Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant, Reverend Thomas Mendenhall, who God called home to heaven on August 26, 2012.

Thomas Burl Mendenhall was born to Burl and Marjorie Mendenhall on December 24, 1946 in Wichita, Kansas and baptized into the communion of saints on February 16, 1947. He grew up in Wichita attending parochial school at Wichita Lutheran School and Holy Cross Lutheran School. He renewed and confirmed his baptismal covenant on Pentecost Sunday, May 21, 1961. Tom graduated from Wichita High School Southeast in 1965. Having completed two years of study at St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas, he entered Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1967, graduating magna cum laude. On August 22, 1970, Tom was united in holy marriage to Karen Strand. His seminary education continued at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. His vicarage (internship) was in Meriden, Connecticut at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Upon graduation from the seminary, having earned the degree of Master of Divinity, Tom was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry on June 10, 1973 at his home parish of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. He was called to the dual parish of First Lutheran Church in Plainville, Kansas and Grace Lutheran Church in Hill City, Kansas where he served until 1977. He then ministered to Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne, Nebraska until 1983, when he was called to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He faithfully served the congregation of ORL until he retired in 2010.

Throughout his career, Tom had a passion for youth education and worked to enrich the lives of children while creating a fun, Christian environment where kids could simply be kids. He grew the Youth Club Program at ORL and served on the National Board of Directors of Logos Ministry from 1985 until 2001. For his service, Tom received an Honorary Lifetime Membership to Logos in 2005.

In addition to being a strong supporter of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Tom was a member of the Mental Health Board of Reno County.

Tom is survived by his wife of 42 years, Karen, his three children, Erika Moody and her husband, Tom, Stephanie Mendenhall, Zachary Mendenhall and his wife, Cortney; two grandchildren, Allison and Tate Moody; his mother, Marge Burden; his sister, Susan Martin; and two nieces, Faith Martin and Rachel Dodson.

The visitation and services for Reverend Mendenhall will be at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 407 E. 12th, Hutchinson. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 29th, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, August 30, from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, also at the church. Services will be Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Chad Trunkhill officiating. Burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery and memorials may be made to the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Endowment Fund. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a condolence for Tom’s family.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our brother, Tom.