Duain Vierow

Obituary of Duain Vierow Our beloved Pastor Duain W. Vierow joined his Father in heaven on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. He passed at Shand's Emergency Center in Gainesville, Florida from a dissecting aortic aneurism. Duain was born on January 25, 1935 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Duain earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1957; Masters of Divinity from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1960 (now Luther Seminary in St. Paul); Systematic Theology Masters from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois in 1966; and Doctor of Missiology from Fuller School of World Mission at Pasadena, California in 1976. The mission field was of great importance to Duain. He served in Malaysia for fifteen years and learned the difficult Tamil and Malay languages. He served as a pastor of congregations with the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ties with Church of Sweden Mission) and the Lutheran Church of Malaysia and Singapore. He functioned in numerous ministries coordinating and administering national programs in developing strategy for outreach; and he worked tirelessly in community development and with institutions of mercy work. Duain was an experienced educator, having served in parish settings in North America and Asia; served as Missionary-in-Residence, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary; and Missionary-in-Residence, Gustavus Adolphus College. He organized, trained and administered a national lay training extension program in Malaysia with fifteen centers; taught in two residence theological schools; and initiated talks to establish joint ecumenical theological training in Malaysia. He was recognized with an award from the Malaysia Church Growth Committee. He served as Pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to that he was called to Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. He was an advisor to the Synod Commission on World Outreach and Service; the Committee on Mission Education Fund at Luther Northwestern Seminary; National Board of Lutheran Youth Encounter; and Greater St. Paul Inter-Lutheran Pastors' Planning Committee. In retirement Duain became Volunteer Director of the Global Mission Institute at Luther Seminary in Minnesota. In Florida Duain was a co-founder and is a current member of Hope Lutheran Church, ELCA in The Villages. Significant dates in the life of Pastor Vierow are: Baptized -- March 17, 1935 Confirmed -- June 5, 1949 Ordained -- May 18, 1960 Commissioned by the Board of Foreign Missions of The United Lutheran Church in America to serve as a Missionary in the Malaya Field for the proclamation of the Gospel and the extension of the Kingdom of God -- August 27, 1961 Duain traveled around the globe six times and was a visitor and resident in over 30 countries, concentrating on the study of religions, church and educational programs. Duain was also an accomplished artist, participating in and winning 23 ribbons in judged competitions. He was a member of The Villages Art League, The Villages Art Association, and the Appleton Museum of Art. Many of his paintings are on permanent display at the Center for Movement Disorders at Shands, University of Florida. Pastor Vierow belonged to many organizations, among them the Parkinson Exercise and Support Group and the National Parkinson Foundation. He was also the President for the Minnesota 4-H Program and the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) for which he worked in the Netherlands. This program was a precursor to the Peace Corps. Duain was an author, and among his published works are A History of Lutheranism in Western Malaysia and Singapore, Church Growth in the Third World, and Cross Roads of World Mission. Duain also authored Sheer Grace, Reflections on a Life Blessed by the Grace of God, and On the Move With the Master. Many people have been so blessed by knowing and learning from Pastor Vierow. He was an avid golfer, gardener, traveler, reader, sculptor and painter. He loved his children and grandchildren, and had a passion for his wife Donna. He considered himself a missionary and a global citizen, but most of all a Child of God and an International Servant of God. Duain is survived by his wife of 33 years, Donna Joy Ford Vierow. They were married on December 26, 1980 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. Duain first married Marcia Bush in Iowa in 1960. Two children survive him -- daughter Hiltje Christine Baskerville (Dr. John) born in India and now residing in Waterloo, Iowa; and son Dane Christian Vierow (Caroline) born in Sungai Siput, Malaysia and now living in Denver, Colorado. Duain is also survived by granddaughters Marissa Baskerville, Aja Baskerville, and Trinity Vierow; and grandsons Vincent Vierow and Marcel Batorowicz. He is also survived by one sister, Rita Davis, North Branch, Minnesota, five nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews. Duain was predeceased by his parents, William P. 0. Vierow and Louise Wendel Vierow, and a niece Kimberley Minke. A memorial service and celebration of the life of Duain W. Vierow will be held at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at Hope Lutheran Church, 250 Avenida Los Angelos, Morse Blvd. and Hwy. 466, The Villages, FL 32162. The service will be streamed and available for viewing at www.hope2all.org Memorial gifts may be made to the Duain Vierow Endowed International Student Scholarship Fund, Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul MN 55108-9901. Arrangements are by Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, 134 N. Hwy. 27/441, Lady Lake, FL 32159. Information can be obtained at their website: www.beyersfuneralhome.com Another memorial service will be held at a later date at St. Mark Lutheran Church, North St. Paul, Minnesota. Services A memorial service and celebration of the life of Duain W. Vierow will be held at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at Hope Lutheran Church, 250 Avenida Los Angelos, Morse Blvd. and Hwy. 466, The Villages, FL 32162. The service will be streamed and available for viewing at www.hope2all.org Memorial Gifts Memorial gifts may be made to the Duain Vierow Endowed International Student Scholarship Fund, Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul MN 55108-9901.

Duain Vierow

January 25, 1935 - April 9, 2014