Rev. Dr. Michael Gregory Merkel died on Friday, November 28, 2025. Michael was born in Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania, and attended Muhlenberg College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Michael was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate from Muhlenberg in 1994. For over 50 years, he served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. During his time in ministry, he served multiple churches in the Philadelphia area, as Bishop of Southeast Pennsylvania, and as pastor of Bethesda Lutheran Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

We remember with joy the time he threw out the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies game. We share with pride the time he was arrested protesting along with Rev. Jesse Jackson for fair pay and benefits for workers at Yale University. Mostly we remember the man who tried to be a humble servant of God every day. He preached the good news by baptizing children, presiding at weddings, and ministering at funerals. He loved God and his neighbor, serving them in equal measure until he could no longer do so.

His family and all who love him will remember Michael for his quiet compassion, the way he laughed watching the Naked Gun movies, and his dry humor that could catch everyone off guard.

He touched many lives. He will be missed. He has gone home.

Michael is survived by his wife Susan, brother Stephen, children Christine and Gregory, their spouses Teresa and Keli, and three grandchildren, Rachel, Ethan, and Zachary.

A celebration of Michael's life will be held on December 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm at St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Ave Newark DE 19711.The service will be livestreamed on St. Paul's FaceBook page. Visitation hours will be held from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ELCA World Hunger or your local foodbank.