Rev. Krestick marks 50th ordination anniversary

WATERLOO, Ont. – A great celebration was held June 23 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, marking 50 years of Rev. Robert Krestick’s service in the Lord’s Church.

Rev. Krestick’s ministry began with ordination at First Lutheran Church in Windsor, Ontario, where he had been baptized and confirmed. On November 26, 1971, Rev. Krestick was united in Holy Marriage to Mary Elizabeth (McCallum) at Peace Lutheran in Windsor.

Rev. Krestick earned a B.A. from Michigan Lutheran College in Detroit, and in May 1974 a M.Div. from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. Rev. Krestick’s vicarage was served at Peace Lutheran in Spruce Grove and St. John’s Lutheran in Beach Corner, Alberta.

The dual parish of Trinity Lutheran Kurtzville/Gowanstown and St. John’s in Mt. Forest, Ontario, was Rev. Krestick’s first assignment. In 1978, he accepted the call to St. Peter’s Lutheran in Port Colborne, serving there until 1990, during which time he worked with several vicars and field workers.

Following this, Rev. Krestick became Chaplain at Lutherwood Child and Family Services in Waterloo from 1990-2000. Entrusted with this unique calling, he remained steadfast in carrying the message of Christ’s love to the children and staff.

Rev. Krestick retired in 2014, after 14 years at Redeemer Lutheran in Waterloo, where he is honoured to be Pastor Emeritus. Rev. Krestick continued to serve vacancies at Historic St. Paul’s in Kitchener and Prince of Peace in Burlington. In Burlington, he oversaw a nineteenth vicar in their current pastor, Rev. David Zakel. These days, Rev. Krestick may be found in the pulpit of various area congregations. 

Rev. Krestick was honoured to serve the wider church on The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Ontario District Board of Directors; as 2^nd Vice President of the East District of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC); as a Lutheran Laymen’s League District Pastoral Adviser; as First Board of Managers of LCC Worker Benefit Plans; as Chairman of K/W Lutheran School Society; and as a Vice President of LCC.

In recent years, Rev. Krestick served as chair of the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catherines. He remains an active member of LCC’s (Team Zion) ongoing mission outreach in Nicaragua. 

Robert and Elizabeth are the parents of three: Lisa Jackson (Andrew), Andrew Krestick (Jennifer), and Lydia Fischer (Steve); and grandparents of five.

The Krestick family

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