William Gary Kobs

He was a giant, not just in physical stature but also in his heart. William Gary Kobs loved language (he taught me five dollar words like “oilily lugubrious”) and he was ruthless around the Scrabble board! He loved adventure and travel. He adored my sister which endeared him to us. His love of music and the performing arts were legendary…I will always treasure his rendition of “Old Man River.” I shall miss him but I will always treasure those extraordinary times we shared…he was my brother(in law) and my friend. Love you, “Ol Gar”

Gary was a talented man who loved and served the Triune God throughout his lifetime. Gary was the major influence in my attending seminary. It indeed has been a God given privilege and pleasure to call him Friend for close to 35 years. Ol Gar rest in the arms of Jesus Christ faithful servant.

Jeff, I really enjoyed meeting and singing with your dad. He was so proud of your hard work and love for your patients. I know you will miss him dearly. I am sorry your heart is breaking-I also know God will heal your pain. Chris and Denise

Thought I’d share a quick view of Pastor Gary‘s journey from Seminary to his retirement. This was written 2008 for his 50th anniversary of ordination: “I salute that tall, thin, newly-minted, so-young Lutheran Pastor with horn-rimmed glasses, who served his first church as interim in Indian Village of Detroit while awaiting his assignment as an ELCA mission pastor, with responsibility for doing everything it takes to establish a new church from the ground up, working with only a small core of potential members at the start. (Interesting that Detroit was Gary's hometown! ) From Detroit, his Call sent him to Ohio to develop a mission church near Toledo OH—Providence Lutheran Church, now a thriving congregation of 400. A few years later, he accepted a Call to a small town in Wisconsin. He called it “Camelot.” He learned to love small town life as he served at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Richland Center. Next he was called from the comfort and familiarity of “Camelot”—quite unsuspecting—into a valley of strife during the Viet Nam era. (Whitewater WI, First English) Univ student protestors, Old Main bldg. burned, tempers flaring. Not yet 40 years old, he was forced to learn the hard way how to minister to a divided church and a divided town. A few years later, not a moment too soon, came a blessed reprieve. His Call offered “Camelot #2” in the big city—Milwaukee’s Kingo Lutheran. Then in 1981 another surprise! The Holy Spirit had yet one more Call for this veteran Pastor, nearing a half-century of service. Fortune smiled! Mature & experienced, he was finally able to minister in a city that had always been at top of his Wish-List of places to live and serve—Madison, Wisconsin. . . at Trinity Lutheran, renown for its beautiful music and its superb Minister of Music, Arlyn Fuerst, Congratulations, Pastor WGKobs, on your 50th Anniversary of Ordination. (1-29-2022 I assume he is now singing with the Heavenly Hosts & absolutely loving it! For anyone curious to see photos & get a full sense of Gary' s life journey, just google the churches' websites. The mission church he established in Ohio has an absolutely beautiful , non-traditional stained glass chancel area. The other churches are beautiful also.)

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