Allen Ralph Deinert


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     Life.  I have gone from high school, through college at Cal State Northridge to military service and Vietnam. I have gone from being a salesman and manager for the Broadway Dept. Stores and a utility manager for Jack-in-the Box to being a Probation Officer at LA Central Juvenile Hall to entering the ministry with the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. In 1977 I was ordained as a pastor and married to a girl from Rhode Island. I have served in Aransas Pass, Texas, Goldsboro, NC, Tempe, AZ, Holtville, CA, in Riverside, CA, and in Moreno Valley, CA, where I am now serving as Youth Director. Currently I also substitute teach and am about to begin student teaching through Concordia University, Irvine. My wife is a school nurse for the Corona-Norco School District and got her MSN degree from San Diego State in 2004. My oldest daughter, born in 1980, graduated from the University of Phoenix in May, 2005. She now works as a manager of the Vitamin Shoppe, at the Irvine Spectrum. She is married and the mother of our beautiful granddaughter, Abigail, born June 5, 2004. She is expecting our second granddaughter in early September. My oldest son, born in 1982, graduated from Concordia University, Irvine in 2004. Our second son, born in 1989 on my birthday, is a sophomore at Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff. Our youngest daughter, born in 1994, starts high school this fall.

     My family is my greatest accomplishment. Being "Papa" has especially been fun. I love what I do, though it is a huge challenge and I'm often faced with my limitations. It forces me to look beyond myself to God's power and let that power help me to help others. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). 

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     Workplace I have been a Lutheran pastor for more than 28 years, at churches in Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, and California. For the last couple of years I have also been a substitute teacher--primarily in middle and high schools. I am trying to complete my secondary school credential in Social Studies and a Masters degree in Education. It utilizes so many different skills. It is never boring, often stressful, but extremely rewarding. It compliments my roles as husband, father, and grandfather--though it often competes with them for time. During the past few years, with the deaths of certain friends and family members, the emergence of certain health issues in my own life, and the discovery of the joy of grandparenting, I've come to gain even greater appreciation of life and role that we can all play in encouraging one another to live life more fully and enjoy it more! We have been blessed!

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With my wife, Christine
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Back Row: Myself and Christine. Front Row: My son Josh, my daughter Rebekah and my son Andrew Zachary
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My wife Christine, my daughter Rebekah and myself

Comments

Hi Allen, I so agree that being a parent is the best ! and Grandparent too! Your life has been so full & so interesting to read about! Diana Dispoto (class of 64) also worked at that Broadway! Of all the places you have lived, which was your favorite? Thank you for sharing all! 
                                                         Your Classmate Gloria Dorcy
Allen,

When I read your story on Classmates I knew it was one everyone on our website would enjoy reading, too. Thanks for sharing it with us all. You are certainly a very blessed man with children and grandchildren and a wonderful partner to share the ups and downs of life with you. Congratulations and my God bless you and your family always.
                                                        Jeff Davis