Obituary: John Gagern Riske
John Gagern Riske (April 24, 1948 – November 28, 2024)
John Gagern Riske, age 76, died Thursday, November 28, 2024 at Chelsea Hospital. He was born April 24, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Edwin A. and Gertrude E. (Gagern) Riske.
John attended Lutheran East High School and graduated in 1966. He attended EMU, and then Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL. John was a Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Pastor who served churches in Hale, MI, Glennie, MI, Bach, MI, and finally at St. Thomas Lutheran in Ann Arbor before retiring from ministry. John’s passion was music. He enjoyed playing the piano, organ and singing, he also played the organ at various churches, most notably for Mt. Calvary Church in Detroit and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea. John was currently a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. John liked telling jokes, goofing around with his family, and playing with his grandchildren.
On June 21, 1969, John married Lois Blystone at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, and she survives. Other survivors include his children, Michael of Manchester, Sarah (Greggory) Twietmeyer of Starkville, Mississippi, and Stephen of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Jason (Lauren) and Jordan Riske, Aaron, Luke, Elsa, Emily, and Isaiah Twietmeyer; his siblings, Ed (Karin) Riske of Chelsea, Ruth Hartwick of Storm Lake, Iowa, Grace (Dale) Rosema of Grand Rapids, Lois (John) Sullivan of Mandeville, Louisiana, and James (Theresa) Riske of Shelby Township; and many nieces and nephews. John was proceeded in death by a brother in-law Thomas Hartwick.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Noon at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea, with Rev. Daniel Pezzica officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove East Cemetery in Chelsea. The family will receive friends at Cole Funeral Chapel on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm and at the church Tuesday from 11 am- noon. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church.
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