Rick George Kalal (July 21, 1951 – April 3, 2014)

Rick Kalal, who was on our Eastbrook pastoral staff for 19 years, went to be with the Lord on April 3. Please pray for his wife Lorraine and daughters Charlotte and Corinne. There will be a memorial service for Rick on Sunday, April 13 at 6pm at Eastbrook, and a visitation with the family before the service at 5pm. Please join the family for a reception in Fellowship Hall following the service.

The obituary below was written by Lorraine.

Rick Kalal was escorted home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ early on the morning of April 3, 2014. Born July 21, 1951, in Milwaukee, Rick found new birth in Jesus during his college years at UW Milwaukee through the testimony of a praying friend, a Billy Graham Crusade, and the ministry of Elmbrook Church.

Rick graduated with a BS in Communications and Counseling, then continued his education at UWM with an MS in Counseling Psychology and Communications. Rick’s thirst for Bible knowledge led him to attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School from which he graduated Cum Laude with an MDiv in 1981. While Rick didn’t aspire to enter ministry, God had other plans and he soon joined the staff of Eastbrook Church where he served as a pastor and head of Adult Ministries for 19 years. Rick loved ministry, missions, magic, movies, manuscripts (books), and people. One friend aptly shared about Rick, “I found him to be… full of grace, and a wonderful pastor, especially to people who are rough around the edges, and need a lot of grace. Our loss. His, and heaven’s gain.”

Rick said of his calling to ministry, “The burden of my heart is to see Christians become radically devoted to Jesus Christ, irrevocably committed to one another, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside of God’s family. I want to leave a mark that is not easily erased and to encourage and equip others to do the same.” Scores of laypeople would say that Rick achieved his burden. Rick also served as Pastor of Adult Ministries at the Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Knoxville, TN and as a volunteer Chaplain with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. His thirst for knowledge led him to receive a PhD in Education from Trinity in 2002.

Rick had no real desire to marry until he met Lorraine Frances Potter on the internet (!) and they wed April 14, 1996. Rick is survived by Lorraine and their two children Charlotte, 15, and Corinne, 11, who already miss his loving and wise presence deeply.

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