MINNEAPOLIS, MN (May 1, 2012) – A memorial service is pending for retired Evangelical Covenant Church missionary Ken Lundell, 89, who died Friday. A military service and burial will be at Fort Snelling on Wednesday. Tentative plans are for a memorial service in June.
Lundell was born in Lake Bronson, Minnesota, on July 11, 1922. He married Joyce Anderson on October 28, 1943. She survives.
Lundell graduated from North Park College in 1950 and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1955. He graduated from St. Paul Bible College in 1953 and North Park Theological Seminary in 1957.
The Lundells began their missionary service in Japan in 1958 and served until 1961. He served as interim pastor at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Kennedy, Minnesota, from 1963-1965. He then took a job as administrative assistant for the Department of World Mission in 1965 and became its assistant secretary (a role similar to that of director today) in 1972 and worked primarily with short-term missionaries. He retired in 1987.
Lundell had a passion to serve in Japan because he had seen great need in that country while serving there with the U.S. Army following World War II. David Husby, current director of Covenant World Relief, and his wife, Ronna, credit Lundell for inspiring them to serve as missionaries in Japan.
In addition to his wife, Lundell is survived by daughters Rosemary Lundell and Juliann Tarsney, and sons Jonathan and Don Lundell.
Ken’s leadership, spiritual encouragement and and administrative care in bonding Covenant World Mission and North Park University’s Short-Term Mission program changed many lives for the kingdom over many years! His was truly a life of significance in what he offered to God lives on. Peace to his memory!
Rev. Doug Johnson
The Samarkand
Santa Barbara, CA
Ken Lundell was my mothers cousin. I have very wonderful memories of Ken. Ken was a very gentle man the loved the Lord with all his heart. He also cared much about family history and was always interested in what he next generation of relatives were up to. Sweden was also something Ken likes to talk about. He was very proud of my younger cousins as they are keeping the Swedish language alive. I will always have wonderful memories of Ken.
Judy (Vagle) Inglis secretary at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Thief River Falls, MN
Ken was Asst. Secretary for World Mission when I applied to be a short-term missionary in 1975. I initially requested to be sent to Zaire (now Congo), but did not have the qualifications needed for that position. Ken suggested I consider Japan instead, and was so encouraging when I did! Three years later my wife Pauline also went to Japan as a STM (before we were married), with Ken involved in that process as well. We went to Japan as long-term missionaries in 1983, and ever since Ken followed our experiences with interest and prayer. I’m very thankful for his part in my life!
Ken was a great man and a loving servant. The short-termers loved Uncle Ken. He kept the World Mission office going when there were two administrators and a full complement of missionaries. It was a privilege to work with him during our missionary days and receive the blessing of his experience and practicality as I joined the office staff.