Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
NameRev. Donald Degelmann SCHAEFFER 
3150, p 11
3150, p 11Birth30 May 1930, Secaucus, Hudson, New Jersey1319, p 1,1324, date only,7317
Baptism15 Jun 1930, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Secaucus, New Jersey8525 Age: <1
MemoSponsors: Alma Degelmann and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Degelmann
OccupationMinister1319, p 1
ResidenceCleveland, Ohio1319, p 1
Residenceof Middleburg Heights, Ohio7317
NicknameDon2415
Education1Concordia Seminary, Master of Divinity2415
FlagsClergy
FatherGeorge Beringer SCHAEFFER (1903-1993)
MotherChristine Elizabeth DEGELMANN (1902-1978)
Individual Notes
• Greetings from Cleveland!
It is three months since my open heart surgery on 4/12. I thank the Lord for the good progress I have made. Six weeks ago I had hardly the strength to sit outside. Now I walk about 1 and 1/2 miles most days unaccompanied (but with a cell phone.) This last Sunday I preached at all our 3 morning services. We had a stool in case I needed to sit and they videod the message so they could replay it in the 2nd or 3rd service if my strength gave way. But I stood for all 3 messages and felt fine afterwards. I spoke on lessons God taught me through my surgery. You can hear it on our church website if you like. www.gracecma.org
We have an empty nest again after having family in for the last month for our granddaughter Katie’s wedding. God gave me the strength to enjoy all the festivities (except the day at Cedar Point, Ohio’s premier amusement park.)
This Friday we go to Uniontown, PA for grandson John Herman’s wedding with a smaller, shorter family reunion. None of our 3 overseas families can make this wedding, as they did Katie’s. They had to choose one.
I am getting 12 weeks of heart rehab 3 times a week. Boring, but I trust helpful.
August 4th we are taking a one week Alaska cruise with 2 couples from our church. That will be a challenge to heart-healthy eating!!!
I speak now occasionally but in September, I plan to resume teaching my adult class every Sunday and alternate with Jonathan on Wednesday evenings. So everything is just about back to ‘normal’.. But as I thank you for your prayers, love and concern these months, pleas pray for one matter. I do not want to revert to ‘normal.’ We have a plaque that says
“Do not forget in the darkness what God has taught you in the light’.
Now I am praying the opposite: that I not forget in the light what God has taught me in the darkness. Those first 2 months I was usually awake about 2 hours in the middle of every night. Those were precious times as God spoke His Word so comfortingly to my heart and His presence was so real and near. Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Also verse 11 “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”
It was truly resting and rejoicing in the hollow of His hand. Physically weak, but spiritually strong. I do not want that as I grow physically stronger that I grow spiritually weaker. II Cor. 12:10 “But He said to me,’My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” I do not want to lose the priceless treasures God gave me ‘in the darkness.’
Thank you for your continued prayers and love. Let me know if there is anyway we can pray for you!
Love, Donald5698
• [excerpt] Donald graduated from Concordia Seminary (St. Louis), and served churches in Wisconsin and South Carolina before pastoring Grace C&MA Church in Middleburg Heights where he served as senior pastor for 38 years and as pastor emeritus for 14 years. Over more than five decades of ministry at Grace, Donald preached thousands of sermons and his teaching and example impacted countless lives. During this span, church attendance grew from around 50 people to nearly 4,000 in average attendance. Donald’s passion in life was to exalt Jesus Christ in everything.7317
• Hi dear family-
Yesterday aternoon Dad’s gravestone was set in place. We had a sweet time gathering together to share some memories, sing a few hymns that reflect on the promises of Jesus, and pray.
