Reverend John A. Cantele, 76, of Marshall went home to be with the Lord and Savior on Monday, November 26, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family.
Pastor was born on December 27, 1941 in Rockford, Illinois to Dominico and Geraldine (Weddle) Cantele. He graduated from Upland High School in California in 1959. Pastor graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Idaho University in Psychology and later from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Forestry. He served in the United States Navy for eight years serving a tour in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1972. On September 27, 1972 he married Carolyn G. Currin in Miami.
Pastor started working for International Paper Company in Mississippi and would retire after 29 years in Savannah Georgia. While working for the paper company, he completed the Lay Ministry program at Concordia Milwaukee University in 1997, and he was immediately called to serve as vacancy pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Oxford, Mississippi. After serving there for 20 months he moved to Georgia and served three different congregations and assisted at Trinity Lutheran Church in Savannah. In 2004, after retiring from International Paper Company he started in the DELTO program at the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. In 2005 he was called back to Oxford Mississippi as the DELTO Vicar at Peace Lutheran Church, and he was ordained and installed as their pastor in 2007.
After his retirement in 2015, Pastor and his wife Carolyn moved to Marshall to be closer to family. He was the Interim Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion until his death. Pastor was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Christ Lutheran Church, he served as chaplain of the Battle Creek Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron, and chaplain at Oaklawn Hospital. He enjoyed reading and learning and seemed to find himself at any college class in whatever town he was living in. Recently his love of photography kept him busy as a student at Kellogg Community College's Photography program.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn of Marshall; daughters, Michele (Stan) Adamus, of Annandale, Virginia, Christy (William) Sanders of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Maria (Keith) Kruchten of Rockford, Illinois; grandchildren, Ryan (Kenize) Adamus, Zachary Adamus, Ben Sanders, Abby Sanders, Cooper Kruchten, and Grace Kruchten. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Thomas and Timothy.
Family will greet friends on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 from 9:30-10:30am at Zion Lutheran Church 135 West Green Street Marshall with a funeral service taking place at 10:30am with Reverend Anthony Voltatonni and Reverend David Boedecker officiating. Family will gather with friends following the services at the Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Interment will take place at 2:30pm at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to Wounded Warrior Project. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guest book at www.kempffuneralhome.com
Visitation
DEC
11.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Zion Lutheran Church
135 West Green Street
Marshall, MI, 49068
Service
DEC
11.
10:30 AM
Zion Lutheran Church
135 West Green Street
Marshall, MI, 49068
Luncheon Immediately Following Services
DEC
11.
11:30 AM
Zion Lutheran Church
135 West Green Street
Marshall, MI, 49068
Burial
DEC
11.
2:30 PM (EST)
Fort Custer National Cemetery
Augusta, MI, 49012