Reverend Robert E. "Bob" Nale

Robert E. Nale died June 8, 2012, in his home. He was born on November 16, 1926 in Altoona Pa. to Harry E. and Edna Mae Nale. Bob graduated from Altoona High School, class of 1944. However, he had been released in February of that year to begin attending the Altoona Undergraduate Center of Penn State. After four terms at AUC, he transferred to Gettysburg College in the summer of 1945. Graduated from there in August , 1946 and entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary in September.. Graduated from seminary on May 13, 1949 and was ordained by the Central Pennsylvania Synod of the United Lutheran Church at York, Pa. on May 24, 1949. One June 1, he became the pastor of Zion LC in Marysville, Pa and Christ Lutheran Church in Duncannon, Pa. He was married to Lucille M. Rockey on August 6, 1949. Two boys, Martin R. and William H., were born in 1954 and 1956. On July 1, 1956, he became Pastor of Shiloh Lutheran Church in York Pa. where he stayed for sixteen years. Bob often called these his “golden years”. He left there and became pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio that September. On March 9, 1979, he was married to Sharon A. McMillen at Columbus, by Bishop Ken Sauer of the Ohio Synod. In April,1979, he became Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Youngstown, Ohio. In January of 1984, he returned to York, PA and served as Pastor of the St. James Lutheran church there. He retired after 40 years in the active ministry at York on September 30, 1989 . For over 2 years he served as Visitation Pastor at Advent Lutheran Church in York. From January to June 1990, he conducted worship services at Friedensaal Lutheran Church at Seven Valleys, Pa. In October of 1991 he and Sharon decided to make the move to Sandpoint, ID where Sharon’s mother had moved to be closer to her oldest daughter, Deanna James. Sharon left York on October 9, drove across country alone, and within a couple weeks became a teacher in the Bonner County School System. Bob took care of tying up business ends back in York, and followed in January of 1992 and they settled into their home at 1405 W. Main St and became members of 1st Lutheran Church. During the summer of ’92, Pastor Bob supplied at several churches in the area, until the opportunity presented itself that he could serve as part time pastor at the Clark Fork Lutheran church. While serving there, he had two bouts with cancer involving surgery, chemo and radiation, the first in 1999 and the second in 2006. He managed to go back to Clark Fork in February of 2007 and continued to serve there until May 31, 2009, ending exactly 60 years after he started at his first parish back in Pennsylvania. He often said he owed his recovery to his Doctors, to Hospice Care, to the devoted care given by Sharon, and to a deep and abiding faith. He is survived by his wife Sharon, by two sons, Martin (Heidi) of Wantagh NY, and Bill (Charlotte) of Livermore CA. Two stepchildren, Brad (Tammy) McMillen of San Francisco CA and Tricia (Mike) Begrrow of Powell, OH. 3 grandchildren: Stephanie Nale of Silver Springs MD, and Weston and Caleb Nale of Livermore; 4 step grandchildren: Kelly and Tommy McMillen of San Francisco, and Carmen Sanchez and Brynn Rielle Beggrow of Powell, OH. His wife, Sharon, of Sandpoint, ID. A brother, Donald (Virginia)Nale of Phillips Ranch, CA. Several nieces and nephews, and very close cousins in Scotland, David and Jean Nale, with whom he developed a deep relationship through the internet and from several visits before Bob became ill. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at First Lutheran Church, Sandpoint, at 526 Olive Avenue.