Dr. David Wollenburg, emeritus professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, fell asleep in Jesus Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Visitation is Friday, April 17, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1810 McClintock Ave., Belleville, Ill. 62221. The funeral service will follow at the church beginning at 5:30 p.m. A graveside service with military honors will be Monday, April 20, 2026, with a formal procession departing at 10:30 a.m. from The Orchards Clubhouse, 1499 Golf Course Dr., Belleville, Ill. 62220.
“Dr. David Wollenburg was a dedicated churchman with a rich record of varied service,” said Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger [1]. “The Concordia Seminary community and our graduates join in giving thanks to God for this faithful servant and in praying for Christ’s peace and provision for his family. I recall with gratitude his frequent words of encouragement when I was a young faculty member, and I know he was an example and encouragement to many others, most especially students in our distance programs and those preparing for military chaplaincy.”
Wollenburg retired in 2009 after eight years of distinguished service as a professor of Practical Theology. He also developed and served as the director of the Seminary’s Specific Ministry Pastor Program, adopted by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in 2007. He previously served as director of the Distance Education Leading to Ordination (DELTO) program, admissions counselor (1975-76) and guest instructor in homiletics (1980-87).
He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) from Concordia Seminary (1971, 1984); his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Ore. (2006); and his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Ind. (1967).
Before joining the faculty of Concordia Seminary, he served as a pastor in Grayling, Mich. (1971-72), and Quincy, Ill. (1972-74). He was called to active duty with the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and worked in southern California and Tacoma, Wash. He transferred to the Air National Guard and served as pastor of Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis (1980-87). He was called to active duty with the Air National Guard and served as a chaplain for the Air National Guard’s Professional Military Education Center in Knoxville, Tenn. (1987-96). He retired from the military with the rank of colonel in 1999 after transferring to the Air Force Reserves. He served as pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Crossville, Tenn. (1997-01), when he was called to the Seminary.
Wollenburg authored the book “Campus symbolism: ‘Devotions for new students’” (Concordia Seminary Press).
He was preceded in death by his son Carl in 2002 and is survived by his wife, Jerry, his three daughters, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations are suggested to either Concordia Seminary [2]or LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces [3].
About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) [4]. To learn more, visit csl.edu [5].