Services for Rev. Max J. Ansorge, 81, were held on September 7, 1993, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Rev. Allan Krueger and Vicar Tom Brouwer officiated the services. Mary Lou Ayres, organist, Ann Bass, trumpet, and Rick Ayres, trombone, provided the music.

Honorary bearers were Charles Ansorge, Howard Ansorge, John Ansorge, William Ansorge, Rick Rix, and Steve Weidenhammer. Pallbearers were Hank Hagedorn, Bob Mann, Bernie Miller, Bob Netsch, Paul Netsch, and Frank Seely.

Rev. Max J. Ansorge was born May 6, 1912, in Manning to Rev. Johann M. and Gertrude (Heinke) Ansorge. He attended school in Manning, and prep school at Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1935.

Rev. Ansorge was ordained and installed as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake on January 12, 1936. He married Eileen Rix of Manning on October 28, 1936. Rev. Ansorge served Immanuel Lutheran until his retirement on June 1, 1982. After retirement, he continued preaching at various congregations in northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota until a year ago.

On September 4, 1993, Rev. Ansorge died at Spirit Lake. He is survived by his wife Eileen; two children, Jocelyn Worthington of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bob and his wife Barb of Storm Lake; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Luella Ansorge of Omaha, and a brother, Jim of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Karl and Arthur.

Interment was at Spirit Lake Memorial Gardens. Turner Funeral Homes in Spirit Lake was in charge of arrangements.