Pastor Alois "Brownie" Schmitzer III, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Jenera, retired after 40 years in the public ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. 

A farewell service and meal were held July 19 with the six Schmitzer children and families in attendance. 

Pastor Schmitzer grew up in Frankenmuth, Michigan. He attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw and Northwestern College in Wisconsin. After one year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin, he was called to serve as tutor at Martin Luther Academy on the campus of Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. 

There he met Ruth Cordes who was attending DMLC. The couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in June. 

After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Pastor Schmitzer was assigned to Trinity Lutheran Church in Bangor, Michigan. 

In 1988, he accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Jenera. 

Pastor Schmitzer said that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and pursuing his hobbies of sail boating, windsurfing, skiing, woodworking and stained glass. 

The Schmitzers have purchased a home at 9663 River Road in Greenville, Michigan, and will be moving in August.