Pastor Thomas Nicholas Reeder, Sr.

     Pastor Thomas N. Reeder, Sr., age 83, of Terre Du Lac, passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022.  He was born on Tuesday, March 29, 1938 in Philadelphia, PA. He was baptized into the Name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on March 23, 1958. He was confirmed in the Christian faith on September 4, 1960. He was married on August 28, 1965.

     Before being called into the Holy Ministry as a pastor, Pastor Reeder served his country six years in the United States Navy.

     Pastor Reeder graduated from Concordia Seminary Springfield, Illinois in 1968. He served his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church (Santa Ana, CA, 1966-67). He was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod on July 22, 1968. Before his ordination, He served as pastor in the following congregations: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Port Arthur, TX, 1968-1974), King of Kings Lutheran Church (Kansas City, MO, 1974-1985), Shepherd of the Hills in Ballwin, MO (Developer for the Missouri District, 1985-1989), Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Houston, MO (Missionary-At Large and Interim Pastor, 1989-1993), Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Excelsior Springs, MO (1993-2000), and St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, MO (2000-2006). He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church (DeSoto).

     Pastor Reeder served the church in various capacities, including secretary of the Circuit Conference, Circuit Representative for the Good Samaritan Home, Pastor Advisor for the Kansas City North zone of L.W.M.L., Pastor Advisor to the L.L.L. of the Greater Kansas City Area, Action Groups Director in Synod’s Forward in Remembrance Program, Circuit Representative for Evangelism, Stewardship, and Education, Circuit Counselor, and Prison Chaplaincy.

     The last sermon Pastor Reeder preached was entitled, “We Belong to God.”  The sermon text was Isaiah 44:21-23, " ²¹ Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!  ²² I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."  ²³ Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel" (NKJV).

     Pastor Reeder was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Eugene and Marie Barbara (Everth) Reeder and a sister Barbara Stauss. He is survived by his loving wife Joan Elaine (Werner) Reeder; daughter, Dawn Reeder; sons, Tom Reeder and wife Mei, Steven Reeder and wife Michele; grandsons, Enosh, Dylan, Eagan; niece, Patricia Lopez; nephews, Tom and Frank Stauss.

     Visitation will be held at C. Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

      Funeral service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church 121 W. Kelley St. in Desoto on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM. with Pastor Charles Henrickson officiating. Friends are welcome to gather on the C.Z. Boyer parking lot in Bonne Terre to go in procession at 10:15 AM.

     Pastor Reeder will be laid to rest the following day at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis with full military honors on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 11:30 AM. Friends again are welcome to gather on the C.Z. Boyer parking lot in Bonne Terre at 10:15 AM to go in procession.   Memorials can be made to Grace Lutheran Church.