Rev. Dr. Peter L. Misner Obituary (1933

Hallowell – The Rev. Dr. Peter L. Misner, 82, died in a moment of grace and beauty on Christmas Day surrounded by family at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation & Long Term Care at Glenridge. He was born July 27, 1933 in Pasco, Washington, the son of Herbert Emerson and Jeanetta Peter Misner. He spent his childhood in Kennewick, Washington, graduating from Kennewick High School in 1951. He graduated from the College of Puget Sound (B.A.) in 1955, where he met his wife, Susan Rausch, from Akron, Ohio. They were married in the college chapel in August of 1955 before moving to Boston to continue his studies. He graduated from Boston University School of Theology (M.Div.) in 1959, and New York Theological Seminary (S.T.M.) in 1975 and Doctor of Ministry in 1979. Dr. Misner was a United Methodist pastor and member of the New England Conference, serving churches in Wilton and North Jay while he was a student at Boston University School of Theology. He joined the Pacific Northwest Conference and served as pastor of the Redmond, Washington Methodist Church from 1959 to 1964. Returning to Maine in 1964, he served churches in Readfield, Winthrop, Wayne, and North Wayne; and in 1993 was founding pastor of Union Church in Belgrade Lakes. He also served in ecumenical ministries across New England under a staff appointment by Boston Area Bishop James K. Mathews. While a member of the New England Conference, Dr. Misner served as Conference Chaplain; Chair, Maine Conference Board of Higher Education and Ministry; Chair, Board of Discipleship; Chair, Board of Evangelism; member of the Committee on Role and Status of Women; Maine Council of Churches Executive Committee; Supervising Pastor; and Pastoral Associate. Additionally, he served as Vice President and President of Boston University School of Theology Alumni Council, and was a member of the School of Theology’s Board of Advisors. He was a participant in the National Council of Churches, and Ecumenical Guest Participant at the College of Preachers Washington Cathedral, Washington D.C.; Ecumenical Delegate, Kirchentag, Stuttgart, West Germany; Participant, Lay Akademie, Bad Boll, West Germany; Chaplain to the Maine State Legislature; Chaplain to Veteran’s Administration Medical Center at Togus; member Alumni Council University of Puget Sound; President, Kennebec Performing Arts Company; member, Board of Trustees Kents Hill School; member of Rotary International and Kiwanis. Dr. Misner co-authored “Words for Your Wedding’ with David Glusker, a widely used wedding ceremony resource for couples, clergy, and other officiants. He was predeceased by his sister Carolyn McDuffie. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his wife of 60 years, Susan, of Hallowell; three daughters, Christina Misner Rao and her husband Sid of Manchester, Jennifer Misner Small and her husband Scott of Augusta, and Anne Misner Coutinho and her husband Don of Keller, TX; two sons, David Misner of Seattle, WA and Jon Thomas Misner and his wife Renae of Waterville; nine grandchildren, Laura Small Li, Mark & Steven Small; Paul Coutinho, Karen Coutinho Hood, Jenette & Susan Coutinho; Kelsey Prosser, Benjamin & Alexander Misner; two great grandchildren, Brandon and Charlotte Li; and brother in law Jon Dale McDuffie of Seattle, WA and his children, Michael, Laurie, and Christopher. The family would like to thank the care-givers from Aging Excellence; the staff at the Gardiner Alzheimer’s Center; Glenridge Living Center, especially those in the Garden neighborhood; and MaineGeneral Hospice, especially Jean Jennings. Relatives and friends are invited to visit Friday, January 22, 2016 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. A Celebration of Life will be held January 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St., Augusta, Maine. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Wayne, in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to The Wayne Community Church, P.O. Box 300, Wayne, ME 04284 or Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC), P.O. Box 481, Augusta, ME 04330. Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com