Limvere dedicated to Medina: Pastor, active member of the community dies Thursday at 65

Known for his work with Medina (N.D.) Lions, Chase Lake Foundation, Birding Drives Dakota and as pastor at Zion United Church of Christ, Karl Limvere was dedicated to promoting Medina, friends said.

Limvere died of a heart attack Thursday at Sanford Health in Fargo. He was 65.

Limvere had worked for the Union Farmer at North Dakota Farmers Union in Jamestown and later on the staff of Sen. Byron Dorgan. In 1995, he helped draft versions of what would become the farm bill.

He served as pastor at Zion United Church of Christ and promoted sustainable agriculture and the importance of community.

Friend of 10 years, Ray Heupel said Limvere worked tirelessly.

Vernon Bader, friend and congregant, said Limvere cared more about his community than he did about himself.

“The city of Medina, for example, was a ‘we’ not an ‘I’ or a ‘you,’” Bader said.

Chase Lake Foundation seeks to raise awareness and appreciation of the prairie pothole landscape and to develop natural resources-based opportunities for the rural community. Chase Lake has one of the largest pelican populations in North America. Travelers from around the world stop in Medina to see it.

That was important to Limvere, said friend Dan Buchanan.

Buchanan said Limvere cared about the area and the culture of Medina’s small community.

“I just think he was a class-act guy,” Buchanan said.

Limvere downplayed many of his accomplishments, Buchanan said. Like the time he opened his church to motorists stranded in the March 11 blizzard. Zion United Church of Christ sheltered about 50 travelers stuck in the storm, he said.

“He made that happen,” Buchanan said.

Limvere made things happen for the Medina Lions too.

He held various leadership roles and kept the community aware of the group’s activities.

Limvere organized events like Teddy Roosevelt re-enactments and banquets for Chase Lake as well as seminars for the community on topics such as Alzheimer’s disease or the bridge construction near Medina over Interstate 94.

“He was a terrific guy and tremendous promoter of community,” said the Rev. Darwin Kopfmann, Streeter, N.D.

Kophmann knew Limvere through Medina Lions as well as through the Medina-Gackle-Street Ministerial Association in which Limvere was the chairman.

Arrangements for Limvere are pending with Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.

Sun reporter Katie Ryan-Anderson can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan-anderson@ jamestownsun.com

Tags: life, religion, pastor, medina