Gary M. Arp, 85
by Report Submitted · April 16th, 2020


Gary M. Arp was born Nov. 15, 1934 to Adolph and Betty nee Kolls Arp both now deceased at rural Lake Park. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sioux Valley Township, Minnesota. He graduated from Sioux Valley Township High School in 1953.

He held various jobs before working for Boeing Airplane Company in Wichita, Kan. for five years 1956-1961. While living in Wichita he attended Wichita State University for two years before being accepted into the pre-seminary program at Concordia Theological Seminary Springfield, Ill., where he earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree in May 1966. Before his graduation he took a five-week course in Bible Lands History and then traveled for five weeks to nine European and Middle Eastern countries. He served a summer vicarage at Camp Perkins Lutheran Camp, near Ketcham, Idaho before beginning his full vicarage year, 1965 at St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance, Ohio. Rev. Arp was ordained into the Holy Ministry on July 31, 1966 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sioux Valley Township, Minn.

Rev. Arp has served congregations at Our Savior Lutheran Church, EI Dorado, Ark., and St. John Lutheran Church, Crossett, Ark., a dual parish, from 1966-1970 and also served on the Mid-South District Publicity Committee; Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, Clarinda from 1970-1983. He was Chairman of The Iowa District West Education Committee and served on the Board of Directors of Iowa District West; St. John Lutheran Church, Waverly from 1983 to 2000. While serving as Pastor in Waverly he was Vicarage Supervisor for 15 vicars 1984-1999, was Circuit Counselor of the Westgate Circuit from 1991-1997, served on ad hoc committees and as a Synodical Reconciler from 1993-2000. In 1997 he began serving as First Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Iowa District East of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He served as Acting President before being elected President of Iowa District East, Marion in June, 2000-2009. As President of Iowa District East he was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Council of Presidents. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Ind., in May of 2003.

Rev. Arp was a dedicated Pastor. He cared for the members of Christ's Church faithfully in each of the congregations he served. He relied fully on God's grace and preached the Word boldly. One of his cherished opportunities in the parish was leading a young foreign exchange at Waverly High School to Christ. He instructed & baptized Sarka Prchalova, from Prerov, Czech Republic in the Christian faith at St. John Waverly in 1993. She was invited to spend a year in Waverly with Phyllis Schmidt, Professor at Wartburg College and member of St. John who met her when she was teaching English as a second language in Prerov. She spent many hours with Rev. Arp and his wife Marjorie, experiencing the love of Jesus through them. The relationship continued when Sarka returned home and Rev. Arp was asked to preform a Christian blessing of her marriage to Pavel Holubar and a few years later baptized their two children. Rev. Arp & Marjorie also served as their sponsors. In the following years Phyllis invited former student Martin Prchal, and Jarimir Pokorny to spend a summer in Waverly to detassel corn. The next summer Zuzanna Patrakova and Silvi Minarikova also came to detassel corn. They attended St. John and spent their spare time with the Arp's. Another summer Beata Kisiel of Cieszyn, Poland stayed with Phyllis and spent time with the Arps.

Among his many accomplishments as a Churchman he was dedicated to the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel. Rev. Arp counted it as a great privilege to work with Rev. Dr. Darius Petkunas, his wife Inga and twin daughters Ieva and Augusta, Palanga, Lithuania. Iowa District East and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod joined together to raise funds to build a new church, diaconal center and parsonage for the Palanga parish. In 2012 they traveled to Palanga and Rev. Arp participated in the dedication.

He will be remembered by many as Pastor, teacher and mentor in the Christian Faith.

Faith, family, friends and country were the top priorities in his life. He was a cancer survivor for many years and during a year of failing health he was served by St. Luke's Hospital Hospice. He appreciated the weekly visits of the Hospice nurses, Social workers and Massage Therapist. The family also appreciated the services of Dr. Cearlock, Dr. Levett, Dr. Ghosh of Cedar Rapids, and other medical personal who treated him for lung cancer two different times.

He was an accomplished woodworker, photographer, and mechanic. He enjoyed owning and riding horses. He spent many hours giving horseback rides to his grandchildren. In the fall a family get together tradition was making Apple Cider in an old fashioned press, cutting wood for the fireplace, and making homemade ice cream. He and Marjorie enjoyed traveling in the U.S. with their children visiting all the states except Hawaii and traveling many times to Europe where they had friends in Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and Germany.

Gary was married to Marjorie nee Davis Arp on Sept. 17, 1955 and the couple had four children: Lonny Arp (Robert, deceased in 2009) Larson, deceased in 1990, Clarinda; Wally (Lois) Arp of Winter Springs, Fla.; Becky Arp (Steve) Lehenbauer, Winter Springs, Fla.; Christy Arp (Dwight) Mayer, Essex, and twelve grandchildren Luke (Stacey) Larson, Nevada; Asa Larson, Omaha, Neb.; Sara Arp (Taylor) Patton, Orlando, Fla.; Elizabeth Arp (Brian) Kent, Melbourne, Fla.; Jonathan (Gabby) Arp, Atlanta, Ga.; Matthew (Tara) Arp, Durham, N.C.; Jacob (Mallory) Lehenbauer, Austin, Texas; Natalie Lehenbauer (AJ) Leupold, Orlando, Fla.; Anthony Lehenbauer, Gainesville, Fla.; Travis Mayer, Shenandoah; Amber Mayer (Pierre) Taylor, Shenandoah; Ashton Mayer (Max) Johnson, Cedar Rapids.

Great-grandchildren are Levi, Hunter, Wyatt, Jace & Zachary Larson, Nevada; Thea Larson, Omaha, Neb.; Grace, Abigail, Makenzie & Kingston Patton, Orlando, Fla.; Joshua and Ellie Kent, Melbourne, Fla.; Autumn Taylor, Shenandoah; Rainn Mayer, Shenandoah; Oscar & Lila Arp, Atlanta, Ga.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Lonny and son-in-law Robert Larson, and one nephew Mark Ackerman.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of 64 years, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who he dearly loved, and one sister Karlyne (Paul) Ackerman, Lakefield, Minn. and nieces and nephews.

His funeral service was conducted at Zion Lutheran Church, LCMS, Hiawatha on Monday, March 16, at 11 a.m with Pastor Daniel Krueger officiating, son Rev. Dr. Wally Arp, Senior Pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Oviedo, Fla., preaching; others participating in the service were Max Mons, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Chapel, Iowa City; Pastor Dean Rothchild, District East staff, Marion, and Matthew Rueger, Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church Hubbard. Pastor Don Fondow, Minn. North President brought greetings from President Matthew Harrison of the LCMS, St. Louis, Mo., Randy Golter, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church Davenport and his wife Elizabeth also brought greetings from the LCMS and IDE. Family visitation was at 9 a.m, and general visitation was at 10 a.m at Zion Lutheran Church. Lunch was served by the Zion Kitchen committee following the service. Burial was Tuesday, March 17, at 1 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran cemetery, Clarinda next to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Pall bearers were the couples twelve grandchildren.

Memorials are family choice which they will direct to Zion Lutheran Church, 201 1st Ave., Hiawatha and Iowa District East of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Marion.

Teahen Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids served the family. Their website is www.teahenfuneralhome.com.