wfn.org | LCMS - Fred Precht dies

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 10 February 7, 2003

Fred Precht dies

Dr. Fred L. Precht, former executive director of the The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod's Commission on Worship and the LCMS Foundation, died
Feb. 5 of lung cancer.	He was 86.

Visitation is tonight, Feb. 7, from 4 to 9 p.m., and tomorrow, Feb. 8, from
9 to 10 a.m., at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 612 N. State St.,
Freeburg, Ill.

The funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the
church.

Precht had directed the Commission on Worship from 1978 to 1987, and then
part time from 1992 to 1996.  He also served as executive director of the
LCMS Foundation (1968-72), and was a long-time professor at Concordia
Theological Seminary when it was located in Springfield, Ill. (1940-43;
1944-68; 1972-76).

Precht also wrote and edited numerous books and articles about Lutheran
worship, including editing the Lutheran Worship hymnal, and had many areas
of expertise in addition to worship, including music, hymnody and
conducting.

Precht earned his doctorate in theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
and also held a master's degree in music from Northwestern University,
Evanston, Ill.	Among honors he received was the Aeterna Moliri medal from
Concordia College (now University) in St. Paul, Minn.

Rev. Bruce Keseman, pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Freeburg,
described Precht as "an extraordinary theologian, scholar, musician,
professor and liturgical leader.

"And he was certainly all of those things, when you consider the breadth of
his work in liturgics, hymnody, systematics, music and other fields,"
Keseman said.  "Yet I had the privilege of getting to know him also the way
the members of Christ Our Savior and many others who have met Dr. Precht
personally know him -- simply as 'dear Fred,' as an incredible but very
humble example of faith in his Savior Jesus."

Precht is survived by his wife, Louise, and two sons -- Rev. Stephen F.
(Kathy) Precht of Freeport, Ill., and Michael L. (Mary Ann) Precht of Fort
Worth, Texas.  He has seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Freeburg.

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