EMILY SCHMITT KNIGHTLIFE EDITOR
Rev. Larry Trachte will retire from his position as college pastor in May. He has spent the past 35 years being a pastor, teacher and counselor to thousands of Wartburg students.
Trachte’s Wartburg connections began in 1962, when he enrolled in the college.
“Wartburg was a wonderful place for…discerning a direction in my life. I really wasn’t sure where I was supposed to go and what I was supposed to do,” he said.
The college’s strong Lutheran focus strengthened his faith.
“Waverly and Wartburg were by far the most Lutheran place I’d ever been. And that was kind of a different experience for me. I’d grown up in a Catholic community and half my family was Catholic,” he said. “Coming here. . .reaffirmed my Lutheran identity.”
After graduating in 1966, he enrolled at Wartburg seminary in Dubuque. Two years later, he was ordained and called to be associate pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Waverly.
In 1974, he was asked to be Wartburg’s college pastor.
He said he was unsure about his ability to do the job. He didn’t think he could live up to the image of a college pastor.
Trachte had thought about taking more counseling courses, but realized it would be difficult to return to school while serving a congregation full-time. As a campus pastor, he could take courses during summers.
His work with students over the years was a primary factor in his decision as well.
“They really affirmed that they would like me to be their pastor,” he said.
Although he didn’t think of himself as a college pastor, he decided he was young enough to try and took the position.
“When I came here, I thought I’d do this four or five years until I got old,” Trachte said.
But, 35 years later, he is still the pastor on campus. Trachte said his job fits his interests perfectly.
“It’s that combination of teaching, pastoring and counseling,” he said.
He enjoys working with students and seeing them blossom, which is why he likes teaching.
“The teaching has been a real joy for me. Because I teach practical areas, it also feeds into my ministry,” he said.
Traveling has been a highlight for Trachte, who has led many alumni tours and May Term trips.
“I love May Terms. I really enjoy those opportunities to get away with students and get to know them every day for a month.”
Trachte has developed a strong love for Wartburg and for the students that have come and gone over the years. Because college students are at a life-changing time in their lives, he thinks it is critical for the church to be involved in higher education.
“I think it’s an important investment, because important decisions are being made in these four years. And not just about your job or even whom you are going to marry, but also decisions about…how you’re going to live your life,” he said.
“And I think for the church to be involved with and accompanying students during those four years is very, very important and very significant.”
Although he will no longer be college pastor, Trachte will still be on campus next year to teach his Living With Death course and to clean out his office, which he thinks will take most of the year. He has also agreed to lead two alumni tours in 2010.
But Trachte is determined to spend time off campus as well. He plans to take time for his four grandsons and to focus on his incomplete house, which he started building 10 years ago.
He also wants time for himself. Trachte hopes to do more fishing, woodworking and sitting on his deck than he has in the past. He would like to take a few courses in the future and travel companies have expressed interest in him leading trips to Germany.
“Everyone tells me you’re busier in retirement than you were working,” he said. “So I’m going to try really hard the first year to say no to things, but I’m already failing at that. I won’t be bored.”
Although Trachte is going to try to spend time away from campus, he will continue to be involved with Wartburg.
“I’m certainly open to any way I can continue to serve the college,” he said.
Trachte will miss many things about Wartburg, especially the people.
“The best thing about being here is the community—the combination of talented and caring students, faculty and staff,” he said. “I’ve had a very meaningful ministry and I’ve found it very rewarding.”