Rev. Richard John Mauthe, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, pastor, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on May 14, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones, after a brief battle with cancer. He was 77 years old.
Richard was born on Father's Day, June 20, 1948, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Richard and Mildred Mauthe, who predeceased him. He spent his earliest days in an upstairs apartment on Jefferson Avenue before his family settled in Cranford, New Jersey, where he was raised and formed many lifelong memories. From an early age, Richard demonstrated a strong work ethic, beginning work in seventh grade at Morgenroth's Soda Shop in Cranford, cleaning and picking up evening newspapers from the train station.
A proud graduate of Cranford High School, Class of 1966, Richard attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he majored in German Language and Literature. His love of language and culture led him abroad in 1968 through Kent State University's summer language program in Cologne, Germany, where he lived with the Baker family. He later spent his junior year studying at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich, Germany, residing near the English Garden. During his senior year at Muhlenberg, Richard served as president of the German Club and completed his student teaching at Trexler Junior High School.
Richard taught German in the Allentown School District from 1970 to 1982 at Harrison-Morton Junior High School and William Allen High School. During that time, he continued his education at Lehigh University from 1971 to 1975, earning a Master's degree in Modern Foreign Languages and completing combined course requirements for a Certificate in Secondary School Administration. It was at Harrison-Morton where he met the love of his life, Edith. They were married on June 3, 1972, and shared nearly 54 devoted years together. Their first home in Neffs, Pennsylvania remained one of Richard's favorite places and memories.
In 1982, Richard answered a call to ministry and entered the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) seminary in Philadelphia. He graduated in 1986 and was ordained that same year at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, where he had previously served as an intern vicar under Pastor Helmut Kaffine, who became a lifelong friend.
Rev. Mauthe faithfully served congregations throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. In August 1986, he was called to Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Union Church in Woxall, Pennsylvania, where he helped establish Advent Lutheran Church in 1991. In 1994, he began serving at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his retirement in 2010. Even in retirement, Richard continued his ministry through interim pastoral supplying and teaching the Old and New Testaments for the Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA Diakonia courses.
Richard embraced life with curiosity, discipline, and joy. He began running in his 50s and completed 13 marathons, proudly including the New York City Marathon among his favorites. He was an avid stamp collector, birder, gardener, model railroad enthusiast, genealogist for more than 40 years, and antique car lover who once proudly owned a Model T. Summers spent at the family cabin on Sebec Lake in Maine, especially with his cousin Fred, remained among his most cherished memories.
A lifelong learner and thoughtful theologian, Richard authored and published The Prodigal Son's Prodigal Father in 2024, a faith-based exploration of the deep connections between the Old and New Testaments. Through his writing, he sought to help readers better understand and reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the teachings of love and grace embodied by Jesus Christ.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, Edith Mauthe; his sister, Barbara Conrad; his daughters, Alyssa Gateman and her husband Eric Gateman, and Sarah Mauthe and her husband Gary Plessl; his grandsons Brandon, Nathaniel, Logan, and Zachary; his step-grandchildren Jake, Olivia, and Joseph; and his cherished fur companions Riley, Freddie, and Jack.
A memorial service celebrating Richard's life will be held in Arizona on June 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson, followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon.
A second memorial service will be held in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Breinigsville. Calling hours will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed immediately by the memorial service and then a Celebration of Life luncheon afterward.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to ELCA World Relief or Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Richard's memory.
Richard will be remembered for his unwavering faith, gentle wisdom, intellectual curiosity, humor, kindness, and deep love for his family and community. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched through teaching, ministry, friendship, and love.
