CORNUCOPIA, WI (August 9, 2013) – Retired Covenant pastor Jerome (Jerry) Engseth, 82, died Sunday. A memorial service was held Thursday at the Luther Manor Chapel.
Engseth was born in 1931 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Martin and Dorothy (Johnson) Engseth.
Engseth graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Augsburg College in Minneapolis and later graduated with a master’s of divinity from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.
He married Helen Lois Swanson in 1955 in Minneapolis.
Engseth served as a teacher at Covenant Bible College in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He ministered as senior pastor at Floral Park Covenant Church in Floral Park, New York; Northwest Covenant Church in Mount Prospect, Illinois; and Milwaukee Covenant Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He was the developer pastor for Church of the Redeemer in Bowie, Maryland; the Evangelical Covenant Church of St. Louis, Missouri, which included Church of the Master in St. Louis, Community Covenant Church in Kirkwood, Christ Covenant Church in Florissant; and Hope Evangelical Covenant Church in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He continued to work as pastor part-time through the mid-1990s. Engseth also was dedicated to promoting human and civil rights.
He took courses at Union Theological Seminary in New York City; Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia; Marquette University in Milwaukee, and Oxford University in Oxford, England. He wrote two self-published books, Just Mark, concerning biblical criticism and the gospel of Mark; and Swedish Men Arguing about God, regarding reflections on Pietism among Swedish-American immigrants.
He also enjoyed dramatic activities and wrote many plays.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Martin; two daughters, Toren and Ellen; and two grandchildren.
Private interment was in Cornucopia, Wisconsin. Memorials may be sent to the Milwaukee Evangelical Covenant Church community outreach program, 7727 W. Center St., Milwaukee, WI 53222.
Dear Lois and family
Only recently we heard that Jerry has left us. We feel with you. But we are aso grateful to have had the opprtunity to be a friend of Jerry. To remember many moments of warm meetings. Our thoughts are with you.
Britt and Gunnar Ahgren
Dear Family,
A fine friend and loyal Covenanter has left us. I have such good memories of Jerry. He and I used to talk theology and Covenant politics at Covenant gatherings. He was a a warm, bright and gracious colleague in the ministry. God bless his memory and comfort you in your loss. (I never realized he had published a couple of books. Is it possible to buy a copy of the book about Pietism?)
Wanly in Christ,
Craig E. Anderson
I was greatly saddened by the news of Jerry’s death. He was a good friend and fellow pastor through the years. Peace to his memory.
I will miss Jerry. Good memories of the time he was our interim at Bay Covenant in Green Bay in the mid-nineties. I loved his mind, his heart, his humor. I’m thankful for the hope of Heaven.