Don Wesley Fastenau

Don Wesley Fastenau was born on March 30, 1938, in St. James, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Bernice (Ekstrom) Fastenau. He grew up on the family farm near St. James, and attended District 23 Country School for grades 1-7. He graduated from St. James High School in 1956, from Northwestern College, Watertown (WI) in 1961, and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon (WI) in 1965. He married Clarice Panning on June 13, 1965, in Lannon (WI). He served as the pastor of St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Platteville (WI) and Faith Lutheran Church, Lancaster (WI) (1965-1969); a missionary for the Lutheran Church of Central Africa, Lusaka, Zambia, Africa (1969-1980); a teacher at Arizona Lutheran Academy, Phoenix (AZ) (1980 – 1988); and the pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakeville (MN) (1988-2003). He was a teacher at Emanuel Hmong Lutheran Seminary (1996-2003) and also a member of the WELS World Mission Committee for Mission Expansion (1991-2003). He retired to his home farm north of St. James (MN) in 2003, where he was an active member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church, teaching Bible classes and visiting shut-ins. Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family. Don died on November 17, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Clarice Fastenau of St. James; daughters, Andrea and husband, Pastor Brad Wordell, of Mequon (WI); Laura and husband, Pastor Ross Stelljes, of New Ulm (MN); and Rebecca and husband, Pastor Paul Koelpin, also of New Ulm (MN); 13 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one grandson. In Lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. Pauls Church in St. James, WELS World Missions, or Martin Luther College. Visitation 1 9:30 am - 11:00 am Saturday, November 24, 2018 St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, St. James 315 9th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, November 24, 2018 St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, St. James 315 9th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081