Roger Krebs

Roger Leonard Krebs was born on June 20, 1948, in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. His parents were the late Gustav and Viola (Jahnke) Krebs. Roger attended country school in District # 218 in North Effington Township. He graduated from Parkers Prairie High School with the class of 1966. He moved to Minneapolis where he attended the Minneapolis Business College and was eventually employed with Metro Mass Transit in the Twin Cities for 15 years, ending his career there as a Senior Accountant in 1987.

On June 10, 1978, Roger was united in marriage with Deborah Ann Johnson from St. Cloud at the Zion North Effington Church in rural Parkers Prairie, Minnesota.

As a result of Roger being led by the Lord to make a mid-life career change, in 1987 Roger began attending Concordia University in St. Paul to earn his undergraduate degree prior to attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1991 to 1993. Then he and Debbie moved to Shenandoah, Iowa where Roger served as a vicar/intern at two congregations (the other was in Sidney, Iowa) for a year prior to returning to the seminary for his final year of instruction.

On September 10, 1995, at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Parkers Prairie, Roger was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Then Roger and Debbie moved to Duluth, MN where Roger served as pastor at Redeemer Lutheran in Duluth and St. John’s Lutheran in Wrenshall for a year. Because of health reasons, it became necessary for Roger to stop serving as a pastor and go on inactive status. Roger & Debbie moved to the Twin Cities and were employed there for about three years when Roger received and accepted a call to serve as pastor to serve two congregations in the Holloway, MN area (Trinity Lutheran – Fairfield and Immanuel Lutheran in Holloway.) Unfortunately, Roger had a health relapse resulting in Roger & Debbie moving back to the Twin Cities where they both worked in the business world for about the next 10 years. During that time, Roger & Debbie also served in various ways at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Lake Park, Mn. Roger was then asked to serve as pastor at his home church, Zion Lutheran North Effington in rural Parkers Prairie. He served there for about 8 years until his retirement on July 12, 2020.

During his life, Roger enjoyed fishing and hunting, playing pool, gardening, bird watching, traveling with Debbie, including a two-week trip to Alaska (one week on a ship and one week on land). Along with Debbie, Roger enjoyed Bluegrass music (especially Gospel Bluegrass) and playing cards. He enjoyed reading, especially Christian materials. He also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. He, along with Debbie, enjoyed playing with their dogs.

On December 26, 2022, Deborah passed away peacefully under hospice care at Knute Nelson Care Center in Alexandria, Minnesota. Also, preceding Roger in death were his parents, Gustav and Viola Krebs; siblings: infant sister Ardean and infant brother Marlin; brother, Elroy and sister, Arlys Swanson.

Roger is survived by several cousins and friends.

Roger’s wish and prayer was for people to be brought to faith and strengthened in Jesus Christ as their Savior and their only way to heaven.

Roger went home to his Lord and Savior on July 11, 2024, in Alexandria, Minnesota.

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