About Ellsworth

(What follows is only the briefest summary of Ellsworth Kalas' life.  Meanwhile, we are developing "scrapbook" pages, which will share more of the details and the beauty of

his 92 years here.)

Ellsworth Kalas was born on February 14, 1923 in Sioux City, Iowa.  While his adult years were all spent in other states, he always thought of himself as an Iowa boy.  And his affection for his hometown was evident years later when he chose to make an annual, personal pilgrimage to go back to Sioux City and walk those streets and revisit the key places from his childhood. 

Dr. Kalas never wrote an autobiography, per se, but he did write one book recalling an eventful and pivotal year from his boyhood in Sioux City. 

Dr. Kalas did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin in Madison (1951) and his seminary work at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (1954).  He did additional graduate research at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University. He was awarded four honorary doctorates during his life.

Dr. Kalas served as a United Methodist pastor at churches in Wisconsin and Ohio for 38 years.  He retired from pastoral ministry at the age of 65, but he continued to work full-time until he was 92.  For five years after retiring, he served as an associate in evangelism for the World Methodist Council. Then, in 1993, he joined the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.  

Dr. Kalas served in a variety of roles at Asbury -- proving leadership for the Beeson Pastors program, teaching homiletics, and even serving for several years as the President of the seminary. 

Dr. Kalas died early in the morning -- which is when he was always accustomed to rising -- on Thursday, November 12, 2015.