Roger Allen Hjelle of Onalaska, Wis., died March 30, 2020, at 75 years of age from an underlying heart condition. 

Roger Allen Hjelle was born Sept. 3, 1944, spending his childhood primarily near Wauzeka, Wis. He graduated from Luther College with a B.A. in English in 1966, from Luther Theological Seminary with his M.Div. in 1970 and also obtained a Master’s degree in Educational Media from UW-La Crosse in 1980. Following his ordination at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Prairie du Chien, in June of 1970, Pastor Hjelle served his first call as an Associate Pastor at Ridgeway Lutheran, Ridgeway, Iowa. In 1974 he was called as Associate Pastor to Good Shepherd Lutheran, Viroqua, Wis., serving in that position for 10 years, and then was called to continue serving there as Senior Pastor until 1998. After obtaining his M.S. degree, Pastor Hjelle started the Conference Resource Center and produced a weekly radio devotional program, also beginning a delayed cablecast of worship services. In 1998 he was called as Senior Pastor to Good Shepherd Lutheran, La Crosse, where he served until his retirement in 2012.

Pastor Hjelle married Luanne (Mahlum) Hjelle ’66, in Dec. of 1965. They have three children – sons Alan Hjelle ‘89 and Kurt, and daughter Anissa, and eight grandchildren.

Arrangements will be handled by Jandt Fredrickson Funeral Home at a later time due to the current pandemic. Luanne requests condolences be sent via a card or phone call. Please refrain from visits to her home. The synod office will send out information regarding the service when it becomes available.

None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.                                                                                                         --- Romans 14:7-8