Reverend David Herman

He was born July 26, 1915 in Rhein, Saskatchewan Canada to John and Anna Elizabeth (Hoffman) Herman. He was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Rhein. His early education was in the Rhein School. He left

home at age 17 to attend Luther College in Regina, Saskatchewan. His studies continued at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, the University of Saskatchewan, and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained as a Pastor in Rhein, Sask. June 1, 1941. He served parishes in Cleveland, OH, Houston, TX, San Diego, CA and Midland, TX. He assisted at other churches in Texas until 2005. He over saw a number of property building programs at congregations he served as membership grew. Pastor Herman served as chairman on the Commission of Mexican Missions of the American Lutheran Church from 1945 to 1978. He was the Chairman of the National Lutheran Council Pastors’ Conference as well as on various committees of the ALC Texas District. He served on conference committees and in the local ministerial groups in the cities in which he lived. He taught various pastor’s groups in areas of Survey of Mental Illness, Congregational Structure and Organization, Values of the Christian Kindergarten, Stewardship, Adult Christian Education and Evangelism. He also served on the

Board of Lutheran Social Services. He served on the Committee for Church Research &

Survey in the city of Houston with the City Planner. He authored the first urban study book: “The City of Houston and its’ Churches” in 1954. It has been used as a model to make such studies of other cities. While in Houston he established the first American Lutheran Church Day Kindergarten in the Texas

District. Rev. Herman taught Adult Bible Classes at all Parishes he served including Hope Lutheran until December 2005, and at Trinity Towers from 1980 until the closure of that facility. He served on the board of Mission Adult Day Care Center until 2008. He also continued his visiting of local nursing homes, hospital patients and homebound persons. He married Alice Zancig of Thiensville, Wisconsin in September 1941 and had three daughters. Mrs. Herman had a professionally trained singing voice and was helpful in

assisting her husband in organizing and/or singing in church choirs as well as serving as a teacher

and secretary.

Pastor Herman was preceded in death by his beloved Wife & life partner Alice in 2001; his parents,

John and Anna Herman, three brothers: Jacob, John, and Friedrick, two sisters Emily

and Anne and two infant sisters. Also, two sons-in-law law James C. Beatty and John W. Wolf.

He is survived by three daughters: Ann Beatty of Midland, TX, Alice and husband Lloyd Wright of Possum

Kingdom Lake, and Audrey Wolf of Midland, TX; grandsons: David Beatty of Midland, TX,

and Daniel Beatty of Ridgecrest, TX. , Don E. Wright and L. Wayne Wright; granddaughters:

Amanda Fralin (Brian) of Midland, TX and Angela Wallace (Dustin) of Lubbock, TX, Don E. Wright,

and L. Wayne Wright of the metroplex; great-grandson Jack Fralin, Don W. Wright, Ashley Wilson and

Shelby Wright. He also leaves his sister-in-law Mrs. Lily Herman of Rhein, Sask; Canada;

brother-in-law Robert Zancig of Theinsville, Wisconsin and numerous nieces and nephews and

their extended families.

Honorary Pallbearers are Kirby Bryn, and G. V. Mendenhall, Bill Landureth, Peter Detliv

and the men of Hope Lutheran Church.

Service for Reverend David Herman, 95, will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Hope Lutheran Church, Scharbaurer and ‘A’ Street with burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park. Evening prayers and visitation will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, February 18, 2011 at Ellis Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the West Texas Food Bank, Box 4242, Odessa, TX, 79760-4242.