The Rev. Robert J. Schrank

The Rev. Robert J. Schrank was born May 19, 1928 at Wittenberg, Wisconsin to Alfred O. Schrank and Constance H. (Helgeson) Schrank. He died on June 13, 2019 at the age of 91 in Salt Lake City. He lived in Gresham and Shawano, WI with his parents until he attended Concordia Preparatory College in Milwaukee, WI for six years graduating Cum Honore in 1949. He then attended Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO from which he graduated in 1954 as a Pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He served his Theological Internship in Guatemala, Central America in 1952. After graduation he was called back as an evangelistic missionary to Guatemala.
During his first year at the Seminary he met Joan E. Wagner, a Deaconess Intern on a summer internship at a Lutheran Camp near Buffalo, NY, whom he married on graduation and took to Guatemala. During their 65 years of marriage, the Lord blessed them with five children: Dorel, Stephen, Michael, Robert, and Andrew. His family grew to include 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
After eight years in Guatemala, he was assigned to develop a Hispanic ministry in El Paso, TX. He served 14 years in El Paso and Juarez, Mexico before accepting a Call to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, UT where he retired in 1993.
During his years in El Paso he served as Chaplain with the Civil Air Patrol and as a Sheriff/Police Chaplain. In Salt Lake he served 20 years as a volunteer chaplain with the Salt Lake City Police and 7 years as Chaplain with the FBI. In addition to a number of other social service positions in El Paso and Salt Lake he served as President of the Salt Lake Ministerial Association and Chairman of the Lutheran Social Ministry. He served several terms as Circuit Counselor for Utah.
Robert was a husband, father, and tireless servant to others. He was a pastor to his congregation, helping them through major transitions in their lives – baptism, marriage, and death; a chaplain for law enforcement where he was on the front lines supporting those experiencing tragic events. He was a voice for social justice, fairness, tolerance, and unity.
He loved the outdoors and travel. He enjoyed camping, skiing, hiking and road tripping across the country with his family.
From his children:
The one special moment in my life with my dad was when I got married…he walked me down the aisle as the Father of the Bride, gave me away, and then walked around me to perform the marriage ceremony as the pastor, but always and foremost my dad!
-Dorel
When we lived in El Paso, my father was involved with the Hispanic community to boycott the Frito-Lay company over the offensive use of the “Frito Bandito” as a marketing character. This and other acts of just rebellion in society at large and within his church, imbued in me a strong sense of social justice and tolerance. I am thankful to him for this Christ-like example to me. He was certainly not afraid to make waves.
-Stephen
When I was young, Dad would take me with him to Truth or Consequences, NM to serve as vacancy pastor. He would always let me sit next to him and steer the car! After church we would always go to get KFC chicken and go fishing at Elephant Butte Reservoir. It as just a good one-on-one time with him.
-Andrew
My dad had a long, original, adventurous, and useful life – a life well lived. Who would want to ask for more than that? Hurrah for you, dad. You will be missed. And as you always would say to us, we say to you: “Vaya con dios.”
-Michael
In lieu of flowers, Robert and his family would ask that you make a donation to Concordia University Wisconsin or the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). To make a donation, go to one of the links below:

To make a donation, click one of the links below:
·         Concordia University Wisconson: Alfred and Constance Schrank Memorial Fund for Pastoral Ministry (follow the instructions for donating to an endowment)page=https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/SFzHCG693pTJ30BWh7DETN?domain=cuw.edu
·
Lutheran Women’s Missionary Leaguecuw.edu/…t/giving/ways-to-give/https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/kp7FCJ6P3vT891BpHz375T?domain=lwml.givingfuel.com



Memorial services will be conducted by the Rev. David Fischer at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1030 South 500 East at 10:00 o’clock on Friday, June 21. In lieu of flowers, Robert and his family would ask that you make a donation to Concordia University Wisconsin or the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). Family members may be visited at a luncheon after the service.
Service Information

Memorial Service
June 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM
St. John's Lutheran Church, 1030 South 500 East, SLC, Utah