Jack was born Nov. 25, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wis. Jack received an engineering degree from the University of Marquette, and worked for the City of Milwaukee where he met the love of his life, Louine “Lou” Ruth Peterson (born 1930, died May 11, 2023) of Clintonville, Wis. At about the same time, he felt the calling to be a minister in the Lutheran Church and attended Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis.

After graduating the seminary in 1958, Jack, along with Lou, served at First Lutheran Church in Hunter, N.D., Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota, Minn. and Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont, Minn. After Jack’s retirement in 1993, Jack and Lou lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas, before moving to Denver, Colorado to be closer to their daughter, Sonja, son, Peder and the Rocky Mountains.

They were active in the Lord of the Valley Lutheran Church in Winter Park, Colo. and Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver, Colo. Jack and Lou enjoyed traveling, camping, the great outdoors, socializing with friends and their many grandchildren.

Jack lived 343 days without his beloved Lou and is happy to be with her again in heaven. They are survived by daughters, Greta Olson of Fairmont, Minn., Sonja Berdahl (Paul) of Castle Rock, Colo., and Kari Thorstensen (Joel Hinman) of New York City; son, Peder Thorstensen (Pam) of Berthoud, Colo.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a gift in Jack’s memory to the Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund, Hope Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 87, Minneota, MN 56264. (hopeminneota.org).

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