Tschurtschenthaler, Idílio (1921–2007)

Idílio Tschurtschenthaler, pastor and educator, was born December 21, 1921, in the city of Curitiba, state of Parana, Brazil. He was raised in an Adventist home, the son of Fridolim Tschurtschenthaler (1893-1969)¹ and Ema Lydia Tschurtschenthaler (1896-1972). They also had three daughters: Irene (Oberg) (1919-2007), Ruth T. (Guebert) (1925-2004), and Sibila T. (Gomes).²

Idílio was of German descent and he spoke the language fluently since childhood. He did first and second grade (1927-1928) at Escola Alemã Progresso (Germany Progress Academy),³ established by evangelic German immigrants.⁴ His parents decided he should attend third through eighth grade (1929-1934) at the Escola Paroquial Adventista de Curitiba because they wanted him to receive a Christian education. He did the first two years of high school at Ginasio Estadual Paranaense, in Curitiba (1935-1936). He graduated the following year from Brazil College. This college had a special meaning for Idílio. It was there that he was baptized and he graduated with a degree in theology in 1941.⁵

His ministerial journey began in 1942 when he accepted the invitation of the Parana-Santa Catarina Conference to pastor in Entre Rios and Teixeira Soares, state of Paraná, and also to direct Guaraúna Adventist Academy, district of Teixeira Soares. He performed these duties until 1943, when he was transferred to Butia Academy, Paraná, as treasurer and teacher. He was not there long, for the world was in the midst of World War II and he was summoned for military service in his hometown. At the local military base, he served as a nurse from 1944 to 1945. During this period, he assisted with devotional activities. He was the speaker for the radio program “Momentos de Meditação” (Moments of Meditation), which was run by Parana-Santa Catarina Conference, and he directed the choir at Curitiba Central Church. He worked as an itinerant worker in the same conference from May to August 1945.⁶

On August 14, 1945, he married Júlia Zeitune (1923-1999), in the city of Cruzeiro, state of São Paulo. From this union were born Raquel Tschurtschenthaler (Reizer) (1948-) and Rute Noemi Tschurtschenthaler (Kaplum Silva) (1952-). He pastored the Joinville District, state of Santa Catarina from September 1945 to March 1946. From April to December, he worked as a pastor for the São Francisco do Sul district in the same state. In December 1947 he returned to Paraná in response to an invitation to teach at Butiá Academy, where he taught for four months. In April 1948 he took over the pastorate of Blumenau District, Santa Catarina. In the following years he was pastor of Vitória, Paraná (December 1949 to March 1955) and Lajes District, Santa Catarina (April 1955 to February 1956).⁷

In March 1956 he accepted the invitation of the Paraná-Santa Catarina Conference to direct the Education, Health and Temperance, and Youth Departments.⁸ At the same time he was also the principal of Bom Retiro Adventist Academy, Santa Catarina (1956 to 1957) and the director of Ginasio Adventista Paranaense (now Parana Adventist Academy), located in Ivatuba, Paraná (July 1959 to February 1960). In March 1960 he left his work with the departments and devoted himself exclusively to the Gymnasium, taking over the duties of treasurer, pastor, and teacher. In the following years, he was secretary and deputy director of that institution (1961-1973), continuing with the management activities.⁹ He taught History (1966-1971),¹⁰ Social and Political Organization (1969),¹¹ Civil and Moral Education (1970-1971),¹² and Religion (1972-1973).^{13 14}

His performance in the educational area expanded through the rest of his ministry. In Curitiba, he was secretary and director of the elementary schools from 1974 to 1980. Finally, he served as associate director of the Education Department for Parana Conference from 1981 to 1983, when he retired. He continued to work part time until January 1985, when he totally retired.¹⁵ He died in 2007 in Curitiba, Paraná,¹⁶ while listening to Radio Novo Tempo.¹⁷ In his more than 40 years of service to the Adventist Church, he spread Adventism in several cities of South Brazil, contributing to the baptism of hundreds of people. He is also remembered for his contribution to education and his administration of conference departments and Adventist schools in the states of Parana and Santa Catarina.¹⁸

Sources

Ferreira Rubens Segre. “Construir para Salvar.” Revista Adventista, year 51, n. 8, August 1956, 24. Accessed February 16, 2017, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br.

“Idílio Tschurtschenthaler.” Revista Adventista, year 102, n. 1191, August 2007, 37. Accessed June 1, 2017, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br.

Milan, Polliana. “Obra resgata história do Colégio Progresso.” Gazeta do Povo (Online), December 28, 2012.

Neto, Euzir. “Histórico.” Portal da Rede de Educação Adventista – Unidade Bom Retiro (Online), January 1, 2015.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973-74.

Tschurtschenthaler, Idílio. “Fredolim Tschurtschenthaler.” Revista Adventista, year 64, n. 12, December 1969, 42. Accessed November 6, 2017, http://acervo.revistaadventista.com.br1936

Notes

1. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017; Idílio Tschurtschenthaler, “Fredolim Tschurtschenthaler,” Revista Adventista, year 64, n. 12, December 1969, 42.↩

2. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017.↩

3. Ibid.↩

4. Polliana Milan, “Obra resgata história do Colégio Progresso,” Gazeta do Povo, December 28, 2012, Accessed February 15, 2017, http://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vida-e-cidadania/obra-resgata-historia-do-colegio-progresso-34tcp54wzuxm34bybsx1t5mq6.↩

5. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017.↩

6. Ibid.↩

7. Ibid.↩

8. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017.↩

9. Ibid.↩

10. “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1967), 327; and “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1972), 333.↩

11. “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 355.↩

12. “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1971), 364; and “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1972), 333.↩

13. “Parana Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1973/1974), 334.↩

14. Euzir Neto, “Histórico,” Portal da Rede de Educação Adventista – Unidade Bom Retiro, January 1, 2015, accessed July 2, 2016, http://ccabr.educacaoadventista.org.br/1/geral/234/historico.html.↩

15. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017.↩

16. “Idílio Tschurtschenthaler,” Revista Adventista, year 102, n. 1191, August 2007, 37.↩

17. Samir Reizer, e-mail to Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, February 15, 2017.936↩

18. Ibid.↩