The Rev. Dr. Robert H. Thurau, 96 , 1035 Liberty Street, Franklin, died at his home on August 18.
Born in Oil City on September 26, 1917, he was the son of Lena Nolte Thurau and Otto Thurau.
He served 36 years in the active ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, taking early retirement on October 1, 1979, to return to his hometown. During his ministry, he participated in the rebirthing of many little children in Baptismal waters, praying with frightened people in hospitals, holding the hands of hundreds who sobbed in grief, bringing bread and wine to the lips of thousands who longed for the encouragement and reassurance the supper brings and for a foretaste of the feast to come.
Robert attended public school in Oil City until age 8 when his parents moved to Franklin and was graduated from Franklin High School in 1935 as an honor student and vice-president of his class. In 1939 he received a B.A. degree from Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, and was selected by the faculty to be listed in the book, Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
After graduation he worked one year for Pennzoil before enrolling at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia from which he received his M.Div. degree in 1943 and, at the same time, his M.A. degree in education from the nearby University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Thurau was ordained on May 26, 1943, at First Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh. His first call was to St. Mark’s Lutheran church in Jeannette, PA.where he served from 1943 to 1948. During his pastorate there he continued graduate work and, at 29, in 1946, received his doctor of philosophy degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. His doctoral thesis was A Study of the Lutheran Sunday School in America to 1865, a definitive study based almost entirely on primary sources researched in institutional archives across the country. The thesis is in the libraries of many institutions of higher learning.
The remainder of his active ministry was spent in historic St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kittanning, which honored him by electing him pastor emeritus on his retirement. During his pastorate his congregation sponsored a trip for him and his wife to tour Germany, the land of Luther where his cousin was pastor of the church in Einbeck and where Henry Melchior Mulenberg had been baptized and confirmed and later migrated to America to plant the Lutheran Church. He now is regarded as the patriarch of Lutherans in this country. Later the congregation sent Dr. Thurau on a month’s study tour of the Holy Land. On a Music Sunday the congregation surprised their Pastor with the gift of a piano.
Some of his significant contributions as a pastor in the Lutheran Church included serving on a special Trust that brought to Kittanning the branch campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania; initiating a movement at a national assembly of the church to make it possible for Lutheran pastors to be enrolled in the Social Security program; being elected the first dean of the Armstrong District of the Western Pennsylvania – West Virginia synod; serving on the boards of the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia and the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg where he was vice-chairman of the board; serving as chairman of the synod’s examining committee for many years; being elected as the first president when the Federation of Churches of Armstrong County was formed; serving as a member of the synod’s transition team that helped lay the groundwork for the formation of a merged Lutheran Church in America.
Dr. Thurau attended many national assemblies of the church as an elected delegate and was a frequent contributor to many publications including The Lutheran, Lutheran Partners, and to devotional booklets. In 1997 he completed his autobiography.
Once retired, and now living in Franklin, he became active in the community and concentrated on developing his life-long interests in art, photography, and music. Over the years he created original greeting cards to mark happy and sad occasions for many people. Accomplished in six instruments, he often played for churches, civic groups, and community affairs. He was a city council appointed member of Franklin’s Historic Architectural Review Board and served as chairman for most of his eight year tenure. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church.
In 1993 Pastor Thurau celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination over a six week period. At his 55th celebration at St. John’s, Kittanning, he presented the congregation with his book, Reflections, covering his years in that congregation, along with two of his watercolor paintings.
On May 7, 1947, he was married to the former Nita May Murrin at First Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, by Bishop H. Reed Shepfer and is survived by four children: Diane Elder and husband Harold, of Troy, Michigan; Robert H. Thurau II Esq., and wife, Alison, of Osprey, Florida; Craig Thurau of Franklin; and Alice Thurau and husband, Keith Hileman, of Clarion; eight grandchildren: Erica Elder; Michael Elder and wife, Wendy; Laura Chapman and husband, James; Robin Thurau; Samuel and Benjamin Thurau; and Sarah and Abby Hileman; and five great grandchildren: Sydney Elder; Rachel, Addison, Hannah, and Caleb Chapman.
He is also survived by his niece Jill Fugaro of Mill Valley, CA; and his nephew Dr. Jim Murrin of Dublin, OH. Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers, Frederick and Martin; his sister, Irene T. Swanton; his brother-in-law Ralph Murrin; and his wife, Nita May Murrin Thurau.
Many of Dr. Thurau’s last years were spent as a caregiver for his wife, taking inspiration and power from the words of Scripture: “Love is patient; love is kind. Love never ends.”
The family suggests that memorials be made to Grace Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 325, Franklin, PA 16323; or to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 218 N. Jefferson Street, Kittanning, PA 16201.
Time of funeral services will be announced.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rev. Dr. Robert H. Thurau visit www.hufffuneral.com.
