Dr. David P. Kahlenberg

The Rev. Dr. David P. Kahlenberg completed his earthly journey on January 31, 2026. Born on July 10, 1937 in Ft. Wayne, IN to the Rev. Dr. Henry V. and Evelyn M. Kahlenberg, Pastor Kahlenberg grew up in St. Petersburg, FL where his minister father was pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church for 36 years. Pastor David Kahlenberg graduated from St. Petersburg Senior High School in 1955, from Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH in 1959, and from Hamma School of Theology on the Wittenberg campus in 1962, graduating first in his class. He was ordained into the ministry of the Lutheran Church in America in May of 1962, and first served as Assistant Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. for over three years.

In 1965 Pastor Kahlenberg was called as pastor of Pleasant View Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, where he served for almost 34 years. Upon his retirement in July, 1999, the Congregation made him Pastor Emeritus.

During his ministry here, Pastor Kahlenberg served on the Wittenberg University Board of Directors for many years, beginning in 1968. In 1987, he was elected as an Emeritus Member of the Board, and in 1993, Wittenberg conferred upon him the honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree.

Beyond his congregational ministry, Pastor Kahlenberg served on several committees of the Indiana/Kentucky Synod of the Ev. Lutheran Church in America, including the Publicity, Convention, Pastors' Compensation, and Ministry Committees of the Synod, and for several years served on the Candidacy and Examining Committees and as Chair of the Examining Committee, both Committees responsible for examining candidates for ordained ministry in the Lutheran Church.

Also, while the Pastor of Pleasant View Lutheran Church, Pastor Kahlenberg trained 13 Seminary Interns, and as such was Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology at Lutheran Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC, from which came the majority of the Congregation's Interns. In addition, during his ministry, Pastor Kahlenberg studied in Rome, Jerusalem, and in Luther sites in Germany.

Community service given by Pastor Kahlenberg included committee work for the Church Federation of Indianapolis and 6 years as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Marion County. In 1979, Governor Otis R. Bowen made Pastor Kahlenberg a Sagamore of the Wabash.

Survivors include two sons, Timothy David (spouse-Kathleen) of Somerset, VA and Daniel James (spouse-Annette) of Buena Vista, CO, 5 grandchildren, Branden Bidwell, Brittney Bidwell, Timothy Kahlenberg, II, Caitlin Bidwell, Louie Mendicino & 4 great-granddaughters Charlotte Bidwell, Twilla Bidwell, Aubrey Mendicino, Margot Mendicino a brother, John (spouse-Roseanne) of Louden, TN, and a niece and nephew and their children, of Plant City, FL, and the McNutt family.

A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Pastor Kahlenberg will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 4:00pm. Visitation will take place 2 hours prior to the service at the church. Services at St. Luke's United Methodist Church will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend: https://www.stlukesumc.com/page/909. Interment will take place at a later date at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant View Lutheran Church or St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Leppert Mortuary in Nora is in charge of arrangements.