Rev. Douglas W. Kahl

Rev. Douglas W. Kahl Bay City, Michigan Passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2013. Age 61 years. The son of the late Alfred and Betty (Heyn) Kahl was born February 8, 1952 in Toledo, OH. He married his life-long love Jean (Jansen) Kahl on August 16, 1975. Doug attended St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary where he received a Masters of Divinity and was ordained in the Lutheran Church (ELCA) in 1978. Doug's seminary internship training at Central Lutheran church in Bellingham, WA with Pastor Len Ericksen was a vital beginning for his ministry. He was pastor of Ebenezer in Audubon, IA and Bethany Lutheran Church in Kimballton, IA from 1978 until 1982. He moved to Saginaw in 1982 to become Associate Pastor at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served there as Associate and Lead Pastor until 1996 when he became a chaplain for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM). He was the chaplain at Luther Manor in Saginaw and Organizational Chaplain and Spiritual Leader for LSSM until his death. Doug especially enjoyed traveling the world with his family, evenings golfing with his wife, Saturdays watching Michigan football, spending time with his children and playing joyfully with his grandchildren. He had a life-long love of music, especially opera, shared by his daughter Carrie. Doug had a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and hope in life everlasting. He shared Christ's love throughout his ministry by caring for the sick and grieving, helping those in need, celebrating joyous occasions, and always being present for those around him. He was loved and will be missed by many. Surviving are his wife Jean, daughter Carolyn (Kahl) Hardy and husband Jason (Atlanta, GA), son Brian and wife Kristine (Cincinnati, OH), son Michael and wife Melanie (Saginaw, MI); grandchildren Sabrina Hardy, Michael, Nicholas, and Ian Kahl and two more grandchildren expected in 2014; brother Allan and wife Monica (Neenah, WI), Aunts Dr. Ruth Heyn (Ann Arbor, MI), Carol Savage and husband John (Manchester, MI). The funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Dec 2, 2013 at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 915 Federal St. Saginaw. Rev. Bishop Craig Satterlee, Bishop of North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the E.L.C.A. and Rev. Andreas Teich will officiate. Friends may call the W. L. Case and Company Funeral Chapel, 4480 Mackinaw Rd. from 2:00-5:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Sunday and then on Monday at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Rev. Douglas W. Kahl Memorial at LSSM (www.lssm.org or Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, Dept. 771048, PO Box 77000, Detroit, MI 48277). www.casefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603