May 4, 2022
Dear friends in Christ,Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is with sadness that I report to you the death of the Rev. Phillip Laurin on Saturday, April 30, 2022.Pastor Laurin was born September 22, 1934, in Mt. Vernon, New York, and married Amy Dean Staples on September 8, 1962. After graduating from high school in New York, Pastor Laurin attended Augustana College, Rock Island, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended North Park Seminary, in Chicago and received his Master of Divinity and was ordained in the Covenant Church.Pastor Laurin’s first call was to First Covenant Church in Lockport, Illinois, from 1960-1966. Pastor Laurin then joined the rolls of the Lutheran Church in America and served at Trinity Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois, from 1966-1969. Pastor Laurin went on to serve St. Stephens Lutheran Church, in Antioch, Illinois, from 1969-1979. His last call was to Messiah Lutheran Church, in Galva, Illinois, from 1979-2000. He retired in 2000.Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church, 317 SW 3rd Street, Galva. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 5, from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Rux Funeral Home, 313 Market Street, Galva. Rostered ministers are invited to vest and process. The color is white.As the church we offer our sympathy to his family and friends and because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we rejoice in God’s promise of eternal life, comfort, and hope.Walking with you,
The Rev. Jeffrey ClementsBishopNorthern Illinois Synod, ELCA
