PASTOR ROBERT EK

Pastor Robert Ek, 74, of Nickel Lake, Ont., passed away as a result of an accident near his residence Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002.
Born and raised in rural southern Minnesota, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Mn., following a brief term of service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
He later attended Augustana Lutheran Seminary in Rock Island, Ill., graduating in 1956.
During his seminary training, he met his wife, Siv (Hånninger) in New York City. They were married in 1956 in Trimont, Mn. Robert and Siv then moved to Canada immediately following his ordination as a Lutheran minister, and he served in churches in Camrose, Alta., Regina, Sask., Thompson, Man., and Kenora, Ont.
In Red Deer, Alta., he developed a new mission which resulted in the establishment of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. His final full-time ministry was at Zion Lutheran in Fort Frances, Ont.
He retired officially in 1997 after 41 years of full-time service to the church. He continued, however, to serve parishes in Northwestern Ontario and northern Minnesota until his death.
He and his wife built and have lived in their home on Nickel Lake near Fort Frances since 1993.
He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Selma Ek.
Pastor Ek is survived by his wife, Siv, of Nickel Lake, Ont.; seven children, Nathan (Elizabeth) of Uxbridge, Ont., Nils (Cynthia) of Pointe-Clair, Que., Carl of Toronto, Ont., Daniel (Janet) of Thunder Bay, Ont., Lisa (Darcy) Hermary of Red Deer, Alta., Darren of Calgary, Alta., and Charlotte Ek of Innisfail, Alta.; and several grandchildren.
He also is survived by two brothers, Leland Ek (Marilyn), and Lowell Ek (Peggy); four sisters, Lucille (Thorvald) Olson, Leone Lokkesmoe, Marian Johnson, and Muriel (Albert) Armbrust; and one aunt, Eva Olson, all of whom live in Minnesota; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances, with Bishop Richard Smith and Pastor Brian Keffer officiating.
Interment will take place in the First Lutheran Church Cemetery in Trimont, Mn.
Friends may visit Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002 from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances.
Pallbearers will be Nathan, Nils, Carl, Daniel, and Darren Ek, and Darcy Hermary.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to Global Hunger and Development Appeal, c/o the Zion Lutheran Church, 1105 Scott St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 1J7.