Funeral Arrangements for
Rev. Donald Deines

Dear Friends,

I am sad to report the death of the Reverend Donald Deines, 65, on Sunday, June 6th after a long illness. Visitation is Thursday, June 10th at Clasen Jordan Mortuary, 209 2nd Ave NW, Austin, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be Friday, June 11th at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1600 W Oakland Ave, Austin at 1:30 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date in Mason City, Iowa.

Pastor Deines is survived by his wife of 42 years, Judy, two sons, a daughter, and four beloved grandchildren. Messages of condolence can be addressed to Judy and the family at 888 Cannon Valley Dr, Northfield, MN 55057.

Don was a graduate of Luther College and Luther Seminary and was ordained in 1971. He served St. John, LeMars, Iowa; Emmanuel, Tacoma, Washington; Underwood, Underwood, Iowa; and Bethel, Rochester, Minnesota. He was senior pastor at Our Savior's, Austin when he was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's disease that required him to discontinue his work as a pastor in 2004. Don loved being a pastor, especially the people part of ministry and the preaching. In 2008 his family published a book of Don's sermons. In the Foreword to the book Rev. Herb Brokering wrote:

Don sometimes speaks like a mystic, often like a child, like Peter the brave follower and often like John the poet. All life was the language of God. He knew and loved the Scriptures, loved the stories of salvation in the Bible, in his parishes and in faith stories of Greene, Iowa. God spoke through nature and all creation, especially through the pain and laughter of God's people.

Don was dearly loved by his family, friends and parishioners. God's peace, joy, love and grace were reflected in Don's life and ministry...it is the song he always sang. "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Psalm 104

Shalom,

Harold Usgaard
Bishop