Richard H. Meyer

Rev. Richard H. Meyer, lovingly known as Pastor, Sensei, Pedo, Dick, Dad or Grandpa, passed from this life into Eternal Life on January 7, 2023. Throughout his 100 years on this earth, he heeded the guidance and promise of the Lord to lead him “in the path of righteousness for His name's sake.” His response to God’s guidance, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" could be a summation of his life.

He was born on November 22, 1922 in Cullman Alabama to Rev. Henry and Mrs. Lydia Meyer. When he was only thirteen years old, he heard God calling, and moved away from his home for theological preparation and education, graduating in 1947 from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. That same year, he married his beloved wife, Lois Kuehnert who preceded him into the Kingdom in 2020 after seventy-three years of marriage.

He was ordained and commissioned as a missionary to China in 1948 but because of the Communist take-over was soon after evacuated to Japan where he and Lois faithfully served for twenty-one years. His varied work included pioneer evangelism, establishing and serving new congregations, campus ministry and administration. He served two terms as Chairman of the Japan Mission and was instrumental in guiding the transition to the independent Japan Lutheran Church for which he was conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree by Concordia Seminary. In his final years in Japan, he served as Director of the Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary.

In 1971, Pastor Meyer and Lois retired from the mission field, but not from serving; he served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in New Orleans for seven years until being elected as President of the Southern District which he served for ten years. Even after retirement, he continued his calling, working as assistant pastor or interim pastor for several congregations in the New Orleans area and continuing to preach occasionally at various churches until he was in his 90’s.

He and Lois moved to Rockridge Retirement Community in 2017 where he was cherished, just as he was no matter where he served and lived.

He is survived by his children, Becky Schaefer, Omi and son-in-law Ted Woodward, Deb Luekens, Kurt Meyer, eight grandchildren, their spouses and eight great grandchildren. In addition to his wife Lois, he is predeceased by daughter Kathy Shepard, son Mark Meyer and son-in-law Jeff Luekens. He leaves behind countless friends, colleagues and even acquaintances whose lives have been touched by him.

A Memorial Service will take place on March 4, 2023 at 12 noon at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Marigny, New Orleans, LA. Calling hours will precede the service from 10–12 noon in the church. A private burial will take place in Ashfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Marigny, 2624 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117 or to Lutheran World Relief (LWR.org.)