Roger Alvin Gottschalk

Roger Alvin Gottschalk – Entered into Eternal Glory on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the age of 83.

Loving husband of Nancy for 60 years. Cherished father of Christine (Denny) Bahr, Cherie Wolfgram, and David (Elizabeth) Gottschalk. Proud grandpa of Elyssa, Valkyrie, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Henry, and Everett. Beloved big brother of Susan (Gary) Tvedt, Richard, Sharlene (Deny) D’Jock, and Randy (Kathleen). Brother-in-law of Bruce Rosendahl. Preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Lucille Gottschalk; brother Ronnie; and sisters Sharon Mills (Jim Postier) (Wes) Mills and Sandy Rosendahl.

Roger Alvin Gottschalk was born on December 26, 1942, to Alvin & Lucille Gottschalk in Rochester, MN; he was baptized into God’s family on January 17, 1943. Roger, the eldest of eight children, attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, confirmed his faith at Trinity Lutheran Church on March 25, 1956, and graduated from John Marshall High School.

Following his passion for teaching, Roger attended Concordia Teachers’ College–River Forest, IL; as a college student, he served a two-year internship as Director of Christian Education and Director of Music at Zion Lutheran Church & School in Brainerd, MN, heading back to Concordia to graduate with his B.S. degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Worship in 1966. While at Concordia, he met the love of his life and his future wife, Nancy Ninstil of Brookfield, WI, whom he married on June 11, 1966. With Christ as the cornerstone in their marriage, Roger and Nancy’s devotion to God and to one another has provided a wonderful model of a loving, lifelong,
Christian bond—truly an inspiration to their children and grandchildren. Before moving to St. Louis, Roger and Nancy both worked at Bethesda Lutheran Home (now AbleLight) in Watertown, WI. His love for his younger brother, Ronnie, deeply inspired Roger to bring the Gospel to children and adults with special needs; this was always a mission close to his heart.

Roger’s first call was to St. John’s Lutheran Church & School, Ellisville, MO, where he served as Music Director and 6th-grade teacher from 1966–1975. During his time in the St. Louis area, he sang in the Lutheran Hour Choir, later became the Lutheran Hour’s organist, and earned a Master of Science in Education from Webster University. Residing in Winchester, MO, Roger and Nancy began their family with the joyous additions of their daughters Christine (1970) and Cherie (1972). Roger played organ for many of his and Nancy’s River Forest and St. Louis friends’ weddings; together, they made many lifelong friends during their time in Missouri.

In 1975, Roger accepted a call to teach 5th grade and serve as Music Director at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & School in West Allis, Wisconsin—a ministry that spanned over four decades. Following the birth of their son, David (1978), Nancy joined Roger in ministry at St. Paul’s, establishing the school’s first pre-K program and teaching piano. Roger delighted in seeing all three of his children involved in music at St. Paul’s, actively sharing their own musical talents as they grew. In the classroom, “Mr. Gotts-chalk” brought learning to life with colored chalk, sharing his love for science and U.S. history alongside music. He made lessons exciting and memorable—complete with puns, pop quizzes (“pipe quizzes” for the organ unit), gerbil races along the chalk tray, and even catching the occasional bat! His passion for music and love for teaching extended more broadly into the community as he accompanied the Milwaukee Radio Choir and substituted as organist at area Lutheran churches.

While at St. Paul’s, Roger was “instrumental” in helping raise funds for, design, install, and dedicate a new Martin Ott tracker organ in 1996—a magnificent musical instrument that allowed him to express his faith even more fully and creatively. Through his thoughtful registration and improvisation, he had a unique gift for conveying the mood and text of the hymns, bringing the message of the lyrics to life for the congregation. He took great joy in playing this powerful pipe organ for the rest of his career. Even in retirement, Roger remained a devoted member of the congregation. He took on pastoral assistant duties, visiting the hospitalized and the homebound, and teaching Confirmation and Bible classes. He never wavered in his commitment to the SPLCWA Radio Broadcast, faithfully coordinating weekly recordings and broadcasts until shortly before his stroke. Having built hobby radios and camera kits in his youth, Roger deeply cherished the radio broadcast’s ability to bring the Gospel in word and song directly to those unable to attend worship in person.

