Rev. Kruesel retires

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – On January 8, 2023, Rev. Tom Kruesel retired from full-time parish ministry after nearly 33 years.

Rev. Kruesel grew up in Saskatoon and Winnipeg, son of Rev. Richard and Millie Kruesel. He attended Concordia College where he met his future bride, Wendy-Lee, and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Regina in 1985. A year after they married in 1985, he enrolled at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. He served his vicarage at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Surrey, B.C., from 1988-1989. In April of 1989, their first son, Joshua, was born.

Upon graduating in the spring of 1990, Rev. Kruesel was placed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. In the spring of 1991, Joshua was called home to be with his Lord. Over the next few years, their family grew with the addition of Jonah (1995) and Annelise (1997). He served in Portage la Prairie until September 2001. In 2001, he accepted the call to Bethany Lutheran Church in Campbell River, B.C., where he served as pastor until his retirement. 

Rev. Kruesel served on various boards and committees in the Central and ABC Districts, including on the Central District Board of Evangelism; the Board of Regents for both Concordia University – Edmonton and Concordia Lutheran Seminary; as circuit counsellor; and as Chairman of the Colloquy Committee of Synod. Beginning in 2009, he served Lutheran Church–Canada as a Vice President, becoming the sole Vice President following restructuring at the 2017 Convention.

A retirement celebration for Rev. Kruesel was held in the church basement, with approximately 102 people in attendance, including several guests from Vancouver Island: Rev. Fraser Coltman, and retired pastors Rev. Timothy Rumsch, Rev. Colin Liske, Rev. Al Dudiak, and Rev. Richard Klein. LCC’s West Regional Pastor, Rev. Robert Mohns, was also there to wish Rev. Kruesel and Wendy-Lee a blessed retirement. Rev. Dr. Jim Gimbel from Concordia Lutheran Seminary presented Rev. Kruesel with a stained glass hanging, along with his best wishes on behalf of the seminary.

The Kruesels plan to remain in the community and look forward to being active members of the congregation.

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