Rev Krishen A. Persaud

The Rev. Krishen A. Persaud, 76, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Monday, April 30, 2007, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Services will be 11 a.m. today at St. John Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Greg Hanneman officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Krishen was born March 26, 1931, in Guyana, South America, to Ram and Bahnathai (Adhin) Persaud. While in Guyana, he was a school headmaster and catechist for eight years.

He married Joyce R. Teekasingh on Sept. 8, 1952, in New Amsterdam, Guyana. He left South America in 1961 to attend Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, Texas, and graduated with a degree in sociology. He received his master's degree in Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1968.

He served as pastor in Osage, Milford and Graettinger, Iowa before receiving a call to serve at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sioux City, where he dedicated 25 years to that congregation. After leaving Our Savior's, he became an associate pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church for seven additional years. He retired from the ministry in 2005.

He touched many lives in the Sioux City community. He served as president of the Sioux City Ministerial Association, was a member of the Sioux City Human Rights Commission and served several other community organizations. He also organized mission trips to Guyana with the Young Ambassadors for Christ ... helping renovate and build onto his home church.

He recently became a member of St. John Lutheran Church. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years, Joyce; his children, Dr. Michael Persaud and his wife, Shannon of Sioux City, Gordon Persaud and his wife, Elaine of Lee's Summit, Mo., Pat (Persaud) Drahota and her husband, Dr. L. John Drahota of Omaha and Peter Persaud and his wife, Rosemary of Iowa City, Iowa; his grandchildren, Erin Devi, Melissa Maya, Alisha Anjuli, Christopher Michael, Gabriel Francis, L. Zachary, Meghan Maya and Lily Johanna; a special sister-in-law, Ginger Fischer and her husband, Patrick and their children, Ryan and Daniel; his sisters, Deokie, Keolawanti and Dhanwanti; and a brother, Dindial.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Baldeo, Ganesh, Hari, Premchand and Sukdeo.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Persaud, Alex Knepper, Frank Gilbert, Daniel and Ryan Fischer and Paul Massey. Honorary pallbearers will be the Young Ambassadors for Christ.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.