Dr. Mark Carl Behring

The Rev. Dr. Mark C. Behring, 67, of Humble, Texas, was called home to eternal life by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday afternoon, November 20, 2013.

He was born on June 4, 1946 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and was raised in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. He left home in the fall of 1960 to begin preparing for the Holy Ministry by attending Concordia High School and Junior College, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which he graduated in 1966. In 1968, he graduated from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, before attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1972 with his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and later received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1985 in Church Growth and Organizational Management from Fullerton Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

For nearly the rest of his life, he served His Lord at congregations including First Immanuel Lutheran Church in San Jose, California (1972-1978); Zion Lutheran Church and School in Fallbrook, California (1978-1989); Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Lake Worth, Florida (1989-1995); Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Humble, Texas (1995-2002); and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Texas (2003-2009). From 1992-1995, he served as Pastoral Counselor for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Gifted in preaching, teaching, pastoral care, he was also known for his love for his congregations, sacred music, and good humor. His hobbies included golf, woodworking, traveling, and doting on his grandchildren. In particular, he enjoyed being a member of the Woodworking Club of Houston and its Scrollsaw Splinter Group.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Arline (nee Draheim) Behring. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sarah; their two children, Jennifer (Greg) Schutte of Meridian, ID; Jeff (Kate) Behring of Elm Grove, WI; one brother, Glenn Behring of Flower Mound, TX; one sister, Jean (Rev. Richard) Schwandt of Hickory, NC; and grandchildren Emma, Ethan, and Elisabeth Schutte as well as Andrew and Jacob Behring as well as 4 nieces and 2 nephews.

The funeral service for Pastor Behring will be held on Sunday, November 24, at 4pm with visitation beginning at 2:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Downtown Church, 800 Houston Avenue in Houston, TX. The committal service for him will be held at Lutheran Cemetery in Sheboygan, WI, on Wednesday, November 27, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that all memorials be made to Concordia University Wisconsin (cuw.edu; specify Mark Behring Memorial Fund), Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (www.csl.edu), and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (www.lwml.org).