The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-08-05
DR.. Learner Dies
Of Heart Attack
Continued from Page One)

SubJcCI IOl DulutAy was " nave DeelI
"A Beautiful Transition
DR.. Learner was born October 8,
: 1871, in Dakota City, Nebraska. His
ancestors were early settlers in Penn
/ sylvania, some of whom pioneered in
Nebraska. He was educated at Wayne
Academy, at Wittenberg College re-
ceiving the B.A. and MA. degrees,
and at Western Seminary He received
the degree Of doctor of divinity from
Midland College in 1910. He was or
daineJ to the ministry at Benedict,
Nebraska, in 1898.
Dr. Learner was active in the Iowa
Synod and served as pastor of st.
Johns Lutheran church in Des Moines,
Iowa, for II years. He was executive
president of the Iowa Synod from
1925 to 1928 Later he was president
Of the West Virginia Synod, from
1892 to 1886, and served churches at
Charleston and Huntington, West Va,
prior to coming to Oakland.
w me I'll OdhldINl, IL LCellllCI was
instrumental in having a $1,000 ad-
dition to the church constructed for
Sunday school work, the cost Of which
has largely been met, and he greatly
increased the communing member
ship during his pastorate.
In Synodical work he was secretary
of Christian Education, chairman of
the Stewardship committee and had
been delegate to the biennial con-
vention Of the United Lutheran church
several times.
He was president of the board of
directors of Carthage College, Garth
age, Ill.,, and member Of the boards
of Midland College, Fremont, Nebras-
ka, and the School Of Religion, Uni
versity Of Iowa.
During the first World War and
for five years thereafter, he was eX-
ecutive secretary Of the Lutheran
Brotherhood Of America in charge of
Lutheran centers in all army camps.
He also directed the raising of funds
for men in training and for nurses
in hospital service. He held commits
sion as first lieutenant in the Army.
He was a forceful figure in the merger
of Synods which formed the United
Lutheran Church in America in the
year 1918.
Dr.. Learner was the author of
"Brochure on the Bible" In civic ac-
tivities he was a member of the CO.
operative Club of Des Moines, the
Lions Club Of Charleston, former
president Of the Lions Club of Hunt
ington; also a member Of the Rotary
Club of Oakland. He was a Knight
Tempar and 32nd degree Mason and
was a member Of the Alpha Tau
Omega social fraternity.
Surviving are one son and three
daughters. Commander Robert R. Lea
mer (M.CD U. S. Navy, Naval Hospi-
tai, San Diego, Cal; Mrs. Alfred M.
Sadler, Allentown, Pa; Mrs. Paul W.
KautZ, Charleston, w. Va, and Mrs
Thomas Gorsuch, Of Rochester, Mimi;
and six grandchildren. Also five
brothers: David Learner, Nebraska
City, Neb.; John Learner, Spokane,
Wash; Rev Fremont Learner, ID,
Springfield o.; Rev. Jesse S. Learner,
DID,. Columbus, Neb.; Madious Lea
mer, Dakota City, Neb. His wife, the
former Agnes Ruth Richard, died in
1881.
Funeral services were conducted on
Tuesday afternoon, August 3, at 2:30
o'clock. from ST. Marks Lutheran
church, Oakland, with the Rev. (. F.
X. Roof, Grafton, president of the
West Virginia Synod, and Rev. G. W
Schillinger, of Charleston, officiating.
Intelmcnt will be in Graceland ceme-
terry, Sioux City, Iowa, beside his
wife.
A service will be held at Sioux City,
in the chapel on Friday morning.
Among those who were present at
the service were Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred
NJ. Sadler, Allentown, Pa; Mr., and
Mrs Paul w. Kautz, S. Charleston,
w. Va; Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Cor
such, Rochester, Mimi, all Of whom
were sons-in-law and daughters of
Dr. Learner; Rev. and Mrs. E. F. X.
Roof, Grafton, W. Va; Rev. Roy W..
Hashinger, Morgantown; Rev. George
w. Schillinger, Charleston; Rev. and
Mrs l.. Arthur Wagner and sons, Of
Parkersburg; Rev. C. X Spiggle, Key
ser; Rev. and Mrs. A. c. Curran and
daughter, Bittinger; Rev. and Mrs.
A. X. Jones, Red House; Rev. and
Mrs. Roy j. Meyer, Johnstown, Pa;
Rev. and Mrs. Eugene Smith, Davis;
sRev. J. Bruce Kaufman, st. Clara;
Rev. and Mrs. J. w. Harner and Mrs.
Clayton Speicher, Accident; Mrs. A.
w. Holtz, Charleston; C. A. Pilson,
Fairmont; l.. D. Lemmert, j, S. UNI
berger, James A. Sincell and Carl
Fisher, Clarksburg.