Reverend Doctor Jerald "Jerry" Wayne Mielke

Reverend Doctor Jerald “Jerry” Mielke , 80, passed away on March 30, 2025 at Franciscan Hospice House surrounded by his loving family. Jerry was born March 30, 1945 in Hartley, Iowa to Ervin and Helen (Koechert) Mielke. Jerry married Ingrid Franklin Bullock on December 29, 2001. Survivors include his loving wife, Ingrid; son Philip (Jessi) Mielke from Redlands, CA, son Adam (Angel) Mielke from Closter, NJ, step-daughter Meredith (Brad) Raben of Evansville, IN, Sarah (Chris) McKinley of Pittsboro, IN; sisters Mardelle Knudsen and Janice (Olu) Olawoye, grandchildren Adelaide, Josephine, Liam, Dean, Nathan, Maggie, Carter and Hannah (Trevor), and his faithful fur babies, Stella, Zelda and Ziva. He is preceded in death by parents, Ervin and Helen Mielke, and step-daughter Tonya Bullock, and niece, Kristine McChesney, and nephew Olatokunbo Olawoye.

Jerry loved spending time with his family and making wooden toys for his grandchildren. He also loved architecture and constructing wooden furniture. You could always find him in his workshop smoking a pipe and listening to his 60’s music. He learned woodworking at the knee of his grandfather Mielke. His grandmother Koechert taught him his first German saying "Du bist ein kleiner Teufel!" - You are a little devil. His grandfather and grandmother Koechert were farmers. Jerry learned being a practical joker from Grandpa Koechert. He loved cars and knew the make, model and year by just looking at the taillights. In the summers you could always find Jerry and Ingrid at Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp in NW Iowa where they enjoyed the outdoor life and cruising in the Mustang with the top down.

Jerry started his ministry studies at Concordia, St. Paul Minnesota in 1965 in which he graduated with an associate's degree in 1967. He then moved on to get his bachelor's degree at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1967 to 1969 and went on to study at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri from 1969 to 1972. After taking a vicarage for two years Jerry then went and earned his Masters and Doctorate at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois from 1974 to 1983.

Jerry was a devoted Pastor and enjoyed sharing his gifts in the communities he served. The Churches he served were St. Paul and Gethsemane in Corydon, IN 1978-1983, Trinity Lutheran, in Valparaiso, IN 1983-1987, First Lutheran, Columbus, IN 1987-1995, St. James Lutheran, Greenfield, IN 1995-2006, St. Paul Lutheran, Richmond, IN 2006-2010, Zion Lutheran, Pershing, IN 2010-2017. Organizations he was involved with; Harrison County Ministerial Association., President 1971, Harrison County Mental Health Board Chairman 1979-1981, Lutheran Nursing Home Board of Directors 1972-1983, Outdoor Ministry Synod Committee 1982-1995, Lutheran Schools Services President 1985-1987, Bartholomew County Ministerial Association President 1986-1987, Leadership Bartholomew County 1987-1988, Leadership of Hancock County Education Program 2003, Kiwanis 1983-1987, Indiana-Kentucky Synod Council 1986-2006, Leadership of Hancock County 2004-2006, Hancock County Ministerial Association 1995-2006 and President in 2003, Rotary 1995-2024 and President 2001, Lions Club of Richmond 2006-2010.  Jerry also served as Chaplain in the National Guard 1990-1994, and while he was in Seminary he served as a Lieutenant in the Army Reserves as a Chaplain 1970-1973.

Services will be held on April 16, 2025 at 12:00pm at Cross of Grace Lutheran Church, 3519 South 600 West, New Palestine, IN 46163 with visitation from 9:00am until time of service at the church. Officiating will be Pastor Mark Havel and Pastor Cogan Blackmon.  Jerry’s ashes will be buried in Loogootee, IN at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Jerry Mielke’s name to Cross of Grace Lutheran Church, 3519 South 600 West, New Palestine, IN 46163

Online condolences at www.bellmortuary.com