Walter Heinemann, former chair of LCC’s BOD, enters into glory

REGINA – Walter Gustav Heinemann, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC), was called to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on April 18, 2024 with his loving family by his side. He was 92 years old.

Born on June 23, 1931, Heinemann would go on to hold major leadership positions in the Canadian church. In 1983, Heinemann was elected to the Board of Directors of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In 1985, he became Vice-Chairman of the district’s board, a position he would hold until 1988 when he was elected to the Board of Directors of Lutheran Church–Canada, during the church’s founding convention as an autonomous church body.

After the previous chairman left the board at the end of 1988 to lead a new stewardship program, Heinemann was named the new chairman of the board. He was reelected to the board in 1993, and continued to serve as chairman until completing his service in 1996.

During Heinemann’s tenure, which took place alongside LCC’s first President Edwin Lehman, the Canadian church took its formative steps as an autonomous church body. When LCC’s synodical office building in Winnipeg was dedicated in 1995, Chairman Heinemann was present to unveil a new plaque which reads in part: “Dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ and His Church.” The plaque still stands in the building today, a testament to the mission and witness of Lutheran Church–Canada then and now.

After completing his service on the synodical level, Heinemann returned to service at the district level. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Central District three times (in 1997, 2000, and 2003), and would serve there also as chairman of the board.

Heinemann continued to serve the Canadian church in the years following, including on the synodical Committee for Nominations for the 2008, 2011, and 2014 conventions. He further served on the Board of Directors for the Central District Church Extension Fund from 2004 until its dissolution in 2022.

“Serving the Lord’s church at a national level is a great privilege,” Heinemann noted in a 2010 article in The Canadian Lutheran. “You have the opportunity to see the big picture, provide input on important decisions, and see how the Lord is working through our church.”

For Heinemann’s own service to Christ and His Church, Lutheran Church–Canada expresses its gratitude.

Heinemann is grieved by three sons—Lyndon (Tammey), Kevin (Sherry-Lin) and Trevor (passed May 2024) (Dawn)—and one daughter Karen (Jim) Wiome, as well as by  grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his youngest brother Lloyd. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Florence Elma Violet Heinemann (née Ramsay); parents Frederick and Katherina Heinemann; sisters Lydia Maier and Alvina Morgan; and brothers Lawrence Heinemann and Rev. Herbert Heinemann.

A service in memory of Heinemann will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Regina on June 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (no reception will be held). A private family internment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family has invited donations be made to Regina Wascana Grace Hospice or another charity of your choice.

———————

Print this article