As we reminded ourselves, this is not Dad’s final resting place…just a stop along the way before his body is renewed for heaven! A grand reunion awaits. Love to all of you. We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Jonathan8503
• Ordained in February, he is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Shell Lake, Wisconsin. A June wedding is planned.8518
•He recently preached a sermon at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church entitled “The Satisifed Soul” based on the adoration and prophecy of Simeon, in St. Luke 2:25 to 38. “It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Ghost that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord Christ. When he saw the Baby Jesus in the Temple with His parents he joyfully proclaimed his adoration for his Savior.” This, stated Schaeffer, is the Nunc Dimittia which is sung or chanted by the church after partaking of Holy Communion.8519
It is three months since my open heart surgery on 4/12. I thank the Lord for the good progress I have made. Six weeks ago I had hardly the strength to sit outside. Now I walk about 1 and 1/2 miles most days unaccompanied (but with a cell phone.) This last Sunday I preached at all our 3 morning services. We had a stool in case I needed to sit and they videod the message so they could replay it in the 2nd or 3rd service if my strength gave way. But I stood for all 3 messages and felt fine afterwards. I spoke on lessons God taught me through my surgery. You can hear it on our church website if you like. www.gracecma.org
We have an empty nest again after having family in for the last month for our granddaughter Katie’s wedding. God gave me the strength to enjoy all the festivities (except the day at Cedar Point, Ohio’s premier amusement park.)
This Friday we go to Uniontown, PA for grandson John Herman’s wedding with a smaller, shorter family reunion. None of our 3 overseas families can make this wedding, as they did Katie’s. They had to choose one.
I am getting 12 weeks of heart rehab 3 times a week. Boring, but I trust helpful.
August 4th we are taking a one week Alaska cruise with 2 couples from our church. That will be a challenge to heart-healthy eating!!!
I speak now occasionally but in September, I plan to resume teaching my adult class every Sunday and alternate with Jonathan on Wednesday evenings. So everything is just about back to ‘normal’.. But as I thank you for your prayers, love and concern these months, pleas pray for one matter. I do not want to revert to ‘normal.’ We have a plaque that says
“Do not forget in the darkness what God has taught you in the light’.
Now I am praying the opposite: that I not forget in the light what God has taught me in the darkness. Those first 2 months I was usually awake about 2 hours in the middle of every night. Those were precious times as God spoke His Word so comfortingly to my heart and His presence was so real and near. Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Also verse 11 “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”
It was truly resting and rejoicing in the hollow of His hand. Physically weak, but spiritually strong. I do not want that as I grow physically stronger that I grow spiritually weaker. II Cor. 12:10 “But He said to me,’My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” I do not want to lose the priceless treasures God gave me ‘in the darkness.’
Thank you for your continued prayers and love. Let me know if there is anyway we can pray for you!
Love, Donald5698
• [excerpt] Donald graduated from Concordia Seminary (St. Louis), and served churches in Wisconsin and South Carolina before pastoring Grace C&MA Church in Middleburg Heights where he served as senior pastor for 38 years and as pastor emeritus for 14 years. Over more than five decades of ministry at Grace, Donald preached thousands of sermons and his teaching and example impacted countless lives. During this span, church attendance grew from around 50 people to nearly 4,000 in average attendance. Donald’s passion in life was to exalt Jesus Christ in everything.7317
• Hi dear family-
Yesterday aternoon Dad’s gravestone was set in place. We had a sweet time gathering together to share some memories, sing a few hymns that reflect on the promises of Jesus, and pray.
As we reminded ourselves, this is not Dad’s final resting place…just a stop along the way before his body is renewed for heaven! A grand reunion awaits. Love to all of you. We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Jonathan8503
• Ordained in February, he is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Shell Lake, Wisconsin. A June wedding is planned.8518
•He recently preached a sermon at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church entitled “The Satisifed Soul” based on the adoration and prophecy of Simeon, in St. Luke 2:25 to 38. “It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Ghost that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord Christ. When he saw the Baby Jesus in the Temple with His parents he joyfully proclaimed his adoration for his Savior.” This, stated Schaeffer, is the Nunc Dimittia which is sung or chanted by the church after partaking of Holy Communion.8519
Census Data
• 1940 Census: Secaucus, Hudson, New Jersey. Age 9, b NJ.6993
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