The Rev. Robert B. “Bob” Wedergren peacefully went home to his heavenly Savior on July 30, 2024 in Santa Fe, Texas. He was 93.

Bob was born on Oct. 24, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Omaha and Grand Island. After graduating from North High School, he worked for two years and then entered Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois to prepare for the Ministry. He pitched for the Concordia Trojans baseball team. In 1954, Bob was privileged to be part of the Lutheran Hour Concordia Seminary Choir’s tour of 30 cities in the British Isles. He was selected to stay after the tour and complete a year-long internship, starting a new congregation in Sunderland in northeast England. He returned to the States to complete his seminary studies, graduating in 1956 and being ordained later that year. He was then installed as pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Youngstown, Ohio.

Bob met Lucille Cardaro on a visit to New Orleans with his seminary roommate, Robert Cardaro, Lucy’s brother. They began writing each other and love soon blossomed. On January 12, 1957, Bob married Lucy in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in Youngstown, God blessed them with two sons, John and James.
In 1960, he was called to St. Peter’s in Farnhamville, Iowa, one of Bob and Lucy’s most meaningful spiritual experiences. St. Peter’s and Christ Lutheran of Churdan decided to merge and he was called as pastor of the new parish, Holy Trinity, which was dedicated in November 1963. While at Farnhamville, the Wedergrens were blessed with the birth of daughter Ruth.

Pastor Bob became interested in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and he left the parish to train at Immanuel Lutheran Hospital in Omaha. Upon completing the CPE program, he was called in 1968 to serve as Lutheran Chaplain at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. During his 26 years at UTMB, Bob served as chair of the Council on Religious Ministry (CORM) and the Department of Ministry. He provided pastoral care to patients, families, staff, and doctors and also led chapel services at Moody House in Galveston. Bob served as a supply pastor to numerous Lutheran parishes in the Houston-Galveston area and was pivotal in supporting hospice in Galveston County.

During John and Jim’s youth, Bob served as an assistant baseball coach in the Texas Freshman League in La Marque. He made lifelong friends with many parents and players. He enjoyed fishing at Lake Sam Rayburn with the family, taking the boys out in the boat early, then coming back for Lucy and Ruth.

Bob and Lucy retired in 1994. They belonged to a retired pastors and wives group, meeting monthly for lunches. They enjoyed traveling to New Mexico, Wedergren Family Reunions in Oakland, Nebraska, as well as visiting Pete and Margie Cardaro in Louisiana and joining them in Branson, Missouri. They traveled to Ireland, Scotland and England, where Bob reunited with a couple he had confirmed in Sunderland, England. Bob and Lucy also served several parishes during retirement, a joy for both of them.

Proud to be from Nebraska, Bob enjoyed cheering on the Cornhuskers, especially women’s volleyball and football. He loved catching up with family, friends and his Nebraska cousins by phone. Bob loved to laugh and to make others feel at ease by making them laugh. He never met a stranger and no one could refuse him when he asked, “You got time for a joke?” Even during his last hospital stay, he ministered to staff with his humor, kindness and singing. He enjoyed watching sports and British comedies and dramas on TV and going for drives in the countryside, always marveling at God’s creation.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Irene Wedergren; his sister Bonnie; and his beloved wife Lucy. He is survived by three children: John, Jim and wife Pam, and Ruth. He is also survived by grandchildren Rachel Schmutz, Sean Schmutz, and Kelli Cervantez and husband Manuel; and great-grandchildren Alexis Green, Kevin Range, Elliott Cervantez, and Andrew Cervantez.

The family wishes to extend its love and gratitude to Dexter Guice and the staff of Victorious Assisted Living in Santa Fe, Tami Nelson and caregiver Katina of Griswold Home Care, and North Star Hospice for the care and joy they brought to Bob.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 also at Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque with Pastor David Buco officiating. Graveside service will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Dickinson.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a memorial to Faith Lutheran Church, 800 FM 517 Road East, Dickinson, TX 77539 or the charity of your choice.

Whether you knew him as Rev. Bob, Pastor Bob, Brother Bob, Mr. Bob or Bob-bob, he would wish you “Blessings in Jesus coming and going.”