Dear friends,
Barb's father, Rev. Lowell Sheldahl, passed away on Monday morning, July 16th, at about 5:30am surrounded by his wife, Jan, and his two daughters, Barb and Linda. Barb's brother Mark had also been able to be with his father many times over the last couple weeks of his life. Lowell was 75 years old. Along with several other diseases Lowell had battled Parkinson's disease for the last fifteen years. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer the end of April. While we were surprised at how quickly he declined from the time we arrived to help out, Lowell had told us that he had prayed he would die while we were here in Oregon. His heavenly Father granted that desire.
Lowell and Jan served as missionaries with the ALC and were called to Japan in 1962. After 9 years they returned to the U.S. and Lowell served a church in Wisconsin. God then called him to serve a parish in southern Australia. His last two years in Australia were spent on an Aboriginal mission in tropical northern Australia which he remembers as a time of great spiritual impact in the community. He returned to the U.S. in 1982. After serving churches in Illinois and Indiana, Lowell joined the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and served his final congregation in Kelso, WA. One interesting note is that Lowell's grandparents (Barb's great-grandparents) are buried at the cemetery connected with Salem Lutheran Church in Radcliffe, IA.
Lowell was always very encouraging and supportive of our missionary aspirations. He and Jan willingly carried the burden of having their only grandchildren for 12 years outside of the United States. We were all delighted with the arrival of two more dear grandchildren from Barb's brother and his wife. He left us with many wonderful memories and a lasting legacy of love and service for His Savior and he will be greatly missed.
Thanks so much for all of your comforting and encouraging notes and for your prayers for all of our family as we walk through these days.
In Christ,
Todd and Barb Schierkolk
Editor’s note: Lowell Sheldahl passed away on the Morning of July 16th. Please keep Barb and her family in your prayers as they prepare for his funeral on August 2 at Trinity Covent Church in Salem, OR.
