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Faculty Emeritus Enters Church Triumphant
December 24, 2008
The Rev. Dr. Robert J. Marshall 
former President of the Lutheran Church in America, one of the predecessor church bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, died on Monday, December 22, 2008, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Rev. Dr. Marshall was former President of the Illinois Synod, and has served as Senior Associate at the Center for Global Mission of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
During his professional career, he served as President of Lutheran World Relief, member of the Board of Directors, President of Church World Service, and Vice-Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid in USAID. He has also served as finance moderator of the World Council of Churches, Vice President of the Lutheran World Federation, and on boards of several colleges, hospitals, and social service agencies. He was former professor of Old Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Alhambra, California, and author of The Mighty Acts of God, and several other publications.
The Rev. Dr. Marshall is a graduate of Wittenberg University and The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He earned a PHD from the University of Chicago and during his professional life, received fifteen honorary doctorates and several awards of commendation.
He will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Dorothy Fisher, children, Robert Marshall and Peggy Niederer, and grandchildren, Robert, James, and Joseph Marshall, and Christopher, Eric, and Gloria Niederer, great-grandson, Alexander Niederer, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. The Rev. Dr. Marshall was predeceased in death by his wife, Dr. Alice Marshall, parents, Robert and Margaret Marshall, and granddaughter, Melissa Marshall.
Arrangements are being handled by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Prugh Funeral Service, Burlington, Iowa. Visitation will be held only at Prugh Funeral Service, 317-319 North Fourth Street, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, January 3, 2009, at 10 – 11 AM. Immediately following the visitation at Prugh, there will be a service conducted by The Rev. Dr. Marshall’s daughter, The Rev. Peggy Niederer. Memorial Services will be scheduled in the New Year.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the “Robert J. Marshall Scholarship Fund” at The Lutheran School of Theological at Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago IL 60615.
