Rev. Paul Borgman

The Reverend Doctor Paul Lyle Borgman, only child of Lyle C.N. Borgman and Ruth R.(Strauss) Borgman was born in Oshkosh, WI on March 21, 1946. He attended elementary school there until 1960, when he began his secondary education at Concordia High School, Milwaukee. He remained at Concordia until he had completed Junior College and earned his A.A. in 1966. Next, he entered Concordia Senior College in Ft. Wayne, IN. He graduated in 1968 with a Major in English Literature. He entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1968 to begin his studies for the Pastoral Ministry. He graduated with his Master of Divinity Degree in 1972. Subsequently, he studied at Nashotah House Seminary where he obtained a Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1985. Finally, he returned to Concordia Seminary St. Louis where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. He married Miss Patricia E. Hartmeister in St. Louis, MO on the day after his seminary graduation, May 27, 1972. His first congregation was St. John’s Lutheran Church in Winsted, MN where he served from July, 1972 to June, 1978. It was during his pastorate in Winsted that his three sons, Michael Patrick, Joel Paul and Stephen John were born. In 1978, Paul became pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord, MN. Next, in 1982, Paul and Pat and their sons moved to Oconomowoc, WI where he began his life of pastoral service to the members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In addition to congregation service and leadership, Paul was on the Worship Committee of the South Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and served as term as a Vice-President of the District. He left St. Paul’s in 2009 to become Director of Development at Lutheran Counseling and Family Services and returned to St. Paul’s in 2010 as part-time Pastor, at which time he was named Pastor Emeritus. His final sermons were preached in Dec. 2017 at which time he experienced health concerns that convinced him he could no longer serve in the professional ministry. However, he continued to serve behind the scenes as needed. During his ministry at St. Paul’s, congregation membership grew to over 2000 souls. The congregation began offering the Lord’s Supper at all weekend worship services and the opportunity to offer communion to children before their confirmation was initiated. St. Paul’s celebrated 125th and 150th Anniversary years in Oconomowoc and Worship Festivals were held for ALL the members to come together in one special service to celebrate their unity of Faith . The Sanctuary underwent a major renovation and the Ministry Addition was built to house our Early Childhood Center, new classrooms and library, and offices. Ministries that the congregation initiated included affiliation with Lutheran Family and Children’s Service for counseling services, Stephen Ministry, and specific ministry for women and seniors. Paul goes to heaven before his wife, Pat, and his children, Michael and Tracy née Faherty, Joel and Brenda née Verhage, and Stephen and Kapri née Kazik and his dear grand-children, Macie and Bryant, Emma, and Phillip. He also will await the many children of our Lord whom he has known, loved, and cared for throughout his life and professional career and will greet those who have gone before him.