Paul Stephen Fransen

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Fransen, Paul Stephen of Pataskala, OH died peacefully on August 15, 2012 at the age of 76. Preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Sylvia Louise; and his parents, Edna & Knute Fransen. He is survived by his three sons, Erik (Jodie), Stephen (Christina Bambara), Christopher (Gina Salumbides); brother, Keith Fransen (Gwynne Fransen); brother-in-law, G. Rolf Svendsen (Patricia) and sisters-in- law, Karen Svendsen & Margaret Maguire; grandchildren, Tyler & Cooper Fransen and Charlotte & Margot Fransen; nieces and nephews, Bjorn Svendsen (Rohini) & Britt Svendsen (Joseph Poulos), Maria, Anja (Dag Ivar Tokerud), and Hans Borch, and Amanda Pacheco, Marcus & Mia Tokerud; and the Hamer family of Stillwater, and the Hawkinson family of St. Paul. Paul was the 1954 salutatorian of Stillwater High School. He attended St. Olaf College, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1958 and graduated from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN) in 1962. Paul and Sylvia were married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on December 23, 1960. Following Paul's internship in Kasson, MN, Paul served Prince of Peace (La Cresent, MN) from 1963-68. Paul established Lutheran campus ministry for students of UW-Oshkosh (1968-73) and later directed its counterpart at UW-Madison (1973-77) where Paul led the funding, designing, and building of the Lutheran Student Center and also served as a part-time chaplain at the Dane County Jail. Paul was called to serve as senior pastor at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Paul, MN (1977-80). Paul then accepted a faculty appointment at Luther Northwestern Seminary (St. Paul) as Assoc. Prof. of Pastoral Theology and the Director of KAIROS-Continuation Studies. Here he worked with Native American and Eskimo persons toward their ordination and was circulation manager of the journal, Word & World. In 1986, Paul accepted a call to join the faculty at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH, holding the Robert F. Betzel Emeritus Professor of Stewardship, Administration and Leadership. In his tenure there he filled various leadership roles including Dean of Community Life and (Acting) Academic Dean. In addition, Paul was a guest professor at the Ivory Malagasy Lutheran Seminary in Madagascar (1990) and an adjunct professor for the Lutheran School of Theology (Chicago). In his retirement Paul continued to minister to others by working as Pastor at Faith Lutheran in Baltimore, OH (2008) and Christ the Servant in Louisville, CO (2006-07). A Gathering for Remembrance will be held on Fri., Sept. 21, 2012 at 7 PM at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Pickerington, OH. A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Bexley, OH on Sat. Sept. 22 at 11 AM. Arrangements by DWAYNE R. SPENCE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Fransen Family Trust, c/o Carol Ackerman, 339 Pickering Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147 and donated to Paul's favorite charitable organizations. Online condolences at spencefuneralhome.com

Published on August 26, 2012