"Linda, Kit, Bryce, Tina and family, so sorry to hear about Darrell's passing, I just found out. We always enjoyed talking with him and will always remember him with a smile. Our hearts are with you all. Leslie and Jim Noonan"
In loving memory of
Reverend Darrell Arthur Stuehrenberg
April 8, 1951 - October 22, 2018
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 church 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!
Tributes
"My family moved to Davie, FL from Garden City, N. Y. in 1983 and we joined Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Pastor Darrell was a wonderful preacher, a fine family man, and a true Shepherd of his Flock. He will be remembered in our hearts always. His family was so important to him and he was so proud of them. He gave me a Nativity set his Dad had carved one year when I volunteered and I still proudly display it yearly. He will be missed. Harry, Marcia, Suzanne (Landg) and Christopher Treber. God bless his wonderful family."
"Hello, my name is Cinara and I just learned of Pastor Darrell'a journey home to the Lord. Hopefully these words are not late but he is a spiritual marker in my lige. I had the privilege of working alongside him during several Via de Cristo activities and enjoyed several sermons that he delivered at other various ceremonies. I pray you all have the comfort that he directed many to have in Christian Jesus."
"The angels in heaven are rejoicing that another faithful servant of the Lord, Pastor Darrell, has received his Crown of Eternal Life! The Abel family sends thoughts and prayers to Linda and the family. We were blessed that Darrell helped us during the loss of my brother, Pastor Lou Abel, a little more than two years ago. What memories he shared with us! I know that Darrell and Lou are hanging out together with Jesus, looking forward to the day when we will all meet again! "
"Pastor Darrell was such a blessing to me while I lived for a short time in Pembroke Pines in 2013/2014. Pastor Darrell was hosting an evening service in Ft Lauderdale, full of songs praising our Lord. We were a small, quite diverse group of people who all loved to get together for a worship service full of music. I loved to hear pastor belt out a tune in perfect pitch! The whole group would often go to dinner after the service, just enjoying each other and our time together. Though I hadn't seen pastor in a few years, he will always be in my memory. I pray for his family during this most difficult time. "
"Pastor Darrel Stuehrenberg, a true and faithful, humble servant of God. A blessing to all who knew him. He touched our lives and was there for me when my mom died. This world will be a saddened place without him. His joy, caring and kindness will be missed. There is rejoicing in heaven. Linda, Chris, Tina, and Bryce, praying for peace and comfort in these very tough times."
"Pastor Darrell is the reason I started attending church and learning who jesus is. He was always there for everyone in our family. He was so special to so many people. Prayers of comfort to his family. He will be missed. Singing Battle hymn of the Republic for you Pastor. The Carrero family ?"
"Pastor Darrell was very special to my family. He baptized our youngest, confirmed our oldest two children, funerals for my mom, my husbands step father and grandmother. He was also my boss for 4 years while I worked at Gloria Dei. He was a friend, a boss, mentor to me. I will miss him. Prayers for Linda and her family. "
"To the family of Darrell. I attended Darrell and Linda's wedding with my grandparents when I was a little girl. We are long time family friends of the Stuehrenbergs. My grandparents were Glen and Irene Erickson and my parents Joel and Delphine Graff. We are all saddened to hear of another loss in your family. Love and prayers to all. Jodi Graff Kurtz"
"Darrell was our Pastor from the beginning at Gloria Dei. We all came together once and built a beautiful church in Davie, Fl. Well done Darrell. Our Lord will take care of you now. Our hearts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless you. Gary and Tina Donaho"
"Pastor Darrell Stuehrenberg was my pastor growing up at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Davie, FL. He was such a faithful servant of God, touched so many lives with his sermons and singing of hymns. He served me my first communion, baptized my brother, Confirmed me, presided over the weddings of my Mom and Brett, and my best friend Al (who Pastor Darrell is now reunited with in Heaven) and Jaime, he baptized their son, and my God son Elliott, and sadly presided Al?s Funeral a few years ago. He had so much impact on my family, the community, the congregations and ministries he served... 2 summers ago I was on my way out of my hometown when I stopped at diner to have breakfast, and heard his voice a couple booths away... I went and said hi to him and had a great conversation with him, which was the last time we spoke... now, he went home to the Lord and is now reunited with all of the souls he help guide on the right path... Rest In Peace Pastor Darrell, thank you for your blessings in my walk as well as your patience... Say hi to everyone for me up there. I look forward to our next conversation "
"Pastor, my pastor. I used to call you that and that?s who you are to me and my family. We moved a lot, but you were always ?our? pastor. Thank you for your example, your strength, your kindness and more. Most of all thank you for being a clear representative of Jesus? love to all. We?ll miss you always yet know we?ll see you again. We love you and Linda. "
"Dear Darrell hope the trip was smooth. You lucky guy you made it to His kingdom. Say hi for me to all our dearly departed. Thanks for all you did for me and my family. It was you that helped me transition to Christianity through you I found Christ as my children did also. Who could forget our wedding you performed. Your the best and will be truly missed. In your own words thanks for the time on earth we got to spend together. In Jesus name. "
"The Decker Family will truly miss this precious servant of God who was so present in our recent important family times! As my mother said to him the last time she saw him..."Well done, Good and faithful servant"! We will all truly miss you and your loving smile... the love of God shone through you!"
"He loved as his Lord loved, unconditionally. Always ready with a smile, a hug, the right words. He?s Home. I surely do miss him. "
"Still have fond memories of persuading Darrell to sing karaoke at our 40th class reunion. Sorry for your loss Linda. Tony Mertes"
"We will miss his cheerful, positive personality - a reflection of the grace of Jesus. Bruce Lieske"
"There are those precious few, who God brings into our lives, and touch our hearts so deeply we will never be the same. Pastor Darrell was one of those precious few to us. The Shore Family"
"There are those precious few, who God brings into our lives, and touch our hearts so deeply we will never be the same. Pastor Darrell was one of those precious few to us. The Shore Family"
"Or pastor of many years and officiated at my sons wedding. He will be missed. Now Gods faithful servant rests."
"Pastor Darrell was a dear friend who shall be deeply missed. Peace to his wife and family"