Lutheran Church, Linton, N.D.; and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Thomasboro. He was assistant to the bishop of the ALC Illinois District and was an assistant to the Rev. John P. Kaitschuk, whom Zenker succeeded as bishop of the ELCA Central/Southern Illinois Synod following Kaitschuk's death in 1994. Freiheit succeeded Zenker as bishop upon Zenker's retirement in 2000. Following his retirement, Zenker was interim pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Hot Springs Village. In 2006 he served as interim bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod. Zenker served on the board of regents of Wartburg College and the board of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, another ELCA seminary. Zenker is survived by his wife Marlene and two sons, Steven and Mark, both of whom are physicians. -- -- -- The home page for the ELCA Central/Southern Illinois Synod is at http://www.csis-ELCA.org/ on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog