Pastor Droegemueller was born in Fairmont, Minnesota. He is the son of Mrs. Burnett Droegemueller and the late Arthur C. Droegemueller.

 

In 1962 he graduated from Augsburg University in Minneapolis receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and English.  He was employed for one year by the Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis.  In 1963 he entered Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.  His vicarage year was served at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Inglewood, California, under Dr. E.W. Dierker.  He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in the area of systematic theology in 1967.

 

Pastor’s first call was a Mission-Developer for the Ohio District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  He served in that capacity at Holy Cross Lutheran  Church, North Canton, Ohio, and was later called to be that congregation’s first pastor.  He has done graduate work in theology at The Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, and at the California Graduate School of Theology, Glendale, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

 

Under his leadership, Faith Lutheran Church has grown in membership of 125 in 1969, to over 1,000 communicant members today.  He also led the establishment of the preschool program, the elementary school, the middle school, and the extended daycare program.

 

While in Vista, Pastor, along with other members of Faith, was instrumental in the development and construction of the Rancho Vista Retirement Community, which was dedicated in 1981.  He has led Faith through the construction of a parish hall, offices, and the sanctuary, early childhood center and related facilities.  Faith is now embarking on a program of major facility expansion under Pastor’s leadership.  In 1972, Pastor and the members of Faith developed a new mission, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, in Oceanside.

He has served the Pacific Southwest District on the Board of Youth Ministry, as Circuit Counselor, and as one of the four regional Vice-Presidents for nine years and as chairperson of the Pacific Southwest District of the LC-MS Board of Directors. He has also served on a number of LCMS national convention committees.

Pastor Droegemueller is also an attorney. He received his Juris Doctor degree (JD) from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, and is a member of the California Bar Association.

Pastor and his wife, Carolyn (nee Roth), from Delray Beach, Florida, have two adult sons, Greg and Chris.