Paul T. Kreiss

Dr. Paul Theodore Kreiss was born on May 11, 1926, in Mulhouse France, the son of Frederic and Louise (Wolff) Kreiss. He had two brothers, Marcel and Alfred. Love existed beyond the walls of their home and included regular activities with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at the Lutheran Church, where he received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and was confirmed on March 24, 1940. Paul enjoyed many visits to Grandma’s house in Blaesheim where the family worked together on the cabbage business in the summers making sauerkraut. At the age of 12, Paul was one of the best students in his class, however, the eruption of World War II uprooted much of his childhood. At an early age he learned to live by Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

In 1943, Paul spent half a day in school and the other half in military training. That same year, Paul’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. In January of 1944, at age 18, the Germans drafted him to the Artillery Regiment and Gun Training Boot Camp in Poland, likely to become an officer on the Russian front. Although Alsatians were not permitted leave under Hitler’s orders, Paul had written to his parents to send a telegram to ask for a leave due to his sick mother. Although they were suspicious, they granted him leave. At a young age, Paul learned that sometimes God sends trials for a reason.

Paul was determined to use this leave to make his way home. He jumped barriers and headed by train and tram to Blaesheim, France, where his Godmother Lena lived, as war lines prevented him from making it home to Mulhouse. Lena had a connection with the Allies and protected Paul as he hid at the farm and over time France reclaimed its territories. Unfortunately, Paul came back from splitting wood and heard the sad news that his father was tragically murdered on November 28, 1944, while protecting the Lutheran Church in Mulhouse from invasion by French colonial soldiers. This was the church his father, an architect, had built and where Paul and so many of his family had been baptized and worshipped. In March of 1945, Paul was finally able to return to Mulhouse. His childhood home and neighborhood was damaged by bombs and loved ones were lost, including his brother Marcel who did not return from the Russian Front. Brother Alfred eventually returned home after 18 months in a Siberian prison camp. In the fall of 1946, Paul lost his mother to her battle with breast cancer. Through all of the crises of life, Paul clung to the magnificent Anchor of all, Jesus Christ. 

At age 19, Paul returned to school at the University of Nancy to become an Agricultural Inspector; however, he was called by the French Army in 1947 to go to Vietnam. He trained for 14 months but never deployed and released from duty. In June of 1948, Paul attended the University of Paris. As France fell into disarray, he quit school and made plans to head to Brazil. In the fall of 1949, his first stop was Ellis Island as he made his way to visit relatives in the U.S. He worked for his sponsor and Godfather, Jean  Kreiss, in his New Jersey bakery making macaroons and crème puffs. Uncle Teddy Mueller came to visit him on the Jersey Shore andinvited Paul to travel with him to St. Louis. Paul said “yes” but asked to stop in Chicago to visit Northwestern and Concordia Teachers College. God was slowly revealing His plan and after Paul’s visit to Concordia, he felt called to this special place and decided to attend. By the summer of 1950, Paul was called to Kansas to teach at a one room K-8 Lutheran School. In April 1951, Paul returned to Concordia to attend a very important roller-skating party with a special young lady named Ruth Froemming who was studying for her teaching degree. They decided to roll on into a whole new chapter in God’s plan. On February 24, 1952, Paul and Ruth tied the knot at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, WI.They enjoyed a two-month honeymoon to satisfy his immigration requirements and visited his family home in Mulhouse and spent time in the French Riviera, Germany, and Switzerland.

As Concordia graduates, they moved to Webster, MA to teach at a two-room school, Zion Lutheran. David, the first of their ten children, was born followed by Deborah, Mark, and Tim. Amid the chaos of four kids, Paul somehow found time to earn his master’s degree from Boston University. In 1956, Paul was called to teach at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau, MO. 

In 1960, Paul was called back to Concordia to teach French and German so the family excitedly packed up and headed to River Forest, IL. Over the years came Jon, Matthew, Joel, Sara, and finally the twins, Susan and Steve. 

Paul received a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1968 while serving as the professor of French and associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies. He later served as department chair, director of Correspondence Studies, and acting director of the Center for Continuing Education. He was an active member of the American Association of Teachers of French. His publications include contributions to Norte Culte Quotidien and Taegliche Andachten and numerous other devotions, articles, and translations. 

After 45 years of ministry (37 at Concordia), Paul retired in May 1997. On July 20, 2009, Ruth passed away after 57 years of marriage. In retirement, Paul continued to serve by preaching German Services at St. John’sLutheran Church, Chicago. At the age of 91, he revisited his original Ph.D. thesis on the impact of other reformers on Martin Luther and finally published his book titled Luther’s Reformation: From Humble Beginnings to Widespread Restoration.

After the COVID lockdown, Paul moved to Knoxville in 2021 and eventually settled in 2022 at Pinnacle Assisted Living and made many new friends, some even spoke German! He attended Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville and lived at Pinnacle until he went to meet his beautiful Savior, Jesus at the ripe old age of 99.

All of Paul and Ruth’s children were named after people in the Bible. He was the beloved father to David (Denise) Kreiss, Deborah (Paul) Studtmann, Mark (Carla) Kreiss, Jon (Molly) Kreiss, Matt Kreiss, Joel Kreiss, Sara Kreiss, Susan (Mark) Hasenwinkel, and Steve (Carol, †2025) Kreiss, and was preceded in death by his son, Tim Kreiss (†2012).

Paul is loved by his 19 grandchildren: Jordan, Nicole, Nathan, Billy, Dina, Marta, Mark, Cody, Dylan, Dalton, Cole, Josephine, BriAnn, Lauren, Jacob, Hannah, Madeleine, Emma, Grace and his 2 step-grandchildren Jack and Abbey. He was blessed with 16 great-grandchildren: Parker, Eli, Toby, Isla, Zoe, Lucy, Jake, Georgia, Adeline, Lydia, Lainey, Liam, Miley, Bindi, Jael, a great grandson who is on the way and 2 step-great-grandchildren Ella and Elex.

Visitation and Services – Both will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Drive, Forest Park

Public visitation will be held on Thursday, April 23, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

A second visitation will take place on Friday, April 24, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. immediately followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow service.

For additional information, please contact Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home at 7083662200 or visit www.ZimmermanHarnett.com.  
 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations to places close to Paul’s heart:
Concordia University Chicago: (7400 Augusta St., River Forest, IL  60305) | https://4agc.com/donate/memorialsDesignate: 1) Kreiss Endowment Fund (annual student scholarships) or 2) Early Childhood Playground Project

-OR-

St. John Lutheran Church (305 Circle Ave., Forest Park, IL 60130).

Paul’s Confirmation verse: John 10: 22-28 (excerpt below)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

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