Rev. Sidney Joseph Ponseti Jr.

Reverend Sidney Joseph Ponseti, Jr. was born on October 9, 1935, in New Orleans, LA, the son of Sidney J. Ponseti, Sr. and Freda Broders Ponseti. He was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. He received his education in the public schools of New Orleans, graduating from Fortier High School in 1953. After graduating from Tulane in 1957 with a degree in electrical engineering, through the Lord’s guidance, he was led to enter full-time ministry, and entered Concordia Seminary at Springfield, Illinois (now located in Fort Wayne, Indiana).

His year of vicarage was spent in Big Rapids, Michigan, serving St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Lutheran students at Ferris State University. He graduated from the Seminary on May 30,,1962 and was ordained June 17, 1962, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, New Orleans, LA. On July 15, 1962, he was married to Sylvia Ann Ibele of New Orleans at St. Matthew’s Lutheran church.

He accepted a call to be pastor of First Lutheran Church in Blytheville, Arkansas, where he stayed for almost nine years before taking a call to Zion Lutheran Church in New Orleans, where he served from March of 1971 until June of 1991. On August 4, 1991, he was installed as the pastor of the dual parish of Mt. Calvary and St. Matthew’s. He retired as pastor of the dual parish in June of 2001. He continued to serve as Interim Pastor of St. Matthew’s until October 2002 and during the first four months of 2004. Hurricane Katrina eventually relocated him and his wife, Sylvia, to Baton Rouge in late 2005.

Pastor Ponseti served as chairman of the Family Life Committee of the Mid-South District, as pastoral adviser of the Jefferson Zone LLL and of the New Orleans Zone LWML, on the Board of Control of Lutheran High School (now in Metairie, LA), and as counselor of Circuit 3 of the Southern District.

Pastor and Sylvia’s marriage was blessed by God with four children and 12 grandchildren. Tim and his wife Linda live in Charlotte, NC, along with their children, Daniel, Sarah, Rachel, Andrew, and Jonathan. John and his wife Elena live in Baton Rouge. Ted lives in Pineville, LA. Ann and her husband Allen live in Baton Rouge, along with their children, Hannah (husband Andrew), Abi, Paul, Micah, Matthew, Joseph, and Peter. They also were blessed with Sylvia’s brother, Charles Ibele and his wife Becky, who live in Clemmons, NC, and with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

During the past few years, Pastor Ponseti enjoyed reading the scriptures in their original languages and was a prayer warrior for his family and many, many others. Pastor peacefully entered into eternal rest at home on August 13, 2026. Soli Deo Gloria!

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Joseph Ponseti, Sr. and Freda Broders Ponseti, and his beloved wife, Sylvia Ibele Ponseti.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 15160 South Harrells Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816, on Saturday, August 22, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 22, from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Entombment will take place in Hope Mausoleum, 4841 Canal St., New Orleans, at 2:00 p.m.