Rev. Raymond R. Pollatz, Jr., 83, of Canadian Lakes, entered into the Kingdom of Glory on June 15, 2022. He was born August 3, 1938, in Detroit, to his loving parents Raymond, Sr. and Eugenia (Hertwig) Pollatz, and shortly thereafter, he was laid in the arms of Jesus through the waters of Holy Baptism. In 1952, he confirmed his faith, and his verse was from 1 Timothy 4:8, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Raymond attended Concordia College in St. Paul, MN, and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE. For 5 years he taught at St. John Lutheran School in Grand Haven before entering Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL, where he earned both his Bachelor and Master of Divinity degrees.
Pastor Pollatz was ordained into the Holy Ministry on October 30, 1966, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Houston, TX and was involved with working among the Hispanic community in the inner city. He also served as pastor of St. Thomas Lutheran in Eastpointe, Trinity Lutheran in Traverse City, and most recently at Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Mecosta. In addition, he served as the Counselor in each Circuit.
Pastor Pollatz was the Pastoral Advisor and Chaplain to the Lutheran Fraternities of America, chairman of the Tri-Circuit Conference, and member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Detroit. On May 16, 1986, he was awarded the Servus Ecclesiae Christi (Servant of the Church of Christ). Upon retiring October 30, 2005, after 39 years in parish ministry, Pastor Pollatz served as a Regional Promotional Representative for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.
While attending college in 1957, he met the love of his life, Marion Ude, and the couple were married on August 4 of that year. She survives him, as well as their 4 children, Victoria Hoffmann, of Canadian Lakes, Craig (Jeannette) of Grandville, Valerie (Gerry) Schmidt of Hurst, TX, and Brian (Beth) of Madison Heights; 8 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; his brother, Rev. Paul Pollatz; his sisters Naomi Neilitz and Joy Mead; and several nieces and nephews. Pastor Pollatz was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Robert Hoffmann, and grandson Benjamin Schmidt.
The funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 20, 2022, at Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Mecosta, with Pastor Will Hooper officiating. Those interested in attending virtually should contact the family via pastorraypollatzfuneral@gmail.com. Pastor Pollatz’s family will greet friends at the church beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Monday. The committal service will be 12:30 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park in Livonia. Memorial contributions in his name may be made for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, or Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Mecosta. Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.