Rev. Dr. Theol. John Robert Wilch (1934-2024)
John was born on May 19, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio, to Rev. Andrew and Marie Wilch, who were missionaries to India. He became a child of God in Holy Baptism on June 10, 1934. After spending most of his first seven years in India, his family resettled in Illinois. He graduated with an M.Div. from the Lutheran seminary at Capital University in Columbus, OH in 1959, and earned his Doctor of Theology at Münster, Germany in 1965. That same year, John married Ruth Großmann in her hometown of Berlin, was ordained into the American Lutheran Church by his father, and was called to pastor a dual parish in Abbotsford and Matsqui, British Columbia. He subsequently taught World Religions at Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina. He was Director of Studies for the Evangelical Lutheran Society for Mission to Israel in Nürnberg, Germany.
After serving as visiting professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, John was called to Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario in 1980. There, he served as Professor of Exegesis and Dean of Academic Affairs, teaching Old Testament, Hebrew and Biblical Studies. After his retirement in 1999, he continued teaching part-time. John was respected and cherished as a diligent teacher and scholar, wise mentor, and ardent supporter of missions and students from other countries (2 Timothy 2:24).
Besides serving Lutheran Church-Canada in various capacities, John’s greatest joy was in advancing the Gospel “to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). In 1983, he founded the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society, which still actively supports pastors and congregational outreach in that beleaguered country. He also taught several summer courses at the seminary in Ukraine. In 1989, he wrote “The Jewish Holocaust: A Christian Response,” published by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board for Evangelism. For 10 years, he led a prayer meeting for Missions and the Persecuted in his home. In 2010, his in-depth commentary on the biblical book of Ruth was published in the Concordia Commentary series.
John and Ruth had their wedding bands engraved with John 8:12, and these words of Jesus (“I am the Light of the world”) guided them through their 59 years of marriage. John was a humble family man and faithful provider who, by his life and manner, continuously exemplified the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He travelled far and wide to visit his daughter wherever she was studying or teaching. He also made many memories with his young grandsons, scouting the woods and captivating them with his lively story reading.
In 2013, John and Ruth moved to Surrey, BC to be close to their children and grandchildren. They joined Faith Lutheran Church, where John served as an elder, visited members, held services in nursing homes, encouraged and enhanced Bible studies, and opened his home for fellowship.
On November 24, 2024, John was called by his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to join all believers in heaven and praise Him for eternity. He is survived by his devoted wife Ruth, son Rev. Gerhard (Tingyu Niu-Wilch) and daughter Anastasia (Rev. Wayne Zhang), grandsons Nicholas, Immanuel and Jonathan, brother Rev. George (Jan), as well as nieces and nephews.
John’s Funeral will be held on December 12, 2024 at 10 am at Faith Lutheran Church, 7086 124 St., Surrey, BC, with luncheon to follow. His Burial will be at 1 pm at Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery, 14850 28 Ave., Surrey, BC. It will be live-streamed, with the recording available on Faith Lutheran Church’s official YouTube channel under the “Live” section (youtube.com/@faithlutheranchurch9643/streams).
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made online to these ministries below that are close to John’s heart:
Haiti Lutheran Mission Society
Voice of the Martyrs Canada (vomcanada.com)
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (concordia-seminary.ca)