Reinhold Pudel

Reinhold Reinhold Pudel was born on December 04, 1925 in Wsiewolodowka, Kreis Luck, Poland. He was the second youngest of 7 children who grew up on the family farm. Being the youngest son along with his younger sister they spent the summers out in the fields looking after the livestock. When the Second World War began, circumstances eventually brought about relocation by the family to the Warthegau Region. Losing their father in 1940 the mother was left with the children to continue farming. In 1943 at 17 he went into the Reichsarbeitsdienst and 7 months later when he turned eighteen he was drafted into the German army and was sent to the Western front in France. Here he experienced Gods wonderful protection in sparing his life on numerous occasions. Close to end of the war he became a POW and eventually was sent to Scotland. Here he remained for some three years. During this time he was offered a position as a cook for the British Signal School. He was sent on a 6 week course and then embarked on his new venture. In the camp he also made contact with some Christians and he was introduced to the truths of the Gospel. He was interested and began to study his Bible. In 1948 he was then released from his captivity and came back to Germany to then live again with his family. Here he began as an apprentice baker, which he worked at for 6 months, to then quit and take up an apprenticeship as an auto mechanic. He almost finished his apprenticeship but suddenly ended it when he decided to immigrate to the USA in 1951. During these few years in Germany he attended the services of the Church of God, meeting in a home. It was here during special services that he found full salvation in Jesus Christ. In September 1951 he left Bremerhaven by ship for New York and then came to St. Joseph, Michigan. This became his new home for the next years. After working for Leco Plating for about 3 weeks he then got a job with Whirlpool. He found his new spiritual home at the Highland Avenue Church of God in Benton Harbor and soon he wanted to be baptized in obedience to the Word of God and so his request was fulfilled in the river by Pastor Henry Fisher. The next year on June 21, 1952 he married Erna Gross, who had recently also come from Germany. In December of the next year their first child Siegfried was born. Three years later a second son Kurt was born and in 1957 the family made a move to Racine, Wisconsin. It was here that Reinhold got a job with the J.I. Case Company and was well able to provide for his family. Here four daughters were added to the family. By 1971 the family sold their home in Racine and made an extended vacation to Germany. After 11 months in Germany, Reinhold returned to the USA and made his new home again in St. Joseph, MI. Here he found new employment with Benton Harbor Engineering where he stayed until he retired at the age of 65 in 1990. His retirement years were spent at home gardening, and enjoying his children and grandchildren and also undertook a number of trips and vacations to visit at different times. For many years he worshiped at the German Church of God in Benton Harbor. When the church eventually shut its doors due to the lack of a pastor, he opened his home for a number of years for the German saints to continue to meet for worship in a house setting. He loved to attend the various church conventions and for years he served as head cook at the annual Church Camp-meeting in Swartz Creek, Michigan. He served his Lord and Savior faithfully for over 60 years. He truly loved his God and Gods church with all his heart. His last couple of years he lived in the homes of his daughters Heidi and Elisabeth where he was lovingly cared for due to a deteriorating heart condition. His earthly journey came to an end on March 9, 2013 in Saint Joseph, MI due to heart failure. He leaves to mourn his passing his 6 children and spouses: Siegfried and Margit Kurt and Erika Elisabeth and husband Mike Braamse Heidi and husband Larry Heald Linda and husband Chris Douglas Inge and husband Oliver Spatschek; as well as 17 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren; his former wife Erna Pudel and one sister Lotte both in Germany and a number of nieces and nephews as well as countless brothers and sisters in the Lord.