Rev. Dr. Steven Witte was called home to heaven unexpectedly on Sunday, June 30, 2024. He died in a tragic house fire that also took the lives of two of his daughters, Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl, as well as three of his granddaughters. Witte was in the USA on furlough from Thailand, and he was gathering with his family at a vacation rental home.
Witte served as president of Asia Lutheran Seminary from 2009-2023. Since 2021 he was the team leader for the WELS Asia One Team. Prior to his work in Asia, he served WELS churches in New London and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Witte’s obituary states: “He was faithful, creative, and humble in carrying out God’s mission—sharing the Gospel of Christ to many, many people in Asia and beyond.”
In a special message shared on July 1, WELS President Mark Schroeder noted: “The pain of losing six members of one family cannot be described with words. The only thing that can begin to bring comfort in such a time of grievous loss are the words that God himself speaks to us. Those words remind us that these members of our extended WELS family are now resting in perfect joy and peace at the side of their Savior. Because he lives, they also live. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’ (John 11:25,26). ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’ (1 Corinthians 15:55).”
To help continue Dr. Witte’s legacy, a scholarship fund has been established to assist Asia Lutheran Seminary students who otherwise would be unable to take classes, receive training, and become leaders throughout Asia. The Steve Witte Memorial Scholarship may be found here.
Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
