Rev. Donald Sprengler

Reverend Donald Sprengler, age 89, departed this life on June 13, 2024 to be with his Lord Jesus in anticipation of the Final Resurrection.

Pastor Sprengler was born in Thorp, WI on May 13, 1935 to the late Ferdinand and Orlena (Roesler). He was Re-born in Christ in the water of Holy Baptism on May 31, 1935. He publicly confessed his faith into which he was baptized in the rite of confirmation at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dorchester, WI on April 10, 1947

He met his wife Phyllis in Sauk Rapids, MN, while on his vicarage. They married on August 20, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church at Potter, WI.

Pastor Sprengler graduated from the Dorchester High School in 1953. He then attended the Gale Institute in Minneapolis. This was a school for training young men to be Agent-Telegraphers on the railroad. He graduated from the Gale Institute in 1954 and went to work on the Chicago-North Western as an Agent-Telegrapher. The dispatcher for this Division was located in Antigo.

In 1956 Pastor Sprengler entered the seminary to study for the Holy Ministry. The Seminary was in Springfield, IL. However, the 1st Seminary housing was all filled, and all single non-veterans had to attend Fort Wayne and take required Seminary classes there for the 1st year. Following the 1st year, at Fort Wayne, he attended the Seminary at Springfield for the rest of his Seminary training, graduating on May 30, 1962.

Pastor Sprengler spent his Vicarage year 1960-1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids, MN.

Following his Seminary Graduation, his first call was to Immanuel and Zion Lutheran Churches in Stirum and Gwinner, N.D. In the fall of 1970, he received and accepted the call to be Pastor of St. Peter in Polar and St. John Lutheran Church in Lily. He retired from the Holy Ministry on June 1, 2000.

During his active ministry, Pastor Sprengler served in various congregations as Vacancy Pastor. He also served in many other capacities – in North Dakota: Circuit Counselor, District Welfare Committee, and Lutheran League Zone Counselor – and in Wisconsin: as Circuit Counselor, Vice President, Board of Parish Services, Evangelism Boar, and District Reconciler. He also led Evangelism workshops and retreats, attended 5 Synodical Conventions, and served on a Floor Committee at one of the conventions. In his retirement, he also did much supply preaching when there was a vacancy or when the Pastor was on vacation.

Pastor Sprengler also loved to golf, hunt, fish, and work in his yard and garden. He loved to watch football games and other sporting events on TV. He loved being with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife Phyllis, survivors include 2 sons, Scott (Heather) and Thomas both in the Bryant area; 3 daughters, Dawn Cass in Hortonville, Amy (Brian) King in Pickerel, and Jennifer Sprengler in Star Valley Ranch, WY; 11 grandchildren, Jonathan (Molly), Nicholas (Danielle), Anthony, and Phillip Cass, Gregory (Nicole) and Matthew (Debbie) King, Erika (Zach) Kiefer, Tessa (Ethan) Schreiber, Molly Nicholson, Jeffrey Sprengler and John Charles Branca; 16 great grandchildren; a sister, Shirley Gostomski of Thorp; a sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law Robert Cass, a great grandchild, Huck, 4 sisters-in-law, and 4 brothers-in-law.

A funeral service will take place at St. Peter’s Church in Polar on Tuesday, June 18 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be on Monday at the church from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM and on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until the service. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to Orphan Grain Train or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.