Richard Otto Ziehr, of Austin, TX passed from this life into the fullness of life with the Lord Jesus Christ on January 5, 2024.
Richard was born at home on a farm south of Cisco, Texas, on October 12, 1931, the son of Wiliam F. and Emma M. (née Medack) Ziehr. Six days later, he was reborn as a child of God by the Sacrament of Baptism. St. Paul writes. "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). (Since his condition apparently was precarious, he was baptized at home, and he enjoyed saying he was "born twice" in that house.) Richard publicly confessed his Christian faith at Grace Lutheran Church, Cisco, on May 27, 1945, with the confirmation verse: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:11).
On August 25, 1957, Richard was joined in Christian marriage with Constance (Connie) Kitto of Baton Rouge, LA. God blessed their union with three children, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and over sixty-six years of joy together in marriage. Scripture declares, "God sets the solitary in families," and "Children are a heritage from the LORD," and adds the prayer: "May you see your children's children!" (Ps. 68:6, 127:3, 128:6) St. Paul affirms: "In Christ Jesus, you are all children of God, through faith" (Gal. 3:26).
