Tributes

“Behind the clouds is the SON still shining!” My earthly life was mostly sunny. I was born as the fourth of seven children to Alfred H. Mickan and Martha Zoch in Copperas Cove, Texas on July 27, 1917. My siblings and their spouses were Edna (John) Teinert, Margaret (August) Schkade, Marvin (Dorothy) Mickan, Ben (Mildred) Mickan, Norma (Ernest) Gould, and Lorette (Edgar) Rhode. Perhaps the most important happening that made my life mostly sunny was being baptized into Christ on August 19, 1917. Very cloudy days came with the passing of my mother when I was seven but God sent some rays to shine on our family in 1931 when my dad married Clara Meissner. High on the list of happenings that contributed toward making my life mostly sunny was answering the call to come off the plough, out of the cotton gin, and away from the oil field; and prepare for the public ministry of the Gospel. The Lord especially used 2 Corinthians 5:15ff: “He died for all that they that live should no longer live unto themselves but unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again.” I went to Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Springfield, Illinois in the fall of 1939. When I was about to graduate from the seminary, I had no notion of becoming a foreign missionary, yet I was issued a call to serve as a missionary to Obera, Argentina in 1946. There I met and married Maria Marx (a.k.a. Muchacha) and we enjoyed 66 years of sunny life together. God was unusually kind in trusting to us in time six daughters and six sons-in-law [Ruthie (Carey) Ottmers, Martha (Steve) Ricketson, Becky (Tom) Christie, Debbie (Richard) Schmalz, Nita (Mike) Scott, and Mimi (Mike) Broyles], 12 grandchildren, [Tiffany (Andy) Brill, Tab (Emily) Ottmers, Jared (Tenille) Ottmers, Aaron (Kristen) Goeke, Tim (Deneen) Goeke, Paul (Angie) Goeke, Garner Peterson, Landon (Amanda) Peterson, Derek (Christine) Schmalz, Addie Scott, Aidan Broyles, and Ty Broyles], 22 great grandchildren [Quinton, Greta, and Adelle Brill; Olivia, Jackson, and Marshall Ottmers; Vadim, Evan, Hannah, and Liesl Goeke; Ashtin (Travis) Yetton, and Alex, Adler, and Asa Goeke; Ava, Helen, Gideon, and Judah Goeke; Cohen and Dax Peterson; Sarah and Gunnar Schmalz], and two great-great grandchildren (Gemma and Milo Yetton). I was also blessed with my loving in-laws Bernardt and Greta Marx, sister and brother-in-law Anita and Ray Gerhardt, and numerous nieces and nephews. The relationships with my family did much to keep me on the sunny side of life. As you may know, I have rightly made a lot of fuss about the importance of the biblical teachings of baptism. So, it will come as no surprise to you to hear me say that an additional reason why my life has been indeed mostly sunny under God is that I was privileged in His name to baptize hundreds of folks. I had joyful and sunny years serving not only in Argentina but also at Trinity in Alice, Texas; Mt. Olive in San Antonio, Texas; St. John in Corpus Christi, Texas; and Genesis in Buchanan Dam, Texas. And now, since I have seen the colors of my sunset, I’d like to suggest to you, if we’ll but sincerely and always heed Jesus’ first public sermon where He urged: “Repent and believe the good news of the Gospel!” The singularly uplifting message God sent through His prophet Zephaniah to His repentant children of Israel is meant for each of us as well, especially when dark clouds threaten. He promises: “The Lord, your God is with you; the mighty One will save you; He will rejoice over you with gladness and you will rest in His love; He will rejoice over you with singing!” Pray tell, what on earth could possibly keep any day from being mostly sunny?! (Excerpts from “Happenings that made me ‘Mostly Sunny’” written by Eldor Mickan) Eldor will be buried at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Copperas Cove, Texas where he was baptized, confirmed, and ordained. Visitation will be from 5-8 Friday the 21st at Mission Park Stone Oak, 23755 US Highway 281 N. in San Antonio. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 Saturday, September 22 at Cross Lutheran Church, 2171 Common Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Memorials may be designated to Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Tributes

Eldor L. Mickan

July 27, 1917 - September 17, 2018