The Reverend Earl Frank Kammerud
Posted By Families Firstcare On September 27, 2019 @ 6:45 pm In Obituaries | 10 Comments
On Wednesday, September 25th, The Reverend Earl Frank Kammerud died at the age of 82. Earl was born on September 11th, 1937 to Ruby Helen (Frank) Kammerud and Peter Joseph Kammerud in Osceola, Wisconsin. He lived his life through the age of 18 in Dresser WI with his siblings Marilyn, Marshall (Marianne), Joyce (Jim), Iver (Jan), and John (June). He is famous for being the captain of the football team, homecoming king, and the brother who Joyce convinced to jump through the 2nd floor heating vent and crash into the dining room table below. In a story arch that will be important later, in the first grade he would walk a sweet young girl named Audrey home after school every day until her family moved and he thought he’d never see her again.
After graduating from Osceola High School, Earl went to Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. He transferred his sophomore year to the University of Wisconsin River Falls. After graduating, he became a teacher where he noticed another teacher was named Audrey Steffen. Passing a note through his little brother’s girlfriend, he asked Audrey out for dinner. Her response was, “I have no idea who this is but it’s a free dinner”. Audrey went home from that date and told her mother, “I just met the man I’m going to marry.” Earl and Audrey were married December 23rd, 1961. They were able to celebrate 53 ½ years of marriage.
Two years after being married, Earl and Audrey had a beautiful baby boy that they named Eric Carl Joseph Kammerud. It was a really long name for a tiny baby but he grew into it. Three years and nine months later, Earl and Audrey had a bouncing baby girl they named Betsy Rose Kammerud. Both children were lucky to have two loving, engaged, committed, and slightly insane parents. Later in his life Eric married Dena (Ketsdever) Kammerud and they had Earl’s adored granddaughter Freya. Betsy married April Hendrix and Earl inherited grandsons Hugo and John who he cherished.
After Eric was born, Earl felt the call to join the ministry. He attended United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities. Following graduation, he served the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church for 54 years. He served churches in Viroqua, DeSoto, Glenwood City, Downing, Superior, Racine, Chetek, Cameron, Milwaukee, and Troy Center. He grew in his ministry with each congregation and was grateful for their support.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Ruby Kammerud, his sisters Marilyn and Joyce, his brother-in-law Jim Reimer, and his sister in law, Jan Kammerud. Earl experienced the death of his beloved wife Audrey on July 5th, 2015.
In March of 2017, Earl started his next adventure and moved to Savannah GA to live near Betsy and April. He missed his friends, his Masonic lodge, and his church Plymouth Church UCC in Milwaukee. But, being an incredibly social guy, Earl quickly formed new friendships and found a spiritual home at Wesley Oak United Methodist Church. Earl enjoyed not having to shovel snow and getting to eat fresh shrimp whenever he wanted.
Earl was a lifelong democrat and proudly told stories of his demonstrations for peace, equality, and worker’s rights. He encouraged the United Methodist Church to live up to their motto “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors”. He celebrated the election of President Obama and was heart-broken at the loss of Hilary Clinton. He was elated when the Supreme Court made marriage legal for all people in the United States…love is love. His work with MICAH – Milwaukee, working for Equality, Justice, and Faith, was a highlight of his career.
Earl wants to thank his friends and family for making his life as amazing and blessed as it was. There may have been some tough times but he wouldn’t change a thing because each experience led him to someone or someplace new and remarkable.
The service to honor and celebrate Earl will be held on Sunday, Oct.6th at 1pm at Wesley Oak United Methodist Church. The address is 3124 E. Victory Dr. Savannah GA 31404. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wesley Oak United Methodist Church.
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Condolences for the family of “The Reverend Earl Frank Kammerud”
Earl embodied all that is good about Christianity and America. Love, inclusion, compassion, generosity, service. His smile was welcoming, comforting and inviting.
We only knew him so very briefly but he had a remarkable way of making people feel like lifelong friends.
May the Good Lord repose his soul in the paradise of joy and may he grant all those who love him his peace and strength at this difficult time.
Travel well my friend you have truly lived a remarkable life.
Earl was the sweetest man. So full of grace and a true testament to faith and love. He will he missed and was so loved! His smile lit up a room. ❤️
Your family has our deepest condolences. Earl was a special man. We are blessed to have known him.
So sorry for your loss Eric and Betsy.
Earl was a genuine, good and faithful man. He made compassion and justice seem like common sense. He had a great sense of humor and was never afraid to stand for what he believed. We were lucky to have him, and he will be missed!
Your commitment to doing justice and to living the Gospel is hard to match. I still remember your participation in MICAH rallies and meetings when you were experiencing real health challenges. Most people would have stayed home. The victory is yours through Christ.
Brother Earl was always a bright spot in my time at Lodge. I will never forget his unique and personal prayers. He has been missed in our fellowship but was always in our hearts. I spoke with Earl several times since he moved. He was always happy and upbeat and was always wishing heartfelt prayers to us in Wisconsin. Until we meet again Bother Earl.
Earl was there for our family during some very trying times. I not only called him Pastor,i called him friend and Brother. A man.who went out ofhis way to make others comfortable in their own lives even when at times he was facing some trying times. I found this while tryi g to recontact with him and hopefully his family sees this. Indeed he was a child of God and a brorher to all. Rest well dear friend! You deserve it.
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I’m so sorry to hear of Earl’s passing. He was an amazing man. He was always so sweet and caring. He baptized both of my children and my Goddaughter. I wasn’t able to have my daughter baptized until she was 4 because I was a single mom and I had been refused by 3 other pastors. When I met Earl, who had been my husband’s family’s pastor for years, he immediately asked me what day I would like to have her baptized. He was a very important person in our lives and will be greatly missed. Earl’s family will be in my thoughts and prayers.