Obituary of Rev. James Elmshauser

JAMES MALCOLM ELMSHAUSER On July 22, 1946, James Malcolm Elmshauser, second son of Rev. Milton and Helen Elmshauser, was born in Wray, CO. His father was the pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray and St. John's Lutheran Church in nearby Vernon. He attended elementary school in Wray and graduated from eighth grade in Monte Vista where his father became pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Jim attended Monte Vista High School for three years with high academic marks. He would receive more than one All-State Band and Top-of -the-Nation Band appointments for his musical ability as well. He graduated from La Junta High School in May of 1964 where the family had moved. He then enrolled for the fall semester at St. Paul’s (Junior) College in Concordia, MO. He graduated from St. Paul’s in 1966 and registered at what was then Concordia Senior College in Ft. Wayne, IN. Completing senior college requirements, he received his B.S degree in 1968. He enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in the fall of 1968 where he worked part-time jobs with a local caterer, sang in the Concordia Seminary Chorus and played his trumpet on several pieces when they toured. After two years of seminary instruction, Jim received a year-long vicarage assignment to St. John Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois. There he met the second-grade teacher, Mary Margaret McChesney. She became his wife and life-long partner in 1971, when they were married on March 20 in Dundee, IL. Through good times and bad, Jim and Mary were truly partners in love, who thoroughly enjoyed each others company. After receiving his Masters of Divinity degree from the seminary in 1972, Jim was ordained by his father at Trinity Lutheran in La Junta, CO and then accepted a call to become the assistant pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ft. Collins, CO. Three children were born to Jim and Mary in those years in Ft. Collins. Rebecca Marie was born in 1973, Michael James in 1977, and Elizabeth Ann in 1979. In 1982 Jim accepted a call to serve as the pastor of Zion Lutheran in Flagler and Immanuel Lutheran in Arriba, CO. Jim would serve those congregations for the next thirty-four years. He was known in those rural communities as a friendly man and down-to-earth pastor who exhibited great care for people, and he and Mary made many friends. His family and friends alternatively laughed and groaned at the great fun he had with the English language and his dry humor. He played in several community instrumental groups, sang in a community choir and is often remembered for playing “taps” at the cemetery during Memorial Day celebrations. Because of his great love for animals, both four-footed and two, an apt nick-name for Pastor Jim could be St. Francis of the high plains. On the evening of Thursday, March 10, 2016, Jim was still laboring for his Savior, giving confirmation instruction as he was being called home. He died in the hospital at Hugo, CO. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children: Rebecca, Michael, and Elizabeth. Three brothers: Dale, John, and Mark and granddaughters Alecia and Kylie.