Remembering Fr. StaceyOn the morning of Sunday, September 5, 2021, Fr. Stacey Richter, our beloved pastor, unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord while preparing for Divine Liturgy.
Below is the obituary written by the Ricther Family including his twin brother Kirby:
The Archpriest Fr. Anastasy Richter, known by family and friends as Stacey Richter, beloved husband to Trudi Richter and father to his three daughters Michal, Anika, and Sarah, and Pastor of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church in Chesterton, Indiana, unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord on September 5, 2021.
He is survived by his immediate family; his wife Trudi (Goertzen) Richter, his children, Michal and her husband Carlos, and twin daughters Sarah and Anika, his identical twin brother Kirby, sister-in-law Loretta and nephew Alex, his parents Wendell and Jean Richter, mother-in-law Katherine Goertzen, and many beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is predeceased by his mother Catherine Degelman Moore, step-father Scotty Allen Jarvis, father-in-law Johann Goertzen, grandparents Arthur Moore and Cecilia Ann Degelman and Henry Emil Richter and Doreen Jessie Kelly.
Fr. Stacey was born with his identical twin brother on December 22, 1968 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He met his wife Trudi at Camp Arnes in Manitoba in the summer of 1988 and they were married on May 8, 1993. They were happily married for 28 years. In March of 1995, he graduated with his Geological Engineering degree from the University of Manitoba which led him to work as a mining and ventilation engineer in northern Manitoba. Fr. Anastasy often shared about his calling to life in the Church well before finishing his engineering degree. He was encouraged by a good pastor and friend to complete his degree before entering seminary. In 1997, together with his wife and eldest daughter, he began seminary at St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg and graduated with his bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies. Fr. Anastasy was ordained to the priesthood in August 2001.
He served 20 years as a priest in the Orthodox Church of America (OCA) at many parishes across the United States and Canada: St. Herman of Alaska in Edmonton, Alberta, Holy Trinity in Regina, Saskatchewan, St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Holy Assumption in Canton, Ohio, St. Peter the Aleut in Minot, North Dakota, and finally, St. Elizabeth the New Martyr in Chesterton, Indiana. He was truly a father to many and by God's grace brought many souls to the Faith.
Fr. Stacey was always learning and reading about theology, and was especially dedicated to studying Biblical scripture in Greek and Hebrew. Anyone who has seen his personal daily prayer sessions can attest that these could easily last hours! He was genuine and authentic in his faith, not only "talking the talk", but "walking the walk". He did his best to be free of judgment towards others, treating his neighbor with Christ-like love, and through his love for Christ and His Church, lived as a free man. Truly his faith never wavered.
