A native of Manawa is the guest speaker at the Veterans Day program to be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Little Wolf Junior and Senior High School.
Rev. Vilas E. Mazemke was educated at Concordia College, Milwaukee, and Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. He then undertook graduate work at Marquette University, Milwaukee.
Upon completion of work at Marquette, Mazemke attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Ill., where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in May 1969. Upon graduation from seminary he went to Army basic training at Fort Hamilton, N.Y.
Mazemke’s professional experience includes founding and developing Concordia Lutheran Church and School in Cerritos, Calif., from 1969 until 1982. He is also credited with reuniting and renewing Grace Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash., from 1982 until 1991. He retired from St. Martin Lutheran Church and School in Clintonville in 2004 after 13 years of service.
Mazemke also served as an Army chaplain with the California National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve for 31 years. During his time with the military, Mazemke was able to attend and successfully complete a number of senior service schools in supervision, administration and professional pastoral development. His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Legion of Merit, which is given only by congressional approval.
Mazemke is presently serving as vacancy pastor for St. John’s Lutheran and Immanuel Lutheran in Caroline. He serves as chaplain for the Greentree Health and Rehabilitation Center in Clintonville and also serves as visitation pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church Manawa.
Mazemke and his wife, Connie, have been married 46 years. They have two children, Eric and Christal, both of whom are married and live in Wisconsin, and six grandchildren.