Pastor Hans Scherner

Pastor Hans Scherner, 82, of Bucyrus, entered his eternal home in Heaven, a place he often spoke about, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. 

He was born April 15, 1942 in Germany to the late Hans and Martha (Korn) Scherner, and their family immigrated to America in 1953. Hans was a 1960 graduate of Wadsworth High School; graduated from Harvard University with his B. A. in politics and government; went on to study religion at Oberlin College before earning his Master of Divinity from Wittenberg Hamma School of Theology (now the Trinity Lutheran Seminary). Hans began serving God throughout Ohio, Washington DC and Pennsylvania before entering law school, and earning his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University in 1979. He immediately entered private practice, where he primarily represented people harmed by medical malpractice. A legal career that spanned more than 30 years all while filling pulpits of various churches as needed. In 2011 he became the interim pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sulphur Springs and because of the great love and support offered by its members, accepted a fulltime pastoral position in 2012. Pastor Hans proudly served the church until his recent retirement in 2023. 

Hans will be remembered as an engaging individual who always desired to know more about others as well as anything he did. He was extremely supportive of his family, especially his wife, Karen. For relaxation, Hans enjoyed woodworking, golfing, attending various musicals and performances throughout the Columbus area and was always up for an excellent dining experience. 

He held various memberships and earned many awards throughout his years as a lawyer and pastor, but a couple of his greatest achievements were being named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, as well as his involvement in Young Life. 

Hans is survived by his wife, Karen; children, Benjamin (Jodi) Scherner, Jonathan (Karen) Scherner, and Rachel (Nick) Steffen; daughter-in-law, Kristy Scherner; grandchildren, Saxen and Anson Scherner, Nick, Natalie, Megan, Jack and Olivia Scherner, Claire and Grant Scherner and Elisabeth, Louisa and Theo Steffen; sisters, Waltraud “Wally” (Ernst “Ernie”) Dummermuth and Marianne Zenner; special nephew, Paul Lierhaus, who was more like a brother; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

He is reunited with his son, Michael Scherner; sister, Martha Lierhaus–Lepke and brothers-in-law, Fritz Lierhaus, Arno Lepke and Hans Zenner. 

His family will receive friends from 5-8 pm TUESDAY, September 17 at Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio. Funeral Services for Pastor Hans will be held at 11am SATURDAY, September 21 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4707 Ridgeton-Annapolis Rd., Bucyrus, Ohio. A private burial will be held later near Columbus. 

If desired, donations can be made payable to St. Paul Lutheran Church or to the Parkinson’s Foundation and these gifts will be accepted through the funeral home or at the church on day of services. Memories and expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on his guestbook.