Irvin E.M. Pflueger
March 18, 1927 — August 9, 2019
REV. IRVIN E. M. PFLUEGER
was welcomed to his Heavenly home Thursday, August 8, 2019. Born in 1927, the 9th child to Clara (nee Kroger) and Adolph Pflueger, he is survived by his adoring bride of 67 years, Catherine (nee Wood) Pflueger, three loving daughters (Clara, Theresa, Fia,) four precious grandchildren, (Brandon, Martin, Daniel, & Catherine,) many neices and nephews, and pre-deceased by his son, Irvin.
He served his country during WWII with the Occupational Forces in Japan as a radio operator for the 90th Field Artilery Batallion until 1947. Following service in the Pacific Theater, he was called to study for the Holy Ministry and attended Concordia Seminary, Springfield, IL, where he met his wife, Catherine. His ministry began with a vicarage in MN and then OH. Following his Ordination he recieved his first Call, which was to start a new congregation in Mahwah, NJ – Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Dayschool. Over the course of his ministry he went on to pastor at St. Matthews in Secaucus, NJ, and Trinity, in Cliffside Park, NJ, while also serving as Chaplain for Hudson County Penitentiary & Jail, Meadowview Mental Hospital and Pollack Geriatric Hospital. His prison ministry was personal and included providing prisoners with suits for court appearances, finding jobs for inmates in the work-release program, organizing and transporting Christmas carolers to sing throughout the jail, an annual Christmas party for inmates with children which included home-made cookies and 3-4 gifts for each child, which the inmates were able to select and wrap. He commissioned paintings from incarcerated artists. His efforts to provide clothing for inmates exceeded the prisoners need and grew to support the clothing ministry of Voice of Calvary, a multi-faceted Christian Ministry in Jackson, MI . He and his bride retired in 1990 to Boynton Beach, FL.
In his retirement Rev. Pflueger became a Charter Member of Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach, actively canvassing to help build the congregation and occasionally providing service as a Pastor Emeritus. He lead a clean-up crew following Hurricaine Andrew, travelling to bring assistance in the Greater Miami area nearly every Saturday for over a year. They became known as The Chain Saw Gang, and continued to work until health issues halted their efforts. He participated in the Prime Timers retirement group, the Fellowship Commitee and the choir in addition to regularly attending Sunday Worship.
Widely loved, Pastor Pflueger touched countless lives and will be dearly missed by many.
A Wake will be held Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Scobee Combs Bowden Funeral Home, Boynton Beach from 4:00 -7:00 pm.
His Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach 2:00 p.m.
Following the Funeral Service, the family invites all to gather in the Fellowship hall for a light luncheon and to remenice and share favorite memories.
The family requests that Memorial donations directly support the efforts of our adopted missionary, R. Charles Wokoma. Checks should be made payable to The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod with “Support of Wokoma – Africa” written into the memo line. Checks can be mailed to The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, P.O. Box 790089, St. Louis, MO 63179-0089. Gifts can also be given securely online through the LCMS website at www.lcms.org/rwokoma or call 888-930-4438 to speak with a Donor Care representative.
was welcomed to his Heavenly home Thursday, August 8, 2019. Born in 1927, the 9th child to Clara (nee Kroger) and Adolph Pflueger, he is survived by his adoring bride of 67 years, Catherine (nee Wood) Pflueger, three loving daughters (Clara, Theresa, Fia,) four precious grandchildren, (Brandon, Martin, Daniel, & Catherine,) many neices and nephews, and pre-deceased by his son, Irvin.
He served his country during WWII with the Occupational Forces in Japan as a radio operator for the 90th Field Artilery Batallion until 1947. Following service in the Pacific Theater, he was called to study for the Holy Ministry and attended Concordia Seminary, Springfield, IL, where he met his wife, Catherine. His ministry began with a vicarage in MN and then OH. Following his Ordination he recieved his first Call, which was to start a new congregation in Mahwah, NJ – Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Dayschool. Over the course of his ministry he went on to pastor at St. Matthews in Secaucus, NJ, and Trinity, in Cliffside Park, NJ, while also serving as Chaplain for Hudson County Penitentiary & Jail, Meadowview Mental Hospital and Pollack Geriatric Hospital. His prison ministry was personal and included providing prisoners with suits for court appearances, finding jobs for inmates in the work-release program, organizing and transporting Christmas carolers to sing throughout the jail, an annual Christmas party for inmates with children which included home-made cookies and 3-4 gifts for each child, which the inmates were able to select and wrap. He commissioned paintings from incarcerated artists. His efforts to provide clothing for inmates exceeded the prisoners need and grew to support the clothing ministry of Voice of Calvary, a multi-faceted Christian Ministry in Jackson, MI . He and his bride retired in 1990 to Boynton Beach, FL.
In his retirement Rev. Pflueger became a Charter Member of Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach, actively canvassing to help build the congregation and occasionally providing service as a Pastor Emeritus. He lead a clean-up crew following Hurricaine Andrew, travelling to bring assistance in the Greater Miami area nearly every Saturday for over a year. They became known as The Chain Saw Gang, and continued to work until health issues halted their efforts. He participated in the Prime Timers retirement group, the Fellowship Commitee and the choir in addition to regularly attending Sunday Worship.
Widely loved, Pastor Pflueger touched countless lives and will be dearly missed by many.
A Wake will be held Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Scobee Combs Bowden Funeral Home, Boynton Beach from 4:00 -7:00 pm.
His Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach 2:00 p.m.
Following the Funeral Service, the family invites all to gather in the Fellowship hall for a light luncheon and to remenice and share favorite memories.
The family requests that Memorial donations directly support the efforts of our adopted missionary, R. Charles Wokoma. Checks should be made payable to The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod with “Support of Wokoma – Africa” written into the memo line. Checks can be mailed to The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, P.O. Box 790089, St. Louis, MO 63179-0089. Gifts can also be given securely online through the LCMS website at www.lcms.org/rwokoma or call 888-930-4438 to speak with a Donor Care representative.
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