Obituary of Karl Langrock

Langrock, Rev. Karl F. 82 01/26/1927 10/14/2009 The Rev. Karl Frederick Langrock died at home in Wilsonville. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, in Living Savior Lutheran Church, 8740 S.W. Sagert St., Tualatin. Born in Toeterville, Iowa, he spent his younger years in Mitchell County, Iowa. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to '46. In 1949, he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from University of Northern Iowa; a master's degree in economics from University of Iowa in 1951; a Bachelor of Divinity from Lutheran School of Theology in Maywood, Ill., in 1955; and was ordained into the ministry. He married Rose Marie Meyer June 4, 1950. In 1951 he worked for Bankers Life Co. in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a pastor from 1955 to 1969 in Milwaukee, and Franklin Park and Deerfield, Ill. Rev. Langrock served on the board of trustees of Lutheran Welfare Services of Illinois in 1962, and was president of the board from 1968 to '70; associate director of development at Berea College in Kentucky in 1969; president of Grand View College for 16 years beginning in 1972 and led the school from a junior college to a four-year bachelor of arts degree-granting institution; president of the Council of Lutheran Church in America Colleges in 1978; member of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, on the board of directors from 1972 to 1987, chairman in 1986-'87. In 1989 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from GVC. He retired first to Des Moines and a summer place at Long Lake, Wis., before moving to the Pacific Northwest. They traveled extensively, including China, Germany, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand. They attended many jazz festivals all over the West Coast. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee H. and Alice D. (Grube) Langrock; and sisters, Adeline and Hildgard. Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Rose Marie; daughter, Laura (Rick) Croshaw of Sherwood; son, Charles (Debra) Langrock of Des Moines; sister, Lenore (Neal) Winkler; three nieces; two nephews; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois or Grand View University.