The Rev. Ronald Arthur Kreiensieck passed away surrounded by family on March 12, 2022. He resided in Winchester, VA at the time of his death.

The Rev. Ronald A. Kreiensieck (Cry-in-sick) was born in Sacramento, California on August 29, 1946 to Mary E. (Jordan) Kreiensieck and Arthur J. Kreiensieck.  He spent his formative years in Sacramento, California. He attended Sacramento State College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. He continued his education at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, and following an internship at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church Salinas California, he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1972. Reverend Kreiensieck was ordained into the ministerium of the Lutheran Church in America, now known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on June 11, 1972.

Starting in June of 1972, he served at Lord of Mercy Lutheran Church, Sparks, NV, Bethel Lutheran in Templeton, CA, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Fontana, CA. After ten years of parish ministry he was called by the ELCA to serve as a military chaplain with the United States Navy. He served with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three, Port Hueneme CA, Naval Station Mare Island CA, Department of Defense Housing Facilities Novato, CA, Naval Security Group, Skaggs Island, CA; on board the USS WICHITA (AOR1) home ported in Oakland, CA, Naval Station Rota, Spain, Naval Training Center, Nuclear Power School Command, Orlando, FL and Naval Air Station South Weymouth, MA, including Naval Recruiting Command District One (New England), Educational Consortium Boston (Harvard, Cambridge, Boston University and M.I.T), and the USS CONSTITUTION (Old Ironsides). While in the US Navy, Pastor Kreiensieck earned the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Meritorious Service Award and numerous military awards including the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals. He retired after fifteen years of active service with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

He was once again called by the ELCA Division of Outreach to be a mission developer for New Creation Lutheran Church, San Jose, CA in July 1997 where he served for five years.  He was then called to be the pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church North Logan, UT from February 2003 until March 2004.  He served as interim Pastor for Grace Lutheran Church, Bountiful, UT prior to being called to be the pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Clovis, CA in October 2004, where he served until August 2011. He retired from parish ministry in September 2012.

Coming out of retirement, he served as intentional interim pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church Martinsburg, WV from July 2014 until June 2016. In August 2016, he became the interim pastor for Salem Lutheran Church in Boonsboro (Bakersville) MD, retiring in August 2018. Once again coming out of retirement in 2019, he became the part-time interim pastor for Stony Man Lutheran Parish (Grace Lutheran and Beth Eden Lutheran) of Luray, VA.

Pastor Kreiensieck was married 47 years to the late Christina M. (Rand) Kreiensieck of Mishawaka, Indiana, until her death in February 2016.  They have four children; Erik P. Kreiensieck married to Ana I. (Vaughan) Kreiensieck; Kimberly D. Kreiensieck Sewell, married to Rodney Sewell, Bret-Jordan Kreiensieck, married to Marissa (Missy) (Abinanti) Kreiensieck; and Elizabeth  Joy (Libi) (Kreiensieck) Crane married to Adam Crane.  He has four grandchildren: Amber Kreiensieck, Evan Kreiensieck and Amelia Kreiensieck (Erik, Ana) and Annastasia Sewell (Kimberly, Rodney).

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial gifts to the Community Lutheran Partners c/o West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod or Community Lutheran Partners c/o Virginia Synod.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service Friday at 3:00pm at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 26 W. Boscawen St, Winchester, VA 22601.  Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date.