Carl Bernthal Fickenscher of Spicewood, TX, was called home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at the age of 88. His bride of sixty years, Christine, their children Karen (and husband Charles) Fox, Carl (and wife Claire) Fickenscher, Kathryn (and Dale) Reistad, and Carolyn (and Michael) Hoffmann, and their ten grandchildren and one grandson-in-law look forward to their most glorious family reunion forever in heaven with Christ and all who believe in Him—including son David who entered heaven in 1958.

Mr. Fickenscher became God's child by infant baptism on December 9, 1923 and grew up in Sacramento, CA, son of Rev. Carl and Mrs. Lilly Fickenscher. After serving in the army in Italy during World War II, he completed his education at the University of California-Berkeley and began a career in financial accounting and management in the aerospace and paper industries. In 1965 the family moved to Beaumont, TX, where Fickenscher became chief financial officer of Temple-Eastex, a forest products subsidiary of Time, Inc.

Following Carl's retirement in 1984, Carl and Christine resided in Lakeway, TX, and then Spicewood. He continued to be active in church life, serving as chairman of their congregation and of the board of elders, singing in choir, teaching Bible classes, and traveling regularly to Fort Wayne, IN, as a member of the President's Advisory Council of Concordia Theological Seminary. His faith and the love it brings to the Christian home are reflected on every page of his book, Family Blessings. In 2006 he was honored by the seminary in Fort Wayne with the Miles Christi ("Soldier of Christ") Award as a layman "who in the normal tasks of human life finds opportunity to witness to Jesus and to serve His church with his talents, his time, and his professional competence."

The eternal message of Christ crucified for our salvation was brought to him faithfully throughout his final weeks on earth and will now be proclaimed by his pastors, Rev. Mark Nuckols and Rev. Sherman Stenson, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3501 Red River, Austin, 78705 this Saturday, May 12th, 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, any memorial gifts may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825.