Rudolf K. Poecker

Rudolf Kurt Poecker (December 31, 1919–January 8, 2003) was a German–American baker, missionary, and religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the German Army during World War II, and afterwards immigrated to the United States where he became a citizen.

Biography

Poecker was born on December 31, 1919, in Fraureuth, Greiz, Thueringen, 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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 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 mission 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"Mormonism in Germany", by Gilbert Scharffs. 1970. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. Pages 144-146.] .

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.

Immigration to the U.S.

In February 1952, they immigrated to the United States of America and settled in Mesa, Arizona. 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.

Later church service

During the perilous time he spent on the Eastern Front facing the Soviet Army, 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 Duesseldorf 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 passed away on January 8, 2003, in Lindon, Utah. He was preceded in death by his wife Elfriede.

ources

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, Utah newspaper, The Daily Herald [ [http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/90700/ Rudolf Kurt Poecker "Together Again"] ] .

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