Erwin (Erv) Uecker said, when as about his life goal: "To leave this human family in a little better condition than I found it." And that he did in spectacular fashion his whole life long.

Erv was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 2, 1932. On the day he was born, the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago. Franklin D. Roosevelt and his motorcade to the convention went right past the hospital Erv was born in. Erv's grandfather remarked on FDR passing by the hospital, "There goes one president, and here comes another president" referring to the birth of his grandson.

Erv enjoyed a very rich life, both personally and professionally. He met the love of his life, his husband Ross Walker in June, 1957 through a mutual friend. "It wasn't 'Love at first Sight', we were 'Friends at first Sight', said Erv. And they remained the best of friends through all their 67 years together. Perhaps that's the key to a relationship which has taken them from a Lutheran parsonage in Chicago, to a horse breeding farm, and finally to Milwaukee, where they were instrumental in keeping the BESTD Clinic operating.

Erv said he was a "recovering Lutheran". He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister in 1968. For ten years, he was the Pastor at Chicago's St. Luke's Lutheran Church, where he directed a staff of four associate pastors.

Although the church was in a middle class, blue-collar neighborhood, the couple lived together in the parsonage. "Everybody did what they had to do to deal with it," said Erv. "Some people thought we were brothers until both our mothers showed up at church one day."

The two also bought a horse-breeding farm in Oxford, Wisconsin. They bred horses there for about 12 years before ending it. In 1983, the couple stopped in Milwaukee on their way through to sell a property. "We were going to retire at Marco Island, Florida. But, we met some friends in Milwaukee. We decided we didn't need Florida."

That fateful decision was Milwaukee's gain. Erv and Ross got very involved in the BESTD Clinic. They both worked full-time, without pay, for the Clinic. They were also instrumental in the founding of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. In addition to activism and personal time involvement, they provided the initial money by making a long-term pledge of money toward rent and operating costs of a true community center.

Again in 2015, Erv took on the role of pastor in becoming an Interim Pastor of Pilgrim UCC Church in Grafton, WI, for six months, after the departure of Pastor Franz Rigert, to keep the church moving forward during a critical period of transition.

Erv will be greatly missed by his devoted husband, Ross, and by the many extended family and friends, including those at Alexian Village, where he has lived for the past 14 years, by the LGBT communities he was such an integral part of, to the many church congregations that were blessed to have Erv as their pastor for years.

The Memorial Service for Erv Uecker will be held on Saturday, November 30th, 2024 at Pilgrim UCC Grafton, WI, 1621 Second Ave, Grafton, WI 53024. Visitation is 10:30 am - 12:00 pm with service at 12:00.

The service will be Livestreamed for those unable to attend in-person. You can access the Livestream using the following link: Livestream Erwin Uecker Funeral Service

Luncheon at Pilgrim following the service for all attendees.

In lieu of flowers, please direct a donation to the Pilgrim UCC Grafton, WI Memorial Fund for use in Kitchen Renovations.