Milford Brelje

Reverend Milford "Mel" Brelje, 84 Reverend Mel Brelje entered eternal life with Jesus on August 21, 2010. Born in Steeleville, Illinois, December 9, 1925, he moved with his parents and two brothers to Orange, California in 1927. Reverend Brelje married Annette C. Mueller on August 16, 1952. He received his undergraduate degree from Concordia College in Oakland, California, his Masters of Divinity and Masters of Sacred Theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and a Masters in Counseling from Indiana University in Bloomington. Reverend Brelje was founding pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Gilroy, California, past editor of the California and Nevada Lutheran, director of the Lutheran Service Center for U.S. military personnel at the Tachikawa Air Base in Japan during the Korean War, and was pastor of the English-speaking congregation at the Lutheran Center in downtown Tokyo. He was first resident pastor of Mount Tabor Lutheran Church in Manchester, Missouri (suburb of St. Louis) and wrote a devotional booklet for the Lutheran Laymens League during that time. From 1964 through 1978 he was a counselor and professor at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then spent a years residency in pastoral care at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois and became a chaplain at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford for the next 20 years until his retirement. Reverend Brelje is survived by his children Christopher (Linda) Brelje of Goodyear, Arizona, Jonathan (Valerie) Brelje of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Lisa (Jeff) Whitgrove of Rockford, Illinois,; grandchildren, Kate and Tyler Brelje, Kyle Whitgrove, Tanner and Cooper Brelje and brother, Walter Brelje of Santa Rosa, California. He is predeceased by his parents, wife, Anne and brother, Oliver Brelje. Thanks and blessings to caregiver Sophie and hospice nurse, Valerie; you are truly the Lords angels. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 600 N. Horsman, Rockford, Illinois 61101 on Saturday, September 25 at 2:00 p.m. with a visitation preceding at 1:00 p.m. Reverends David Thies and Lawrence Yaw of St. Paul Lutheran Church will officiate. Reverend Edward Wessling currently residing in Arizona and Northern California, a classmate and friend of Mel Brelje since 1939 will deliver the homily. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church and Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center, 4215 Newburg Road, Rockford, Illinois, 61108. Arrangements were completed by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Express condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com