Roger Winger, former East District President, passes on to glory

Rev. Dr. Roger E. Winger

WATERLOO, ONTARIO – Rev. Dr. Roger E. Winger, former president of Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) East District, died early in the morning of April 29, 2021. He was 87.

“He has been prepared for his death since the day of his baptism, but more so since the cancer diagnosis last year,” said his son, Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, President of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS), in an email to the seminary community. “He was very anxious to be more closely with his Lord, who was with him all the way.”

A few days before his death, four of Dr. Roger Winger’s children were able to be with him and pray the Commendation of the Dying with him.

Dr. Winger was born on Dec. 25, 1933 in Fisherville, Ontario, where he was baptized and confirmed at Holy Ghost Lutheran (now Trinity). He studied at Concordia High School and Junior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating in 1953. He pursued pastoral studies through Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri), graduating in 1958.

On July 27 of the same year he was ordained in preparation for his first call to serve as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England. He served fourteen years in that country, first as pastor at Holy Trinity in Tottenham, London, then as founding pastor of Good Shepherd in Coventry, and finally as mission pastor at Liverpool Lutheran Mission.

Returning to Canada, he served as parish pastor at Faith and St. Matthew’s (Dunnville/Smithville, Ontario) from 1972-1978, and then at St. Paul’s (Kitchener, Ontario) from 1978-1991.

Throughout his years in England and Canada, he served on various boards and committees, including as secretary and chairman of the District Pastoral Conference. He further served as editor of the Lutheran Witness’ Ontario District Edition and of Ontario District News.

Dr. Winger was first elected to the board of the Ontario District in the position of Director of Public Relations before subsequently becoming First Vice-President in 1982. When Lutheran Church–Canada became an autonomous church body in 1988, Dr. Winger was elected Secretary of Synod. He held that position until 1991 when he was elected President of the East District. He would continue in that position until his retirement in 2000.

“On behalf of our Lutheran Church–Canada family, I extend my condolences to his family and assure them of our prayers,” said LCC President Timothy Teuscher. “Roger was not only a colleague of mine in the office of the holy ministry, my ecclesiastical supervisor during the time he served as President of the East District of LCC, a friend, mentor, and golfing partner; but especially a ‘dear father.’ I will miss him greatly.”

Even after retirement, Dr. Winger continued to minister as Pastor Emeritus at Historic St. Paul’s (Kitchener) and by caring for shut-ins of both Historic St. Paul’s and Holy Cross. He further served as a visiting instructor at CLTS in St. Catharines, Ontario and on the boards of several of LCC’s listed service organizations and auxiliaries.

In honour of Dr. Winger’s long service to Christ and the Church, he was recognized with numerous awards. In 1991, he received an honourary doctorate (D.D.) from Concordia Seminary (Edmonton). In 2003, he received the Christo et Ecclesiae (“Christ and Church”) award from Concordia University College of Alberta (Edmonton). And in 2013, he received the Delta Chi (“Servant of Christ”) award from CLTS. His faithful service was marked again in July 2018 at a 60^th ordination anniversary celebration held at Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran in Kitchener.

“On behalf of our Lutheran Church–Canada family, I extend my condolences to his family and assure them of our prayers,” said LCC President Timothy Teuscher. “Roger was not only a colleague of mine in the office of the holy ministry, my ecclesiastical supervisor during the time he served as President of the East District of LCC, a friend, mentor, and golfing partner; but especially a ‘dear father.’ I will miss him greatly.”

“We thank God for his many years of service to and in our church,” President Teuscher continued. “And while we mourn over his passing, we also rejoice with his family and take comfort in these words from Holy Scripture: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours’ (Rev. 14:13).”

Dr. Winger is predeceased by his wife, Della (née Lebien), who entered into glory in 2011. God blessed their marriage with five children—Jeffrey (Yvonne), Karen (Ron), David (Wendy), Thomas (Sara), and Susan (Les)—and many grandchildren.

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