Rudolf K. Poecker
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Kurt Poecker was a German–American baker, missionary, and religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served in the German Army during World War II
, and afterwards immigrated to the United States
where he became a citizen.
, Thuringia
, Germany
, to Willy Emil Poecker and Ella Thekla Trumpold. He grew up in Fraureuth
, and at age 17, while a pastry chef apprentice, he met Elfriede Ehrler. It was "love at first sight." Elfriede introduced Rudolf to the LDS Church, into which he was baptized in 1940. They were married December 14, 1942.
in his native country, ministering in the East (Soviet) Zone. During his mission, he was instrumental in procuring vast genealogical records that had been stored in underground salt mines.
During these 8 years of service for his country and church, Elfriede waited faithfully for his safe return home. In 1948, he was called as the local branch president for the church. Religious persecution resulted in his imprisonment in 1950 by the communist government in East Germany. He was finally released after 12 weeks. Soon thereafter, Rudolf, Elfriede and their two young sons escaped to West Berlin
and later relocated to Hanover
, West Germany
.
. While in Arizona
, they became American citizens and had two daughters.
In 1959, the family moved to Orem, Utah
where their third daughter was born. Rudolf worked as the bakery manager for Allen's Super Saver store. He later worked as Manager of the Provo Deseret Industries
.
, he made a promise to the Lord that if his life was spared, his life would be dedicated to serving the Lord. Accordingly, upon his survival, he served in every calling that came his way. Besides serving as a missionary and a branch president, his church service included stints as a bishop, stake high councilor, stake patriarch, president
of the Germany Düsseldorf Mission
(1972-1975), and first counselor in the Frankfurt Germany Temple
presidency
(1988-1990). Among those whom he influenced in his church service was the future member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, Bruce D. Porter
, whom he supervised as mission president while Porter served his full-time mission in Germany.
He died on January 8, 2003, in Lindon, Utah
. He was preceded in death by his wife Elfriede.
newspaper, The Daily Herald.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and afterwards immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he became a citizen.
Biography
Poecker was born on December 31, 1919, in FraureuthFraureuth
Fraureuth, located in the district of Zwickau, is a small town in Saxony, Germany. It has a population of around 5,834 inhabitants on a surface of 22,59 km². Fraureuth was a component of Thuringia until 1952.-External links:*...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, to Willy Emil Poecker and Ella Thekla Trumpold. He grew up in Fraureuth
Fraureuth
Fraureuth, located in the district of Zwickau, is a small town in Saxony, Germany. It has a population of around 5,834 inhabitants on a surface of 22,59 km². Fraureuth was a component of Thuringia until 1952.-External links:*...
, and at age 17, while a pastry chef apprentice, he met Elfriede Ehrler. It was "love at first sight." Elfriede introduced Rudolf to the LDS Church, into which he was baptized in 1940. They were married December 14, 1942.
Military service
During World War II, he was drafted into the German army and served as a medic in the elite Alpine troops for six years, fighting primarily against Soviet forces on the Eastern Front. Near the end of the war he was taken prisoner by the Soviets, but did not suffer transportation to the far-flung camp system, and was freed not long after the cessation of hostilities.Postwar church service
Shortly after the war, he was called to serve a two year LDS Church missionMissionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in his native country, ministering in the East (Soviet) Zone. During his mission, he was instrumental in procuring vast genealogical records that had been stored in underground salt mines.
During these 8 years of service for his country and church, Elfriede waited faithfully for his safe return home. In 1948, he was called as the local branch president for the church. Religious persecution resulted in his imprisonment in 1950 by the communist government in East Germany. He was finally released after 12 weeks. Soon thereafter, Rudolf, Elfriede and their two young sons escaped to West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
and later relocated to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Immigration to the U.S.
In February 1952, they immigrated to the United States of America and settled in Mesa, ArizonaMesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. While in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, they became American citizens and had two daughters.
In 1959, the family moved to Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
where their third daughter was born. Rudolf worked as the bakery manager for Allen's Super Saver store. He later worked as Manager of the Provo Deseret Industries
Deseret Industries
Deseret Industries is a non-profit organization and a division of the Welfare Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It includes a chain of retail thrift stores and work projects operated by the program. Deseret Industries thrift stores are similar to the well-known Goodwill...
.
Later church service
During the perilous time he spent on the Eastern Front facing the Soviet ArmySoviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
, he made a promise to the Lord that if his life was spared, his life would be dedicated to serving the Lord. Accordingly, upon his survival, he served in every calling that came his way. Besides serving as a missionary and a branch president, his church service included stints as a bishop, stake high councilor, stake patriarch, president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Germany Düsseldorf Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
(1972-1975), and first counselor in the Frankfurt Germany Temple
Frankfurt Germany Temple
The Frankfurt Germany Temple is the 43rd constructed and 41st operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Friedrichsdorf, Germany, it was built with the same general architecture as the six-spire design used in the Boise, Chicago, and Dallas temples,...
presidency
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
(1988-1990). Among those whom he influenced in his church service was the future member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, Bruce D. Porter
Bruce D. Porter
Bruce Douglas Porter is an American clergyman, who has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1995. He is a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy....
, whom he supervised as mission president while Porter served his full-time mission in Germany.
He died on January 8, 2003, in Lindon, Utah
Lindon, Utah
Lindon is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,070 at the 2010 census.The western sculptor Grant Speed resides in Lindon.-Geography:...
. He was preceded in death by his wife Elfriede.
Sources
Much of the material for this article was taken from a story that appeared on page A5 of the January 11, 2003 edition of the Orem, UtahOrem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
newspaper, The Daily Herald.