Born in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan Canada, August 28, 1935, he was the son of the late Karl and Frieda Poggemiller. Helmuth accepted Jesus as his personal Savior at the age of 12 at vacation Bible school. Following a strong sense of God’s call to the ministry, he first graduated from Briercrest Bible College and the University of Saskatchewan in Canada where he met his wife. He continued his education at Tabor College in Kansas and earned his Master’s degree at Emporia State University, Kansas, and later earned his Ph.D. in 18th Century English Literature at Toledo University in Ohio. He taught and invested in the lives of his students at the Prairie Christian Academy in Canada, Biola University in California, Cedarville University in Ohio and Crown College in Minnesota. In 1982, he continued that investment in his students as he, and later his wife, joined the English faculty at Liberty University (LU) where he later retired from full-time teaching in 2002. During his career at LU, he served as English Department Chairman from 1985 through 1990. The Lord also used him to impact students internationally as well, as he and his wife served in China in the summer of 1993 and taught in Sibiu, Romania at Lucian Blaga University from 2002-2004. He was a faithful and courageous witness for Christ wherever he went, even enclosing a Gospel tract with every bill he paid. Throughout his career, Dr. Poggemiller had a heart for missions and focused on preparing his students to serve Christ. He led the Lynchburg Wycliffe Associates Chapter for many years until the day he died, furthering the work of Bible translation around the world. He was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church where he served in the choir for over 35 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Dwight David Siebert Poggemiller and his wife, Melissa, serving with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) in Timisoara, Romania; two daughters, Evangeline Esther Poggemiller of Lynchburg and Eugenia Eunice Petke and her husband, Matthew, of Evington; one brother, Vernon Poggemiller, of Luseland, Saskatchewan, Canada; and nine grandchildren, Dwight Luke Poggemiller, David Christian Poggemiller, Lydia Joy Poggemiller, Annalis Helena Poggemiller, Matthew I Petke, Joseph E. Petke, Isaiah D. Petke, Evangelina S. Petke and Eliana E. Petke.
A service celebrating his life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2019 at Thomas Road Baptist Church with Pastor Jonathan Falwell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service until 5:00 p.m.
A graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Monday at Fort Hill Memorial Park.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to either, Greater Europe Misson/Ministry of Dwight & Melissa Poggemiller http://www.gemission.org,Thomas Road Baptist Church, www.trbc.org ,