John F Scheck

The Reverend John F. Scheck, Ph.D. age 92, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2022. He died at home after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2022. His wife, Nan Scheck, and her children, were by his side. His family and friends celebrate his return to his Heavenly Father.

John was born September 7, 1930, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the only child of Edna Agatha Kunde and John Frederick Scheck II, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John graduated from Concordia High School, Milwaukee (1944), and Junior College (1950); Concordia Seminary St Louis (1955). Assigned to Concordia College, Portland, Oregon as housefather and instructor in history and religion. He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister and called as Assistant Pastor and Minister of Music at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, in Portland Oregon, August 1955. During his early career at Concordia College, John taught history and religion at both the high school and college. John was the high school chorus director when he wrote the text for “Christi Crux est Mihi Lux” (“Out of the Darkness”) as a musical signature. After completing his post graduate work, John returned to Concordia and taught exclusively at the college level as a full time and then adjunct professor until his retirement in 1998. The courses he taught included American History, American Thought and Culture, Religion in American Life, Church History and Philosophy and he was the co-founder and chair of the freshman Humanities Program from 1977.

John earned both his master’s degree in American History, with honors (1961) and his doctoral degree in American History, with honors (1969) from University of Oregon and proudly cheered for the Ducks from that point on. He received a National Defense Education Act Fellowship from the University of Oregon (1966-69), as well as a grant from the American Colonial Dames Resident in Oregon (1968), a fellowship for postdoctoral study at the University of Illinois from the National Endowment for the Humanities (1974) and an appointment as a panelist from the Endowment (1075-1977). John published several pieces derived from his doctoral dissertation. In addition, several of his works were used in throughout the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and in the Northwest Districts Centennial publication, “God Opens Doors”.

John was married to B. Joanne Dinger, August 1958 and later divorced. Together they have three children, John Christopher Scheck (Lori), Jay Scheck (Teresa) and Jennifer Scheck, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In 1992, John married Marianne (Nan) Schmidt, Marth, and they lived in Salem. In his marriage to Nan, John welcomed four stepchildren, Paul Marth, Gloria Marth, Natalie Osburn (Oz), Peter Marth, four step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. At the time of his death, John had been happily married to Nan, who was the love of his life for 30 plus years. For over 50 years, he was a volunteer choir director at the churches where they attended. John enjoyed golfing, and they enjoyed gardening, walking, and being involved in their church. They owned a beach home in Lincoln City for over 20 years which became their escape, where they enjoyed beach walking, gardening, sitting on the deck, whale watching and hosting family and friends.

John is proceeded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife Nan, his three children, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, four stepchildren, four step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem, OR on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 11:00, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please support Marion Polk Food Share or Mercy Corp.