Pastor James Edward (Jim) Witschorke, age 73 of Marion, passed away in St. Johns Lutheran Church serving his Lord and Savior on January 24, 2013. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Tres Hewell Mortuary from 1 to 5 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 3 to 5p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Marion with Bishop Ray Tiemann and Rev. Robert Pfennig officiating. Interment will follow in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in Marion. From the time James Edward Withchorke was 11, he wanted nothing more than to become a pastor. Pastor Jim or PJ as he was known was ordained on December 11, 1966 by his uncle in Shive, Texas. Pastor Jim and his loving wife Joanne moved to Neligh, Nebraska in 1966 to begin his service to our Lord. After 2 ½ years Pastor Jim and Joanne moved to Elgin, Texas where he served at St. Peter's Lutheran Church for 6 ½ years and then for the next 7 years at Zionsville Lutheran Church in Brenham, Texas. The remaining 31 years of his career he spent at St. Johns Lutheran of Marion Texas. Pastor Jim loved his morning tacos, visiting around town, going fishing, deer hunting, and eating out with his beloved rent-a-friends. For 25 years the rent-a-friends as Mike Florey lovingly dubbed the group of 5 couples shared laughter, love and life. Pastor Jim was preceded in death by Fred Mosley on January 24, 2009 and by Mike Florey on January 21, 2012, two of his rent-a-friends. Pastor Jim was born on August 30, 1939 in Shive, Texas to Edward and Elsie Sussdorf Witschorke. He is also preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, Robert, Sr. and Emma Hodde Witschorke, an uncle, Robert Witschorke, Jr. and two aunts, Clara Landua and Margaret Streich. Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Joanne Daniels Lange Witschorke; daughter, Sheryl Witschorke; son, Stephen Witschorke and wife Allison; beloved grandson, Seth Witschorke; numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church, 600 S. Center, Marion, Texas, 78124 or to the Guadalupe County Youth Livestock and Homemaker Show, P. O. Box 1400, Seguin, Texas, 78156.