Obituary of Johannes Burger
                               by Wilhelm Sihler
                      Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores
                             From _Der Lutheraner_
                            Vol. 3, No. 18, p. 40.


 On March 26 it pleased God to call to eternal rest--which is still available
 to God's people--our dear brother-in-faith and colleague, Mr. J.G. Burger,
 Lutheran Pastor in Van Wert County, Ohio. He endured a sickbed of only ten
 days, which was probably caused, in part, by overexertion. 

 He arrived from Germany in 1842, together with Pastor Ernst of Union County,
 Ohio. He first served a Lutheran congregation in Hancock County, Ohio, where
 he endured great poverty and many grievous experiences. In the spring of 1846
 he accepted the call from two small Lutheran congregations in Van Wert and
 Mercer County, Ohio.  Though he served among these only for a short time, his
 two congregations had nevertheless come to know and appreciate his selfless
 love, so that they are painfully aware of their loss.  However, not only these
 two congregations, but also the Lutheran church in this country--which
 faithfully adheres to the confession of their forefathers and holds on
 steadfastly to the treasure of Biblical doctrine and all its articles of
 healing truth--has lost in him a faithful servant.  For not only was he
 completely sincere and guileless, humble and child-like at heart, he also was
 equipped by the Holy Spirit with the gift of teaching. Thus he was able to
 teach the Truth for salvation and rebut falsehood. He dealt with each and
 every soul in a straightforward and faithful manner, according to need,
 teaching, exhorting, chastising and comforting through the Word of God.

 During the last few days of his illness, pneumonia, he was mostly unconscious,
 perhaps because of his medication.  Nevertheless, he was able to utter two
 lovely exclamations which bespeak his faith and love.  Once he said to two of
 his pari                          Obituary of Johannes Burger
                               by Wilhelm Sihler
                      Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores
                             From _Der Lutheraner_
                            Vol. 3, No. 18, p. 40.


 On March 26 it pleased God to call to eternal rest--which is still available
 to God's people--our dear brother-in-faith and colleague, Mr. J.G. Burger,
 Lutheran Pastor in Van Wert County, Ohio. He endured a sickbed of only ten
 days, which was probably caused, in part, by overexertion. 

 He arrived from Germany in 1842, together with Pastor Ernst of Union County,
 Ohio. He first served a Lutheran congregation in Hancock County, Ohio, where
 he endured great poverty and many grievous experiences. In the spring of 1846
 he accepted the call from two small Lutheran congregations in Van Wert and
 Mercer County, Ohio.  Though he served among these only for a short time, his
 two congregations had nevertheless come to know and appreciate his selfless
 love, so that they are painfully aware of their loss.  However, not only these
 two congregations, but also the Lutheran church in this country--which
 faithfully adheres to the confession of their forefathers and holds on
 steadfastly to the treasure of Biblical doctrine and all its articles of
 healing truth--has lost in him a faithful servant.  For not only was he
 completely sincere and guileless, humble and child-like at heart, he also was
 equipped by the Holy Spirit with the gift of teaching. Thus he was able to
 teach the Truth for salvation and rebut falsehood. He dealt with each and
 every soul in a straightforward and faithful manner, according to need,
 teaching, exhorting, chastising and comforting through the Word of God.

 During the last few days of his illness, pneumonia, he was mostly unconscious,
 perhaps because of his medication.  Nevertheless, he was able to utter two
 lovely exclamations which bespeak his faith and love.  Once he said to two of
 his parishioners: "God has now given you a pastor, but He can also remove him. 
 Nevertheless, hold fast to the confessions of the truth and be in harmony with
 one another."  Another time he said: "Though I desire to leave and be with
 Christ, yet do I also  want to remain in the flesh with you for a while
 longer, for your sake; but as God will."

 The funeral text, Eph. 2:8-9, as well as the hymns were selected by him.  

 He was born July 4, 1816, in N”rdlingen, Bavaria. He was not quite 31 years
 old, leaving behind in rather poor circumstances, his widow, his one-year-old
 son, and a child as yet unborn.
                                                  
       _________________________________________________________________

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