Roger enjoyed deer hunting, photography, trampolining (in his youth), crafting puns, and taking scenic road trips through the Colorado mountains. An enthusiast of good coffee, donuts, and ice cream, he and Nancy frequently took long, relaxing drives through the countryside for a sweet treat, trading his previous ride, a Harley-Davidson, for their cherished Crown Victoria, “Big Blue,” in later years.
Roger and Nancy have always loved to travel, creating lasting memories on road trips across the country for themselves and their children. For their honeymoon, they logged a 5,400-mile round trip from Wisconsin to Washington State in a VW Bug so Roger could play the organ at a friend’s wedding! Roger’s love of driving never ceased, and he took his family on many cross-country road trips over the years. He modeled his faith during these road trips, not only teaching his children by touring countless national parks, historical monuments, and colonial forts, but instilling in them the same love of God’s creation, especially the “purple mountain majesties” that he and Nancy both loved; a natural beauty echoed in another hymn they often quoted:

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! (LSB 801)

The Gottschalks always found time to visit friends and attend worship services at Lutheran churches along their routes. Roger, Nancy, Christine, Cherie, and David all gained cherished memories from these long trips, which are also chronicled in thousands of slides and photographs. Both on the road and at home, Roger exemplified what it meant to be a faithful servant of God. He was a wonderful Christian witness whose life and devotion continue to inspire his children as they walk in faith and raise their own families. Roger was exceptionally proud of his three children, taking great joy in their professional paths and, above all, in watching each of them faithfully live out his favorite hymn, “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus.” (LSB 685) To his six grandchildren, Roger was not only a proud and loving grandpa, but a true pillar of Christian strength, wisdom, and kindness; his example of faith will continue to inspire and guide them.

Through prayer and song, Roger’s parents instilled in him a deep love for God and a strong faith that he continually shared through his musical gifts. After playing in an accordion band in his youth, he discovered a natural talent for keyboards—piano and organ—playing anything he heard by ear before he ever saw the music. Embracing this God-given gift, Roger flourished during his years at Concordia, where he developed into an accomplished organist.

Martin Luther wrote, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” Roger fully lived this truth; he was known for his innate ability to improvise and transpose on the organ manuals, bringing liveliness, creative innovation, and spiritual depth to every worship service. By using varied registrations to mirror hymn texts, he conveyed the Gospel message through every note and pipe. Beyond the organ console, Roger directed adult and junior high choirs and organized vocal and instrumental ensembles for festival services like Christmas, Easter, and Reformation, enhancing the vibrant musical life of St. Paul’s. In 1994, he arranged a special Christmas Eve performance for the Gottschalk family—Roger, Nancy, Christine, Cherie, and David played instrumental carols together for the service! Even as hearing loss challenged his musical abilities in later years, Roger never stopped praising Christ, setting a faithful example and lasting inspiration for his family, friends, students, and parishioners.

In Roger’s own words, “I have always enjoyed teaching in the Lutheran School System. It is a special feeling to be going to the same church as most of my students… worshiping with them in church and school-related Christian activities. This makes Lutheran families and teachers all part of a ‘community’ centered around our church and school, working together to serve God and to help each other. Our common goal is to follow God’s command to go into all the world (Matt. 28:19-20), spreading His Word of salvation.”

Roger exemplified a faithful Christian life both as a parent and a citizen, setting an example of devotion and witness for Christ that his children continually strive to follow. He fully used his musical and teaching gifts to serve God and care for those around him. The Lord called Roger to His Heavenly Home on October 1, 2026, accompanied by the rich, triumphant organ sound of one of his favorite hymns, “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” He leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, and fatherhood, and will be deeply missed.

Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die. (LSB 525)

Well done, thou good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)

Visitation will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7821 West Lincoln Avenue, West Allis, Wisconsin, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Funeral service at 3:00 PM. Burial will be held privately at Highland Memorial Park in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Lutheran Hour Ministries or St. Paul’s Lutheran–West Allis Radio Broadcast.

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