Dean R. Jurgen

Pastor Dean Jurgen, age 72, of Lititz, peacefully passed on Friday March 27, in the loving care of Moravian Manor Communities and Masonic Village Hospice Care.

Born on October 17, 1953, to parents Robert and JoAnn Jurgen, Dean was raised, along with older brother, Douglas, in Bucks County where he attended Buckingham Friends School and Central Bucks East High School (1971).

Dean is survived by his wife of over 49 years, Elizabeth Jurgen; his two daughters, Kirsten McClenahan and Elyse Jurgen; and their respective partners Brian McClenahan and Charlie Stephenson. He was also adored by his two grandsons, Owen and Finn McClenahan. He passed in the presence of his brother-in-law, Dan Graybill, gently singing “It Is Well with My Soul.”

After receiving his undergraduate degree in Religion and Psychology from Moravian College (1976) and a Master of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary (1981), Dean lovingly served for 40 years as a Moravian Church pastor. Prior to being ordained, he helped Big Oak Moravian Church (Yardley, PA) reverse its track to closure. His first call to full-time pastoral service was to South Moravian Church (Dover, Ohio), where he also assisted Sharon Moravian Church (Tuscarawas, Ohio).

Starting in 1984, he served at Midway Manor Moravian Church (Allentown, PA), contributing to significant growth in attendance. In 1990, he accepted a call to Covenant Moravian Church (York, PA), where he served at Camp Hope, volunteered as a night chaplain at York Hospital, and chaired the Pastoral Care Committee of OPEN, an HIV and AIDS ministry.

Finally, from 2005–2021, Dean served at Lititz Moravian Church. There, he created new areas of mission, helped form the acoustic praise band, “Glory Be Good,” and is warmly remembered as a ventriloquist for his puppet, “Leggo the Lamb.” During his service at Lititz, Dean was recognized with the John Hus Award (2017) from the Moravian Theological Seminary.

His cherished contributions to the congregations he nurtured were his creative children's chats, playing guitar, singing in the choir, punny roadside church signs, and heartfelt Sunday sermons that only an earnest human like him could craft. He was a peaceful presence to those he served at sick bedsides, funerals, and marriage unions. Dean was a guiding light–an anchoring spiritual guide for many.

He spoke of end-of-life as a jubilant return to something he perhaps was already keenly in kinship with. His unique relation with dying brought an easeful acceptance to his nearly 12 years with Parkinson's.

As a spouse to Liz, he is remembered as an adventurous travel companion. Trips to ski and snowshoe in Vermont, scuba and snorkel in the Florida Keys, kayak at Chincoteague, hike Angels Landing at Zion National Park, bike the Enola Low Grade Trail, and relax in Cape May, to name a few. Their relationship was endearingly kindled during a Moravian College study abroad in the Holy Land where they planted sugar baby watermelons at a kibbutz.

As a Dad of two daughters, he was always eager to play several rounds of Uno, solitaire, or a board game of choice. He was supportively present at nearly every one of Elyse’s field hockey games through college, bringing the beloved family dog, Dundee, to lift spirits. He was just as ready to drive at length to rescue Kirsten when she was in college, on crutches, and with a broken-down car. His love shown through his goofy dad jokes, top-down Geo Tracker rides, adventurous National Park family summer vacations, and relaxing canoe paddles on Sunday afternoons. He is also fondly remembered for his camcorder family videos, cookie-cutter-stamped 'fluffer nutter' sandwiches, and cherished handwritten notes in packed school lunches. As an “Opa” to Owen and Finn, he is lovingly remembered playing with them in the trickling spring in the backyard.

Dean found joy as a Philly Phanatic and Eagles fan. He kicked Parkinson’s plights with encouragement of Brooke, Rocky Steady Boxing, and Crush PD Fitness. His favorite sounds were those of babbling brooks, the Beatles, James Taylor, and Moravian hymns. He loved the color yellow and the taste of all things lemon.

A Celebration of Life service for Dean will be held at Lititz Moravian Church, 8 Church Square, Lititz, on Saturday April 25 at 10:00 AM, with visitation in Fellowship Hall starting at 9:00 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jurgen Family Memorial Fund at Moravian University or to Moravian Manor Benevolent Care Fund.