The Reverend Franklin Wayne “Frank” Schmeling died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, from complications following a car accident. He was 43 years old. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, S.D., with Rev. Gary Westgard presiding and Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe officiating. Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery. A prayer service was held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, Minn. Visitation was also held at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, and on Monday, Jan. 20, for two hours prior to the service. Pastor Schmeling was born on March 4, 1959, in Watertown, S.D., to Franklin E. and Bernida (Robbins) Schmeling. He grew up on the family farm near Watertown. After high school, Frank worked for his dad at their Welding Shop located in Water-town. He then began working as an independent welder/mechanic. He honorably served his country in the United States Army. On Aug. 14, 1982, Franklin Schmeling and LuAnn Peterson from Clear Lake, S.D., were joined in holy matrimony. In 1985 Frank was seriously injured in an industrial accident and it was during this time he received a calling to service in the church. He began college in Denver, Colo. (where they were living), and then finished his college education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, graduating in 1990. He attended one year of seminary at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and then transferred to Luther Seminary in St. Paul where he received a Masters Degree in Ministry with the Elderly in May 1995. Frank later received a Masters in Divinity and also a Masters Degree in Theology, both in May 1998. He graduated summa cum laude. During his time at Luther Seminary, he was Resident Chaplain for the Good Samaritan Society. He served his internship at St. Mark’s Lutheran in North St. Paul; he also served as an interim minister at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Hancock, Minn. Frank was ordained on Feb. 22, 1999, and began a call to Grace Lutheran Church in South Haven, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingston, and North Crow River Lutheran Church in Cokato. On Thanksgiving of this past year, Pastor Schmeling was involved in a car accident and later died from complications of the accident. Schmeling was preceded in death by his brother Rick; grandparents Richard and Sarah Robbins, and Elmer and Myrtle Schmeling; and father-in-law Melvin Peterson. He is survived by his loving wife LuAnn; his father Franklin of Watertown, S.D.; mother Bernida (Leon) Gunther of Marietta, Minn.; sisters Kathy (and Tim) Goodwin of Rapid City, S.D.; Martha (and Bob) Reinfeld of Flandreau, S.D.; Jean (and Glen) Ragels of Watertown, S.D.; and Karen (and Frank) Marshall of Lonsdale, Minn.; mother-in-law Doris Peterson of Watertown, S.D.; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Linda Martinell of Waverly, S.D., and Eldon (and Betty) Peterson of Revillo, S.D.; aunts, uncles and cousins; his best friend and chocolate lab, Faith, and his cat, Dolly. Honorary casketbearers were Schmeling’s nephews Tim and David Goodwin, Ryan Jensen, Anthony Dally and Taylor Ragels. Casketbearers were David Dally, Steve Lavender, Rocky Ward, Dave Meseberg, Steve Sears, Joe Sears, Trevor Dally, Tim Dally, Jr., Robbie Marshall and Richie Schmeling. Arrangements were by the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.
