Hildegard F. Lemke Pranschke

Hildegard Florence Pranschke was born on November 28, 1926 in Shawano, Wisconsin to Gustave and Esther Lemke (Wurl). Hilde was married to Reverend Roy Pranschke on June 13, 1948 in Kansas City, Kansas. They moved to Redford, MI, where Pastor Pranschke planted Hosanna Lutheran Mission in 1949, which later became the present Hosanna Tabor Lutheran Church. Hilde received a teaching certificate from St. John’s College in Winfield, KS and attended Madonna College in Livonia, MI to obtain her teaching certification in Michigan. She taught full time at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Detroit for a time followed by many years of substitute teaching. Hilde supported and assisted her husband throughout his ministry. After Pastor Pranschke’s retirement in 1987, they moved to Harrison, MI where they served at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. Following Pastor Pranschke’s death in 1996, Hilde moved back to the Detroit area in 1999, where she spent the remainder of her life. She was a vibrant, active member of Hosanna-Tabor Church up to her death.

Her marriage was blessed with five children: Kenneth (Lexine), Barbara (Carl) Hall, Samuel (Leslie), James (Deborah), and Paul (Beth). The blessings continued with twelve grandchildren: Paulita, Peter, Nathan (Kelley) Hall, Philip Hall, Alissa (Chad) Myers, Rebekah (John) Stohlmann, Joshua, Ruth (Dan) Haller, Miriam, Joseph, and Brent and Morgan Rochowiak. Of special joy to her heart was the addition of her two great-granddaughters, Molly Myers and Joanna Haller.

Hilde was a joyful and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. She was very much dedicated to the Lord's work and to her congregation. Up until her hospitalization in October, she was actively engaged in her vocation as a Christian and took great pleasure in caring for other people. She enjoyed doing work for the blind, leading and attending women’s Bible class, participating in quilting ministries and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League activities, teaching Sunday school, arranging church hospitality and fellowship functions, visiting the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, advocating for Lutheran education, sending birthday cards to all the women in her congregation, and playing cards with whoever was willing. Hilde’s friendliness and warmth were widely attested-to and cherished among Detroit-area Lutherans and everyone who knew her. She consistently encouraged her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, students, friends, and everybody she knew, guiding them in the faith and always reminding them to “give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

On December 28, 2013, after a long, blessed, happy life and a brief illness, her Lord called her home to Himself. Hilde was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Roy, her son, Samuel, and all of her siblings.

The visitation for Hildegard Pranschke will take place on Thursday, January 2nd from 1:00-9:00 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home 37000 Six Mile in Livonia. A service celebrating her life will take place at Hosanna Tabor Lutheran Church 9600 Leverne in Redford on Friday, January 3rd at 11:00 a.m. with visitation prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The family requests memorials to Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.