wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Member dies in Wisconsin tornado

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	August 22, 2005 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 58

	LCMS member dies in southern Wisconsin tornado,
	LCMS World Relief/Human Care provides assistance

	One LCMS member died and more than 300 homes were destroyed or
damaged in a tornado that ripped through Stoughton in southern Wisconsin
Thursday (Aug. 18), according to Rev. Thomas Petersen, pastor of Good
Shepherd-by-the-Lake Lutheran Church.

	Harold Orlofske, 54, was killed when his house collapsed as he
and his wife, Peggy, ran into their basement, Petersen said.

	On Friday, the Orlofske family -- which includes daughter Joyce,
23, and son Alan, 18 -- was homeless and searching for housing, said
Petersen, who ministered to the family.

	LCMS World Relief/Human Care Executive Director Matthew Harrison
immediately approved a $3,000 emergency grant to the Good Shepherd
congregation to assist the Orlofske family in transitioning to temporary
housing.

	This was the second such tornado-recovery assistance LCMS World
Relief/Human Care provided within days. Earlier in the week, Harrison
approved a $5,000 emergency grant to Trinity Lutheran Church, Gillette,
Wyo., after a tornado struck the nearby community of Wright on Aug. 13,
destroying 82 homes and leaving one LCMS-member family homeless.

	Harrison also is in contact with South Wisconsin District
President Ronald E. Meyer about additional assistance needs and Lutheran
Disaster Response Executive Director Heather Feltman to coordinate and
plan for long-term recovery.

	Officials say the search for housing in Stoughton, a community
with a population of 10,000, may be hampered by the large loss of homes:
35 destroyed and 300 seriously damaged, according to reports.

	Good Shepherd and Orphan Grain Train have mobilized to assist
tornado victims by providing meals and other basic needs at the church.
Jo Petersen, the pastor's wife, is coordinating the effort to meet
immediate physical needs while her husband provides spiritual and
emotional pastoral care.

	On Aug. 20, Rev. Carlos Hernandez, LCMS World Relief/Human
Care's director of Districts and Congregations, traveled to Stoughton to
conduct an on-site assessment of immediate and long-term needs. He
preached at Good Shepherd the next day, sharing words of comfort with
the congregation and assurances of help from LCMS World Relief/Human
Care, as needed.

	Roger and Peggy Klocksheim, who live in Wright, Wyo., and are
members of Trinity, Gillette, and their three children were living in a
motel after a tornado destroyed their home Aug. 13, according to their
pastor, Rev. Scott Firminhac. The LCMS World Relief/Human grant will
assist the family with housing needs.

	Two people died in that tornado, dozens were injured and 82
homes were destroyed in this coal-mining town of 1,400, according to
Firminhac and published reports.

	The pastors in both the Wyoming and Wisconsin parishes expressed
concern about the challenge for families to find temporary housing
options in their smaller communities.

	"St. Paul wrote, 'Let us do good to all, especially those of the
household of the faith.' Our prayers are with the folks hit by these
storms, and we'll do our best to assist, thanks to many, many faithful
LCMS donors," Harrison said.

	To assist survivors of these tornadoes, call the LCMS Credit
Card Gift Line, (888) 930-4438, or send your gift to LCMS World Relief,
P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810. Make your check out to LCMS
World Relief and designate "August Tornadoes" in the memo line. To learn
more about the ministry, call (800) 248-1930, Ext. 1380, or visit
worldrelief.lcms.org <http://worldrelief.lcms.org>  .

	***************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

	***************************************

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