John L. Underdahl
24 February 2021
Forty-two years after answering a call to establish the first Lutheran church in Niceville, Florida, the Reverend John L. Underdahl was called again to be with his Father on February 24, 2021. He left hundreds of parishioners with memories of his allegorical lessons on living, homespun tales drawn from life in a very large family on the prairie of Minnesota and about dogs and cats in his family in Niceville.
Pastor John was born on February 26, 1945 in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. After high school and completion of a two-year program at The Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, John earned a B.A. degree in History from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska in 1969. He then returned to St. Paul MN to study at the largest Lutheran seminary in the nation, Luther Theological Seminary, graduating and being ordained in 1973, but only after meeting and marrying in 1971 his devoted partner for life, Nancy Nance. Together, they embarked on their first ministerial adventure: Faith Lutheran Church in Yucaipa, California. Their next service was First Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, where they stayed for six years before receiving the mission call to Niceville in August, 1979. From then until his retirement on November 23, 2014, Pastor John and Nancy nurtured and served the congregation of St. Paul.
John and Nancy raised their three sons, John, Matthew, and Mark in Niceville while ministering to the needs of a growing congregation and a budding pre-school which meant so much to him and to Nancy. In addition, John served as Wing Chaplain for the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, humbly committing himself to what he described as a “Ministry of Presence,” reminding airmen of God’s presence in trying times. Chaplain John Underdahl retired in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, USAFR.
Pastor John is reunited with his son Matthew, who passed from earthly life on February 2, 2002 and is inurned in the St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Garden Columbarium. He is also predeceased by his mother and father, Berthina and Hans Underdahl; brother, LuVern; and sisters, Ilene Johnson, Maxine Clementson, and Barbara Westerfeld.
John is survived by his spouse of 50 years, Nancy Underdahl; his sons, John and Mark (fiancé Elizabeth Geldbaugh); his grandson Matthew and his granddaughter Maci; his brothers, Jerry and Brice; and his sister Shirley Westerfeld.
A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Niceville beginning at 11am. Pastor John’s family wishes to express sincere gratitude and deep appreciation for the loving care of Dr. Gilberto Vigo and the nurses and staff of Emerald Coast Hospice Pensacola. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Niceville or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Pastor John’s family and the congregation of St. Paul invite and welcome all who loved John to join us in remembering the man who always reminded us that Jesus loves us and “will never let us go.”