Reverend Darrell Arthur Stuehrenberg

Darrell A. Stuehrenberg was born in Breckenridge, MN, on April 8, 1951, to August and Arda (Grahn) Stuehrenberg. He was the oldest of four children. Raised and grew up on a grain and livestock farm which was 40 miles south of Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN, on the MN side of the Red River of the North. He was baptized and confirmed in a county church, Christ Lutheran, Mitchell Township, rural Wolverton, MN. Many of the members were related to him. Darrell was one of 3 cousins who became Lutheran Pastors. Darrell went to a one-room country school from first through sixth grades. He graduated from Breckenridge Sr. High School in 1969, where he met his bride-to-be. He attended Concordia College, St. Paul; MN; Concordia Sr. College, Ft. Wayne, IN; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO and Concordia Seminary in Exile (Christ Seminary/Seminex). During his seminary time in St. Louis, he was assigned as a field work student, to Signal Hill Lutheran Church in Belleville, Illinois. He served his Vicarage year at Grace Lutheran Church, Waterloo, IA. Shortly after graduation from the seminary, he received his call to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Davie, FL, and was ordained in his home chu...[more]

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during that congregation's 75th anniversary, June 12, 1977. He was received into the Pastoral Roster of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod through Colloquy. Darrell married Linda Olson from Breckenridge, MN, August 1972. They celebrated 46 years of marriage this past summer. That marriage was blessed with three children: Christopher (Kit) in '74, Bryce in '76 and Tina in '81. Christopher lives in Laramie, WY; he has two daughters who still live in FL: Christina (19) and Marina (17). Bryce lives in Davie. Tina is in Palm Bay, FL, married to Zachary Becker. They have three sons: Troy (10), Dexter (8) and Colt (4). As a hard working, diligent, focused man, he helped Gloria Dei go from a double wide trailer to the recognized dome structure, that many have come to know. Never backing down and even embracing a challenge, Darrell always found a way to make a vision come to life. With Pastor Darrell's leadership, Gloria Dei was very involved in many community, District and National ministry activities. The church experienced a strong, diverse and vibrant music program. It was one of the first FL-GA congregations to offer a variety of worship styles. Gloria Dei and Pastor Darrell played an important roll in establishing a mission congregation, St. Paul, Weston in 1988. He was a huge supporter of the education, helping establish a pre-school, with expansion into an elementary and middle school. He worked closely with many Church and School ministry staff people during his 33 years there. Pastor Darrell was a trained Stephen Ministry Leader, Bethel Bible Study Leader and Evangelism Explosion Trainer. He served many years as a FL-GA District Circuit Counselor, was involved with six FL-GA District Great Commissions, hosted by his first church. He was a volunteer Hospital Chaplain for Pembroke Pines Hospital, a Davie Police Chaplain and was active in the Sonshine Via de Cristo Retreat Movement for over thirty years. As a true God fearing and humble servant , he was a major religious pillar of the community. He helped begin a Crisis Pregnancy Center in southwest Broward County, helped with the beginning of Synod's "Lift High the Cross" Hot Air Balloon Outreach ministry and served as the Chairman of the Haiti Lutheran Mission Coordination Committee (HLMCC). He traveled to Haiti more than 22 times. Darrell was a Pastoral Advisor for FL-GA District's "Mission Haiti" Mission Society. Pastor Darrell helped form an Emergency Assistance Service Effort "EASE" in the local Davie community. He worked with a number of local Christian Churches and Pastors to provide a National Day of Prayer gathering each year. He was an active member of both Davie-Cooper City Rotary Club and the local Chamber of Commerce. He served as a mentor for Distance Education Leading To Ordination "DELTO" students preparing to become ordained Lutheran Pastors. He always had time for others. Pastor Darrell concluded his 33 years at Gloria Dei on July 31, 2010. On August 1, 2010, he began his pastoral service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 14531 Old Olga Road, Fort Myers, FL 33905. He loved each and every person he met. But most of all, he loved his Lord and serving Him to the fullest. He enjoyed food...pot lucks, reading, history, traveling/camping, old black and white '50's and 60's TV shows. He was extremely proud of his family, children and grandchildren, their goals and accomplishment. He loved them more than words could say. He will be missed by all those he touched through out the years and will always be in our hearts!