"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." -Revelation 2:10b

August 16th, 2018.

After 40 years of faithful service to his Lord, Pastor Paul Garchow was carried home to heaven in the arms of Jesus on August 16th, 2018.  God led him so gently through a three year valley of pancreatic cancer. Pastor Paul trusted fully in Jesus for his salvation – and we rejoice that he is now at perfect peace with his Savior!

Pastor Paul loved many aspects of the pastoral ministry and was blessed to shepherd the people of God at St. Paul's Janesville, WI; St. John's Mattoon, IL; Christ the Rock, Rockford, IL and at his spiritual home, Immanuel Lutheran in Belvidere, IL.  As pastor emeritus, he could be found teaching Sunday morning Bible class, making home visits and preaching on Wednesday nights.

Christian education was a passion of Pastor Paul's, and his decades of confirmation students were always close to his heart.  A major highlight of his ministry was the year and a half he spent teaching freshman and junior religion classes at Rockford Lutheran High School.  Pastor Paul loved to stay in touch with his students, both young and old, especially through social media.

Pastor Paul was greeted in heaven by his parents and grandparents.  Waiting here on earth for their heavenly reunion with him are his loving wife of 44 years, Christine, daughter Bethany and son – in - law Craig, daughter Krista, beloved grandchildren Hope, Daniel and Joy, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and so many brothers and sisters in Christ.

The family of Pastor Paul gives all the glory to God for the miraculous three years they received since his cancer diagnosis in 2015.  It would be so easy to want more time with this amazing man of God, but as all of Pastor Paul's confirmation students can quote:

"Life is not fair.  Deal with it." 1 Garchow 5:13

And how amazingly unfair our God is, giving us His son Jesus to make a way to heaven for all who would believe!  That we will all one day say as Pastor Paul did:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."- 2 Timothy 4:7

The Celebration of Life service for Pastor Paul will be:

Saturday, August 25th, 2018

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, IL

Visitation: 10:00 – 2:00

Worship Service: 2:00

All guests are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall for a luncheon immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be shared between various Lutheran educational ministries.