Virginia Stackel

Born in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Stackel was the daughter of Rev. Dr. G. Franklin Gehr and Mary Pansing Gehr. Raised in Bethlehem PA, where her father was a Lutheran pastor, she attended Wilson College and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, also doing graduate study in education. She then taught middle school math and English.

Married to the late Rev. Dr. Robert Stackel for 52 years, Mrs. Stackel served with him in Lutheran parishes in Danville NY, Rochester NY, Pittsburgh PA, and Akron OH. She was also very active in Lutheran Church Women, including election to its Executive Boards in three different states and serving 10 years, some as VP, on its Churchwide Board.

As a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church locally, she was a member of its adult and handbell choirs, taught Sunday School, and served as a member and secretary of its Church Council.

For two terms, Mrs. Stackel served on committees of the NC Lutheran Synod Council. She also chaired the Synod’s 200th Anniversary Celebration Committee and served on the Synod’s Reformation 500 Task Group. Additionally, she attended 3 Churchwide Assemblies of the Lutheran Church in America as a voting member. Over a 40-year span, she served as a hospital volunteer in three communities.

Mrs. Stackel was preceded in death by her husband, son David, daughter Martha, and three brothers: Paul, Bernard, and Frederick Gehr. She is survived by son John Stackel and his wife Christine, and by son Andrew Stackel. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (address below) on Saturday, October 26 at 1:30 pm. Visitation at the church will precede the service from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. The service will also be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/SaintMarksLutheran.

Memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1001 Queens Rd, Charlotte NC 28207 designated for its Memorial Fund or for its World Hunger Appeal Fund.