Pastor Paul Sporleder

Pastor Paul H. Sporleder, 87, of Moorhead, MN, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in his home. 

Palmer Henry Sporleder was born September 12, 1935, the son of Henry and Ella (Jefferson) in Finlayson, Minnesota.  Paul grew up in several places, as his father was a pastor, and he graduated from Bellingham (MN) High School in 1953.  He then served in the U.S. Army during the latter part of the Korean War.  After he returned home, he attended St. Cloud (MN) State University and then graduated with a Teaching Degree in history from Moorhead Teachers College.  He then began his teaching career in Litchfield, MN. 

On September 11, 1959, he was united in marriage to Ardell “Dell” Hamele in Norcross, MN.  They lived in Litchfield where he taught before moving to Moorhead.  He then taught history at Moorhead High School until 1973.  In 1971, Paul and his wife, Dell, founded the Spirit & Life Evangelical Center in rural Lake Park, MN where he served as pastor for forty-one years.  He continued ministering and praying for people throughout the area until the Lord took him home.  Dell passed away after a battle with cancer on December 19, 2009.  On October 6, 2015, he was united in marriage to Laurelyn Faszholz where they have made their home in Moorhead.   

Paul was a very loving husband, father, and grandfather. He loved spending time with his family. One of his highlights was meeting his daughters for coffee and catching up with them.  He was thrilled to be a grandpa and was so proud of his two grandsons.  He enjoyed reading about church revival, devotionals, Max Lucado along with many other books about faith. He had a passion for preaching the Gospel, along with singing and playing grand old hymns of the church on guitar.   

He is survived by his wife, Laurelyn, Moorhead; daughters, Sue (Jim) Anderson, Moorhead, and Jill (Eric) Rivers-Melby, Detroit Lakes, MN; grandsons, Josh Rivers and Nick Rivers, Fargo ND, brother, John Sporleder, Memphis, TN, and brother-in-law Duane Hamele, Norcross MN. 

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dell, and brothers, Vic, and Elden Sporleder.    

Memorials may be directed to The Gideons.  

His Funeral Service will be 1:00 PM, Monday, January 2, 2023, in Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, with a visitation one hour prior to his service.

Burial will be in the Spirit and Life Cemetery, Lake Park, MN.

For those who cannot attend the service, it will be live-streamed, and link can be on his memorial page on the Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service website.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)