Jerry Edward Moe of Valparaiso was born on July 16, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, to Walter Moe Sr. and Edna Johnson Moe, and passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, his parents and his brother, Walter Moe Jr.
Jerry was baptized at St. Timothy Lutheran Church and confirmed at Edison Park Lutheran Church in Chicago.
Jerry graduated from Taft High School in Chicago, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Luther Theological Seminary St. Paul, Minnesota, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Chaplaincy Course at Alexian Brothers Hospital. He interned at Zion Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, New York, where he met his wife to be, Birthe Sams, a student nurse at the Norwegian Hospital. They were married in 1954.
Jerry is survived by children, Ingrid Miller of Valparaiso, Astrid Richwine (Rock) of Van Buren, Indiana, Kirsten Bouthier (Oliver) of Columbus, Indiana, and Eric Moe (Christy) of Macomb, Illinois; grandchildren, Sonja (Mike) Collier, Kara (John) Rupcich, Paul (Emily) Richwine, Ben (Joanna) Miller, Philip (Michelle) Moe, Molly Miller, Bente and Nina Bouthier; and great-grandchildren, Madison, Jack, Aidan and Claire.
Jerry was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1953. He was called into the Air Force chaplaincy at Patrick Air Force Base.
He served as pastor in Valders, Wisconsin, Horthorpe Hall in Market Harborough, England, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Watseka, Illinois. He was interim pastor in Kokomo and Marion, Indiana, and at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Merrillville for 16 years.
Jerry was a 44-year member and past president of Kiwanis Club and was a member of the YMCA.
Jerry’s interests included a deep love for classical music and he hosted a program of classical music on WGFA Radio for 23 years. He was a lifelong Cubs fan and was a fine bass in the Nordic Choir at Luther, Sons of Norway.
Jerry and Birthe traveled extensively.
Jerry thanks God for his gift of life and thanks Birthe, his dear wife of 61 years, for her love and care. He thanks his dear family and his friends for their love and friendship. He thanks his compassionate, caring doctors/caregivers during his final few weeks.
A visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (CST) at Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Road in Valparaiso. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday (CST) at Christ Lutheran Church, 2610 Campbell St., Valparaiso, with the Rev. Tim Knauff and the Rev. Erica Gibson-Even officiating. Burial will follow at Angelcrest Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Merrillville.
Jerry loved the poem by Anna Barbauld (1743-1825), inscribed on a wall near the graves of his maternal grandparents, Emanuel and Ida Johnson in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago. It says:
“Say not Good Night, — but in some brighter clime bid me Good Morning.”
