Carl J. Moser

Carl Jerome Moser was born in Oak Grove, Oregon on November 8, 1937, the third son of Jacob and Bertha Moser. His three sisters were younger. Carl is survived by sister, Marge, and he is preceded in death by John, Leroy, Frances, and Kathy. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. He attended Oak Grove Public elementary school and three years of high school at Milwaukie (Oregon) Public High School. After his third year he felt Called to become a Lutheran pastor. Thus, he attended Concordia College in Portland for his senior high school year and junior college, where he served as student body president, met his wife, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then attended Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne for one year. The following summer, on August 10, 1958, he and Betty (Elizabeth Harrison) were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Stephen, Linda Becker, and Cynthia Kunze, and with nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. 

A few weeks after their wedding Carl began teaching grades 4-6 at Trinity Lutheran School in Tinley Park, Illinois, near Salem Lutheran School in Homewood, where Betty taught. He then dedicated his life to Lutheran school ministry. After two years at Trinity, Carl taught at Hope in Seattle, Zion in Chicago, and Trinity in Orlando. In Chicago and Orlando Carl also served as principal. In 1976 Carl accepted a Call as professor of education at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. In 1983 he became the Associate Director of Schools for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and then in 1990 as Director of Schools. In 2000 he retired, then served for five years as half-time National Lutheran School Accreditation Director. 

Through summer and evening study, Carl earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Pacific Lutheran University, his Master of Arts at Concordia in River Forest, and his Doctor of Education at the University of Florida. He has served as the president of the Council for American Private Education, a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, and as advisor to the U.S. Department of Education. He has received the Christus Magister Award from the Lutheran Education Association, the Alumnus of Distinction Award from Concordia College in Portland, and the Christus Primus Award from Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

In retirement Carl was active at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Missouri as choir member, leader of Stephen Ministry, and Bible Class leader and participant. 

Memorials may be made in Carl’s name to Immanuel Lutheran Church.