Marvin Joel Schedler

Reverend Marvin Joel Schedler entered through the gates of heaven on October 22, 2025. Marv was born in Monett, Missouri on August 19, 1932, the third child of Rev. Joel C. and Sarah Parsch Schedler. He was baptized into the Christian faith in September 1932. After high school, he enrolled in St. Paul’s College in the fall of 1950 but was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1952. During his basic training and Field Radio Repair school at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA, he married his one true love, Marcella Ruth Bergman, at Zion Lutheran Church (San Luis Obispo) on April 25, 1953. Upon completion of his training, Marv was transferred to the U.S. Army Signal Depot in Sacramento, CA in September 1953. From there he was reassigned to the 533rd Signal Service Co. stationed in Fontainbleau, France. Upon his honorable discharge in November 1954, Marv returned to his studies at St. Paul’s College, graduating in 1956. He then enrolled in Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois in the fall of 1956.

Marv served his vicarage in Aitkin, MN and graduated in 1961. His first call to a parish was Concordia Lutheran Church, Fairhaven, MN, and after 3 years, accepted a call to serve at a second parish, St. John’s Lutheran, Kimball, MN. He served as Circuit Counselor for a year while serving these two parishes and raising five children with Marcie. In June 1965, Marv accepted a call to Calvary Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, NC as a mission developer. Here he also served as Circuit Counselor and LWML Pastoral Advisor. In August 1975, he accepted a call as Associate Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Then followed a call in October 1978 to Our Savior Lutheran, Raleigh, NC as Associate Pastor to develop a mission in Cary, NC – Resurrection Lutheran.

Marv left the ministry field in 1983 to work in state government, holding positions with the Gov. Morehead School for the Blind and the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse. He retired from state government in 1994.

The years following had Marv serving in various parish vacancies and offering pulpit supply to congregations in the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. In 2003 he and Marcie moved to Wilmington, NC to be close to their children and grandchildren. He found a new church home at St. Matthew’s Lutheran and served in many preaching and teaching capacities alongside his brother in ministry, Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Zumwalt.

In addition to his parents, Marvin is predeceased by his brothers Edgar and Norman Schedler, sister Carol Schedler, and daughter Jennifer Lynn Schedler Stirrat.

He is survived by his wife Marcie; children: Jana Albritton (Mike), Timothy Schedler (Betty), Joyce Crouch (Terry) and Elizabeth Hales (Craig); son-in-law Ronald Stirrat; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers: Rev. Dr. Donald Schedler, Victor Schedler, Wayne Schedler and sister Lois Michaels.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00pm-7:00pm on Friday, November 7, 2025, at Coble Funeral & Cremation Service Chapel, 1155 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, NC. The Memorial Service with Eucharist will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 612 S. College Rd, Wilmington, NC. A reception will follow the service. The service will be available to watch on St. Matthew’s YouTube Channel.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Brookdale Senior Living, Interim Healthcare, and Lower Cape Fear Life Care and the many other caregivers for their assistance during the last difficult year in Marv’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lower Cape Fear Life Care or Lutheran World Relief.