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CHAPIN — Rev. Clarence Hentz Stucke, 90, passed away Jan. 17, 2013, at the Heritage at Lowman.

Born in Charleston, he was the son of the late Clarence Henry Stucke and Caroline Hentze Stucke. Rev. Stucke graduated from Newberry College in 1943 and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1945. He served the following congregations as pastor: Fairfax Parish, Fairfax; St. Phillips, Newberry; Faith, Batesburg; Mission Developer of first Pastor of Transfiguration, Cayce; St. Paul, Decatur, Ga.; Redeemer, Savannah, Ga.; and Colony, Newberry. After 42 years of active parish ministry, Rev. Stucke retired. He then served as the interim pastor for several churches in South Carolina Midlands area. He became a member of Reformation Lutheran Church after serving there as interim pastor.

While serving as pastor for 19 years at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Savannah, Ga., Rev. Stucke served on various synodical operational committees and as a district dean. He was a chaplain to the Port City Lions Club, the Chatham Artillery, the Savannah Volunteer Guards, and the First Regiment of Georgia. He served as president of the Memorial Medical Center volunteer chaplains and was chaplain of the German Heritage Society where he was a charter member. He also served for several years as the Islands Fire Department chaplain and drove the fire truck. Rev. Stucke retired from the Army Reserve and the National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel after twenty-five years of service.

Those who knew Rev Stucke admired his zest for life, sense of humor, and his deep religious devotion. He inspired and comforted many during his long ministry. His legacy lives on in both his pastoral flock and his family.

Rev. Stucke is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy McLeod Stucke; one daughter, Lynn S. Springs of Chapin; two sons, Gregg L. (Ann) Stucke of Alpharetta, Ga.; Carl H. (Claudia) Stucke of Decatur, Ga.; grandchildren, Jennifer S. (Dave) Leininger of Summerville; Stephen A. (Alison) Springs of Seneca; Clare S. (Russell) Steen of Atlanta, Ga.; Katherine A. Stucke of Columbus, Ohio; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Clarence Hentze Stucke will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Colony Lutheran Church cemetery, 48 Colony Church Road, Newberry, SC 29108. After the interment the family will again receive friends in the Crossen Fellowship Hall. South Carolina Synod Bishop Herman Yoos and Rev. Jim Nichols will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the Reformation Lutheran Church Organ Fund; the Colony Lutheran Church Bus Van Fund; Newberry College Office of Institutional Advancement, 2100 College Street, Newberry, SC 29108; and the Clarence H. Stucke Endowed Scholarship, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 4201 N. Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203.

The family expresses their appreciation to the staff at the Heritage at Lowman and Lutheran Hospice for their compassion and care for Rev. Stucke.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com.

Whitaker Funeral Home of Chapin is assisting the family.