Donald Ziemke PhD. | Obituary

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Donald Ziemke PhD.

June 21, 1929 – June 16, 2022

Donald C. Ziemke PhD. Donald Charles Ziemke died on June 16, 2022, at The Pillars of Mankato, surrounded by his wife Lora Lee (Lori) Ruthenbeck and his children. Don was born June 21, 1929 in Queens, New York to Henry and Dorothy Ziemke. Don was married to Bernadine (Dene) Anderson from 1954 until her death in 2009. Don and Dene had three children, Karin, Peter, and Judie. He met Lora Lee (Lori) Ruthenbeck after moving to Mankato to be near his daughter and her family. Don and Lori were married in 2010, and resided in Mankato and Bonita Springs, Florida. Don was an only child but grew up among an extended family on Long Island. He played basketball in high school and graduated from Oceanside High School. He had a life-long passion for education and music, which began in New York and followed him to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he immersed himself in biblical studies and languages, including German, Latin, Greek, and Swedish. Don studied at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (now Trinity Lutheran Seminary) in Columbus, and was ordained as a minister in the American Lutheran Church. After graduation, Don attended the Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N. J, where he earned a doctor of theology degree in 1960, graduating magna cum laude. His doctoral thesis was published as Love for the Neighbor in Luther’s Theology, and he was a regular contributor of essays and book reviews to Lutheran and New Testament journals. He was a member of Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, American Society for Reformation Research, and other scholarly and professional organizations. Don’s career included both teaching and administration. His teaching began at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and continued at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Don was then appointed as chair of the religion department at University of North Dakota at Grand Forks. He next did graduate study in college administration on a Carnegie Institute fellowship at the University of Michigan. In 1967 he was appointed Dean of Students at Nasson College in Springvale, Maine, and in 1970, Dean of Faculty at Fontbonne College in St. Louis. Louis Missouri. Don later served as the president of Missouri Valley College from 1975 to 1979. After leaving Missouri Valley College, the family moved back to St. Louis. Louis, where Don and Dene purchased and remodeled an historic Lafayette Square row house. Don began a second career as a certified financial planner which he pursued for the next 20+ years until retirement. Don is survived by his wife, Lori Ruthenbeck, his three children, Karin Wheeler, Peter (Amy) Ziemke, and Judie Ziemke Bjorling; seven grandchildren, Benjamin (Erin) Wheeler, GySgt Daniel (Veronica) Wheeler USMC, David Humphrey, Samantha (Tommy) Wojtowicz, Blake Ziemke, Clayton Ziemke and Tobias Ziemke; and one great grandson, Jacob Wheeler. He is also survived by Lori’s sons Paul (Robin) Hart Ruthenbeck, Joel (Anita) Ruthenbeck and their families. A private family service will be held June 30th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Jay Dahlvag officiating. The family prefers memorials to be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or donor’s choice.

Published on June 24, 2022

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