Carl Armin Viehe

The Reverend Dr. Carl Armin Viehe, 93, of Bridgman died November 4, 2010 in St. Joseph, Michigan. He was born on May 29, 1917 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Martha Elizabeth (Wulfman) and the Reverend Albert Edward Viehe. He grew up in Hamburg, New York, where his father was the Pastor of St. James United Church of Christ. He was educated at the University of Michigan, Michigan Law School, Yale Divinity School and Oxford University, receiving his Doctorate of Ministry from Drew University. He was drafted into Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector, serving during World War II at Presbyterian Hospital in New York. He was ordained in New York City by the Congregational-Christian Churches (now the United Church of Christ). He served churches in Washington State, Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Amherst, NY from 1959 to 1982. Dr. Viehe served as moderator of the Western New York Association of the United Church of Christ and was a member of the Board for World Ministries of the denomination. He served as President of the Western New York chapter of the Americans for Democratic Action. He was also one of the founders of the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service which provided assistance to the visually impaired and on the board of the Catholic Center for Justice in Buffalo. He had his own radio show on WKBW during his retirement, and wrote book reviews for the Buffalo Courier-Express for over 20 years. Dr. Viehe married Mary Louise Spratt in 1954 in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1990 they retired to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he was a member of the Writers' Group of the Chapel Hill Senior Center and contributed to its four books as well as to numerous other books and religious journals as a poet, hymn writer and author. They enjoyed many summers at Chautauqua Institution in New York and also traveled extensively. In 2003, he moved to Bridgman and resided at Woodland Terrace. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Theodore, and his wife Mary Louise in 1999. He is survived by his children Carolyn (Randy) Voss of St. Joseph, Michigan and Stephen (Carol) Viehe of Wexford, Pennsylvania. He leaves three grandchildren, Stephanie Voss, Andrew and Matthew Viehe as well as a niece and three nephews. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in St, Joseph, Michigan. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Memorial contributions may be made to Chautauqua Institution, P.O Box 28, Chautauqua, NY 14722 (www.ciweb.org).