Rev. Dr. Karl Lachler

The Rev. Dr. Karl Lachler, 100, of Sawyer, Michigan passed away at home on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Karl was born on December 29, 1925, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Karl August Lachler, a commercial artist from Pforzheim, Germany, and Sofie Marie Gaus, a seamstress and milliner from Colmar, France. His first language was German.

He was the firstborn of two children, brother to Anna Louise Dukmen. He was raised in Palo Alto, Pennsylvania where he had an adventurous childhood, stealing logs from a lumber mill to raft down the Schuylkill River, sneaking into coal mines, exploring woods and lakes, making his own skis from barrel staves, and sharing soup made over a fire with the itinerant workers who rode the rails.

After graduating from Pottsville High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps hoping to become a fighter pilot. The war ended before he could fulfil his dream, but he later obtained his private pilot license. During his time in the military, he was sent to Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin where he guarded German prisoners. After visiting the Christian Servicemen’s Center, he decided to commit his life to Christian service.

Utilizing the GI Bill, he studied at Sioux Falls College, South Dakota, transferring to Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and earning Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees. Concurrently he took classes at Bethel Seminary and as a senior became part-time pastor at the Knife Lake Baptist Church near Mora, Minnesota.

During this time at Bethel, he met and became engaged to Margaret Hellgren, and when she moved back to Chicago for the Swedish Covenant Hospital Nursing Program, he followed, transferring to Northern Baptist Theological Seminary earning Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees. He earned his Doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. His Doctoral thesis was translated and published in Brazil as “Prega a Palavra” (Preach the Word).

He and Margaret were married in Chicago in 1952, and he became a youth minister at Central Avenue Baptist Church. Five years later they moved with their newborn and toddler daughters to Brazil as missionaries under the Baptist General Conference (now Converge), where they lived for 32 years.

He and Margaret started churches while in Brazil in the cities of São José do Rio Preto andAtibaia, worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Aliança Biblica Universitária, ABU), taught at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Atibaia, and the Baptist Seminary (Faculdade Teológica Batista) in São Paulo for 18 years. He was instrumental in the organization of a group of Christian psychologists and psychiatrists, the Corpo de Psicólogos e Psiquiatras Cristãos.

During his first year in Brazil, he helped three missionary pilots from Missionary Aviation Fellowship (Asas de Socorro) rebuilt a crashed Piper Tri-Pacer which became their first mission airplane. One of the first flights was to visit the Xavante indigenous people in the state of Mato Grosso.

Karl and Margaret lived in 5 countries altogether, undertaking an internship in England, teaching in Portugal, and taking an interim pastorship in Canada. They traveled extensively as a family, including an adventurous drive to Argentina in a VW bus. 

In 2010 they moved to Penney retirement Community in Florida where they actively volunteered and Karl served as Moderator of the Penney Memorial Church. In 2020 they moved back to their place in Michigan.

Karl loved his long journey on this earth. He dove into life with unbridled curiosity, adventure, courage, wonder, and humor. He loved Boxer dogs, poetry, soccer, music, and literature. He played the violin, mandolin, and piano, and wrote limericks for his children’s and grandchildren’s birthdays. He was a prankster and had a dad joke for everyone. He was amazed by nature, technology, and creativity. He followed his heart and lived his faith. He lived a life of joy, impact and consequence.

Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Margaret, daughters Sandra Lachler, Susan Johnson of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, grandchildren Lindsey and Tony Johnson of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Sofie Lachler, and Bror Lachler, ten nieces and nephews, and two more beloved generations.

Arrangements are entrusted to Pike Funeral and Cremation Services, The Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman.