Pastor Van V. Bredeson passed away on October 30, 2014, surrounded by loving friends and family. He was born March 7th, 1960 in Crookston, Minnesota to Vern and Jeanette Bredeson. He was raised in Rochester, Minnesota, where he attended Rochester Public Schools and Bethel Lutheran Church. He graduated from St. Olaf College in 1982 and Luther Theological Seminary in 1986 with a Masters of Divinity. He also achieved a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. In 1982 he married Kathie Peterson, and they had two daughters, Megan and Kaitlyn. Van served congregations of Bethany Lutheran Church of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Bethel Lutheran of Hudson, Wisconsin, St. Phillips of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and Christ Lutheran of Somerset, Wisconsin. Van is survived by his wife, two daughters, his mother Jeanette Bredeson-Rysavy (and husband Otto), his sister Gwen Smith (Bruce), brother Lynn Bredeson (Debbie), brother Lonnie Bredeson (Linda Jo), and Holli Johnson (Jay). He is also survived by his father-in-law Merle Peterson (Betty), sister-in-law Julie (Alan), brother-in-law Joe (Liz), and sister-in-law Amy (Russ), as well as many loving aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Vern Bredeson and his mother-in-law Delores Peterson.

Van was a faithful and devoted husband, father, and son; a loving and fun-loving brother and uncle; a dear friend, mentor, and Pastor to many. We will all miss him dearly.

How can we measure the love we have received from you, Van? You did not burden today with tomorrow’s cares and troubles. You kept in safekeeping the dwelling place of God within you. You safeguarded your Lord and Savior and in joy you generously shared your love of God. You sought to live a life of compassion; not from a lofty, removed spot, but from a place where faith issues were acute and relevant.

For many of us, a life of faith has a tendency to be removed or can only be a philosophical pursuit. Van was gifted with the ability to bring faith into focus, using Christ as the focal point, and allowing the composition to be our choosing. Van was compassionate and joy-filled; not a perfection seeker, but one who sought Christ as a grace-filled seeker. We are grateful and rejoice in Van’s gifts and his love of Christ, family, and friends.

Van was a devoted husband and family man. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his girls, whether it was playing with Barbie dolls, fishing at the cabin, reading to them daily, or having his hair put in ponytails. He was always there for them in any and all ways they needed. He enjoyed woodworking, communing with nature, singing, playing guitar, and reading. Humor and wit was an integral part of his personality: he loved a good joke and was always discovering puns for everyone to groan at.

On the night that he passed away, we sang to him, “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.” Van is now a reminder that our time on Earth is but a tiny slice of life. He now lives a far greater life in the presence of Christ.

Well done, good and faithful servant. Our “Good-bye” is your “Welcome home.”

A Visitation will take place 4:00-7:00 PM Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at Bethel Lutheran Church – Highlands Campus, 504 Frontage Rd., Hudson, WI with a 7:00 PM campfire sing-a-long service outside the church. Funeral Services will take place 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Bethel Lutheran Church – Highlands Campus. Family and Friends may gather one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Willow River Cemetery.

The family has not yet finalized how they prefer to honor Van with Memorials. Know that they will be used for furthering the education of Youth and for the continued Ministry of the Churches that Van has served faithfully.