"Going home, going home, I'm just going home." Nathan "Nate" Gerhardt Lundgren completed his earthly journey on January 8, 2026, at the age of 87. He passed away peacefully at Harmony House in Pierz, MN, secondary to complications of vascular dementia.

Nate was born to the Rev. G. Harold and Svea (Johnson) Lundgren on May 8, 1938, in Clearbrook, MN. He was the middle of five sons – Elwood, Morris, Nathan, Forrest, and Philip. I know the plan I have for you," is a scripture text that stirred in Nate's heart in his youth. In the latter years of high school, he finally "heard God's subtle, but persistent call to formal ministry in the church." After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College, that call to parish ministry was the beginning of his great passion. He would share, "Everybody ought to know…God's love and grace are sufficient for us."

In the fall of 1960, Nate and his new wife, Doreen, were off to Rock Island, IL, and the Lutheran School of Theology – Augustana Campus. Nate was ordained as a Minister of the Church, Lutheran Church of America, in 1964. Over the next 37 years, Nate served the Lutheran churches of Faith (Isle), Augustana (Grand Forks, ND), First (Brainerd), Augustana (Minneapolis), Gustavus Adolphus (Foley), and Gethsemane (Oak Park). Nate's father served those last two parishes in the mid-1950s! Nate's call to share the Good News as a servant of Christ was what he referred to as "the most rewarding call in the world!"

In Nate's "active retirement" he served as a visitation pastor for First Lutheran (Brainerd), calling on the homebound and hospitalized. He served as an interim pastor at Rejoice (Clearwater) as well. Nate was on call to be a Sunday preacher wherever needed. His heart was full doing what he loved best.

Nate's family… he regarded as "not an important thing – it's EVERYTHING." He cobbled together campers to house his family at Riding Mountain National Park in Canada (a favorite bus was one he "tricked out" dubbed Chitty Bang!), with Patrice, Kristen, and Tiffany. When the family outgrew camping, Nate built two lake cabins over the years as his daughters learned to ski and grandkids, Garrett, Marissa, Jaycee and Gabe could now fish, swim, knee-board, go boating, and cruising on a pontoon. Along came great grands, Adisynn, Jamison, and Kellan, who got to experience "lake life" on Grave Lake. (Tatum, born 12/21/2025, has yet to experience MN lake life.) In Nate's words, "My joys include spoiling my daughters and grandkids!"

Nate enjoyed fishing, too; he was a hunter, liked woodworking, fixing things (at times with the magic of duct tape), as well as traveling. A highlight of traveling days included two visits to Sweden, his father's homeland. He was in Cooperstown, NY, for Dave Winfield's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Florida with his daughters and grandkids, trips to California, Hawaii, and even a cruise. He and Doreen went to Branson, MO many times with friends. Nate was totally at rest in their place in Arizona. He had time for puzzles, word search, haunting Goodwill stores, and simply sitting, chatting with cul de sac friends.

Nate didn't do big things – but he did small things in a big way, as he lived out his passion for service to God's family with love and grace, hoping to make a difference. He served on numerous Via de Cristo weekends as a spiritual director, and he helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Nate visited and brought communion to shut-ins, and made hospital visits, even if hours from home. He thoroughly enjoyed Friday morning breakfast fellowship and Bible studies with the men in all those parishes he served. Maybe he performed your marriage ceremony or buried a loved one – or baptized and even confirmed one of your children. Perhaps you were on a canoe trip with him to the Boundary Waters or a youth trip to somewhere… maybe you were an intern preparing for your own ministry. OR, maybe he found a car for you, since he had that reputation, "If you need a car, see Pastor Nate." Resurrection Motors at work! Maybe you were in one of those churches on a Sunday morning and there was Nate at the pulpit, preaching a sermon that had some connection to "Ole and Lena," as our guy loved his Ole and Lena jokes and had a pun for nearly every situation. He found ways to insert a good (and appropriate) joke into most of his sermons.

Finally, maybe you were a caregiver for Nate when he was leaving us cognitively, the cruelest infliction on such a brilliant mind. Didn't most of us think for sure it would be a car accident? (He left many gasping over his vehicular maneuvers). Maybe you were a blessed angel who cared for him in the hospital, at Woodland, or his final home at Harmony House in Pierz, MN.

If memory stirs your heart, you are a part of Nate's legacy. Your paths have intersected and hopefully, he "finished the race," having kept the faith. Prince of Peace, lead us through this life as your servants into your heavenly Kingdom, Amen.

Left to grieve Nate's loss include his loving partner of 65 years, Doreen, daughters Kristen Lundgren and Tiffany Madson, grandchildren Garrett (Abigail) and Jaycee Madson, Marissa Smith (Kristen Ward), and Gabe Schneider, as well as his great grands, Jamison, Adisynn, Kellan, and Tatum Madson. Nate was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Patrice, brothers Elwood, Morris, and Philip, his parents, other family members, and many, many colleagues and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 1:00 pm, at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials, according to Nate's request, were "Giver's choice – a favorite charity or their own church."