The Rev. George B. Eschenbacher, 75, Route 1, Randall, (Enchanted Lakes) Minnesota, died Friday, October 25, 1985, at St. Gabriel's Hospital, Little Falls.

Funeral services were on Monday, October 28th, at St Peter Lutheran Church, Randall. The Rev. Dr. August Mennicke, president of Minnesota's northern district of Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, and the Rev. R.E. Bolling officiated. Burial was in Evergreen, Cemetery, Brainerd, Minnesota.

Friends called from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Simonet Funeral Home, Randall, and at the church one hour before the service Monday.

The Rev. Eschenbacher was born February 15, 1910, in Brainerd, Minnesota to George and Margaret Eschenbacher. He married Hulda Koehn on October 1, 1933, in Victor, Iowa. He was pastor of churches in Bertha; Hewitt; Paullina, Iowa; Manning, Iowa; and Sauk Centre, Minnesota during 40 years in the ministry. He retired in 1973 and moved to Enchanted Lakes.

He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Randall.

Survivors include his wife; a son, George "Bud", Lincoln, Nebraska; daughters, Mrs. Russell (Rosemary) Watts, Chicago, Mrs. Vernon (Arlene) Cooper, Missoula, Montana, Mrs. Warren (Janice) Melles, Kansas City, Kansas, Rebecca Miller, El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Doug (Melissa) Johns, Missoula, Mont.; and brothers, Edward and Walter, Brainerd.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Nathan; one brother; and six sisters. Pallbearers were grandsons.

PASTOR ESCHENBACHER
Many parishioners this past week recalled with fend memories the ministry of Pastor George Eschenbacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning which extended for a little over nine years.

Pastor Eschenbacher was called to Zion Lutheran from St. John's Lutheran Church in Paullina, Iowa in October of 1954 to co-pastor with Pastor Johann M. Ansorge who had just observed his 50th year in the ministry to Zion Lutheran. Within a year, Pastor Ansorge suffered a fatal heart attack and Pastor Eschenbacher became Zion's sole pastor.

It was during the pastorate of Eschenbacher, in the 1960's, that Zion Lutheran, after much study and planning, decided to build the present church structure.

Memories captured in clippings from the Manning Monitor show Pastor Eschenbacher in May of 1961 wielding a shovel in the Ground-Breaking Ceremonies. In August of 1961, photos again show Pastor Eschenbacher, this time examining the conerstone contents taken from the old Zion Lutheran Church structure, then presenting the conerstone with old contents and new contents to contractor Herb Hass, who built the new church.

Another happy occasion preserved in pictures and writing was the Sunday dedication in February of 1963 of the new Zion Lutheran Church, called Manning's "Space-Age Church." Pastor Eschenbacher presided over the dedication ceremonies.

Parishioner, Lavon Puck recalled that it was during Pastor Eschenbacher's years at Zion that the Braille project which continues to this day at Zion, had its beginning. Mrs. Puck recalled that she, Mrs. George Eschenbacher and Mrs. Merlin Schroeder all completed study courses necessary to become Braille "transcribers." Then in 1962, a Thermoform machine was first installed at Zion, a machine used to make copies on plastic for making the Braille copies. This project would go on to even greater prominence under Pastor and Mrs. Edward Heinicke when the Braille Headquarters for the Missouri Synod Sunday School materials was moved to Zion Lutheran in Manning.

Mrs. Puck recalled Pastor Eschenbacher as a warm and personable man with a concern for others and for the Gospel message.

Another parishioner, Marvin Wiemann recalled Pastor Eschenbacher as a great individual, his friend as well as his minister.

In December of 1963, Zion Lutheran accepted the resignation of Pastor Eschenbacher who took leave to accept a call to Zion Lutheran at Sauk Centre, Minnesota.