Reverend Doctor August John “Gus” Bueltmann, 1906–1970

Reverend Dr. August John Bueltmann was born 14 August 1906 in his grandmother’s little frame house adjoining a coal yard at 2615 St. Louis Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Called Gus as a child, he was the son of Karl August Bueltmann and Rosa Mueller. Christened in St. Augustine Catholic Church, he often attended mass with his mother. The family moved to 19th St. where they lived until Rosa died in childbirth in 1911. Gus and his father then returned to 2615 St. Louis Ave.

Gus attended Columbia Grammar School during his grade school years. Before Gus could write, he would dictate stories to his father, who wrote them down. Gus’s teachers praised and encouraged his writing. When Gus was in seventh grade, he became a reporter, and in eighth grade, he was editor of the school paper, The Columbia Gem. He wrote many of his own stories and began performing in plays. In April 1919, he was confirmed at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. At his grammar school graduation ceremony, though no student exercises were planned, Gus and a classmate performed a dialogue that Gus had written himself when the speaker was delayed.

Gus entered Yeatman High School in September where he participated in debate and drama and continued writing. In 1923, he was editor of Yeatman Life, the school’s yearbook. He played on softball and basketball teams organized by his church. After graduation, he worked at Southwestern Freight Bureau until September 1924 when he entered St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas. He worked many jobs there to pay his tuition. Gus next attended Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, graduating in 1932, and accepted a call to his first parish in California.

On 25 June 1933 in Ramona Park, he married Anna Marie Wise (13 August 1913–8 January 1989), daughter of George Franklin Wise and Bertha Loy. Gus and Anna Marie had four children: Faith, George, David, and Mark.

He went on to. serve parishes in California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Ohio. After receiving his Th.D. degree, he became head of the religion department and taught Latin, religion, and journalism at Lutheran High School East in Cleveland, Ohio. As vice president of the Cleveland Historical Institute, he lectured before numerous organizations.

Dr. Bueltmann served several districts, where he held pastorates in official positions in the departments of youth work, missions, and education. He was a circuit counselor and Executive Board Chairman of the Lutheran Institutional Ministry Society. For five years, Dr. Bueltmann was managing editor for the Christian Education Company, publishers of The Christian Parent and My Chum magazines. For eight years he edited Nurture, the official publication of the National Lutheran Parent-Teacher League. The author of ten published books, one of them translated into Chinese, Dr. Bueltmann also contributed articles to religious magazines. Concordia Publishing House commissioned him to write three books. His quick wit, good humor, and kind heart endeared him to everyone who met him. Dr. Bueltmann died 24 May 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Written by Faith Stern
Jun 2025

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