Reverend August Karl Ristow III
North Las Vegas, NV - Reverend August Karl Ristow III, 70, of North Las Vegas, Nevada was welcomed home into the arms of his Savior on April 15, 2021. At the age of 12, he was called to serve his Lord and was a faithful steward of God after serving in the ministry for 45 years.
Augie was born to the late August and Matilde Ristow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 6, 1950 and was baptized shortly thereafter. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in 1968, from Northwestern College in 1974 and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1976. Pastor Augie lovingly served churches in Nebraska, Michigan, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin. For the last decade, Pastor Augie served as an Intentional Interim Pastor by healing congregations in Washington, California, Texas, with his final church at Trinity Lutheran in Fountain Hills, Arizona. He also treasured his time serving as the national chaplain for Lutheran Girl Pioneers.
As part of his Agape ministry, Pastor Augie published two books, "Agape: The Forgotten Teaching of Jesus" and "Agape: A Scholarly Study of the Word." His www.agapeforyou.com ministry approach flourished spiritual renewal in churches and people from all walks of life.
Augie loved spending time with his wife of 20 years, Victoria, and with his children. He reveled in God's beauty with a lifelong enjoyment of spending time in nature. Augie collected watches, clocks and was never without a pocket knife. He was also an avid Packers fan and a master Weber griller. He touched so many lives and will be deeply missed by everyone who was blessed to have known him.
Augie is survived by his wife, Victoria, his son, August (Jennie) Ristow IV; his daughters, Rachel (Ken) Lilge; Rebekah Ristow; Elizabeth and Jaclyn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his children's mother, Deborah (Kesting) Ristow. Augie experienced much love and great joy with his family and considered himself to be blessed in this regard.
Celebrations of Pastor Augie's life in Christ will be on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills, AZ and on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Flowers, cards, gifts and donations are welcome.
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Mark Porinsky
Augie,
You were one of my first friends at Wisco, and as a lonely student from public grade school, I needed friends. It was appropriate, since my Dad had gone to North Division with your Dad. We had many classes together. Remember Jerry Lange’s “Future Preacher/Teacher Retreat,” and how Jerry took no pity on your urgent plea? When I entered the ministry in Dexter, Michigan, you were in my conference, in Detroit. But you greatly surpassed me in many areas: You outlasted me in the ministry, published two more books than I did, and became a master griller. And you managed to hang onto so much of your hair! Thank you for your friendship. It seems like just yesterday we were at the fifty-year reunion, relegated to the pastors’ table (along with poor Anita and her husband). God’s peace to you.
Mark Porinsky