Rev. Roland Otto Meyle

The Rev. Roland Otto Meyle was born on June 7, 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and died in Grafton, Wis., on June 3, 2025. 

His mother Hedwig vowed he would become a pastor after a difficult pregnancy, a sentiment echoed by his grandmother, who observed him folding his hands as an infant. After his father Otto died on the Russian front in 1942, Roland and his mother moved to Tamm, and later Esslingen, Germany. She insisted he attend Sunday school, where he discovered a love for Bible stories.

Despite an early desire to pursue the ministry, family circumstances led Roland to a three-year banking apprenticeship. He also diligently studied English. However, as he put it, “The Lord was not done with me yet.” 

Two years later, he followed his youth leader Ernie to Toronto, Canada. There, Roland’s banking qualifications and fluent English secured him a job at the Canadian Bank of Commerce. His moderate work hours allowed ample time for prayer, Bible study and church attendance. It was in Toronto that Roland experienced a profound spiritual awakening, realizing salvation through grace in Jesus Christ. This renewed his desire for ministry.

A pivotal moment arrived when Roland and Ernie, dissatisfied with their Protestant Church’s doctrine, were urged to attend St. John’s Lutheran Church, Toronto, by Ernie’s missionary brother. Pastor George Bornemann, frustrated by his inability to counsel a German-speaking couple who lost their unbaptized baby, recognized Roland’s linguistic gift. “And that’s why we need people like you to study for the Holy ministry,” he told Roland.

With scholarships from St. John’s and the LCMS, Roland enrolled at Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Ill. After five years of study, a vicarage in New Britain, Conn., and three summers at Valparaiso University, he earned a bachelor of arts degree and was ordained at St. John’s, Toronto. It was at Valparaiso where he met Janet Sieber, his future wife. They married in 1963 in Plymouth, Wis.

Roland’s first call led him to two mission churches in Rochfort Bridge and Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada, where his children Anita and Karl were born. After four years, he accepted a call to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Union Grove, Wis., where their youngest son, Kurt, was born. 

Beyond his pastoral duties, Roland organized and led annual small-group tours to Europe from 1979 to 1992, indulging his love for travel.

In 1991, Roland’s German language skills took on a new significance when he was asked to translate for Russian Bishop Harold Kalnins at Concordia University, Mequon. This led to an invitation to translate for Lutheran Laymen’s League study groups traveling to Russia and former satellite countries to assess the needs of German Lutheran Christians. A dire need for a pastor in Almaty, Kazakhstan, emerged. St. Paul’s granted Roland a three-month leave to the Almaty congregation, which ultimately led to an official call as the first missionary to Kazakhstan. After 26 years at St. Paul’s Lutheran, Roland was thrilled to be able to use his native German language in the Almaty ministry. In addition to serving the congregation, he taught at the seminary and coordinated a medical van.

In 2003, Roland retired to Port Washington, Wis., but he continued to make several trips a year to Kazakhstan to visit and serve the mission. 

He and Jan were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Port Washington, Wis. 

Janet, his beloved wife, passed away on March 20, 2022. 

Roland is survived by his three children, Anita (Joe) Creswell, Karl (Susan) Meyle and Kurt (Elsie) Meyle, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, a testament to his enduring legacy.

Services for the Rev. Roland were held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Port Washington. Pastor Dustin Anderson presided.  

Roland was laid to rest next to his wife at Woodlawn Cemetery in Plymouth, Wis.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.