Paul Dumke

Paul Dumke, 97, of Willmar, died Wednesday, May 20th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. A funeral service giving thanks for his life will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church on Wednesday May 27th at 11:00 am, with burial to follow at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm, Tuesday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and continue one hour prior to his service at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church. www.hafh.org

Paul Frederick Dumke, 97, of Willmar, passed away on May 20, 2026 as his beloved wife, Marilyn sang “Beautiful Saviour”.  Paul was born on April 19, 1929, to Raymond and Viola Dumke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he graduated from Washington High in 1947. He earned his undergraduate degree from Carthage College in 1951 and went on to graduate from Northwestern Lutheran Seminary in 1954, where a professor's words shaped his entire ministry: "Preach the gospel and love the people."

Pastor Paul was ordained at Reformation Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and went on to serve these congregations:  Redeemer Lutheran in Zumbrota, Saint Luke's in Goodhue, Saint Stephen's in White Bear Lake, and finally Bethel Lutheran in Willmar. He served as President of the Lutheran Camp Board, trustee for Gustavus Adolphus College and chaplain for the Minnesota State Senate. He was a long-time member of the Willmar Lions Club.

On January 26, 1953, Paul met the love of his life, Marilyn, on a blind date at the Prom Ballroom in Saint Paul. They were married December 12, 1953, and shared 72 beautiful years together — years filled with Boundary Waters canoe trips, backpacking, biking, family and grandchildren vacations, world travel, and 19 fall congregational trips across the country. For over 30 years they wintered in Tucson, volunteering at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and their local food bank. For decades, they shared devotions and prayer every morning and they ended each day with two games of cribbage.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; children: Mark (Nancy), John (Georgi), and Sarah (Anne); 8 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 7 step-great grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, David and his parents.

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