The Concordia University Wisconsin community is remembering Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola as a faithful teacher of theology, a devoted pastor and a mentor whose warmth and wisdom shaped the lives of countless students. He lived out his calling each day. For nearly three decades, Paavola served Concordia and the church with dedication and joy. Since joining the faculty in 1996, he became known for his deep knowledge of Scripture, engaging classroom conversations and sincere care for the students entrusted to him.
Under Paavola’s guidance, those who came to Concordia hoping to grow in faith and understanding often found both. Even after retiring from CUW in 2024, he remained active as an adjunct professor and guest pastor. Paavola passed away March 2, 2026.
“Our Concordia community grieves the loss of Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola,” said CUW President Erik Ankerberg. “We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together in prayer and remembrance as we commend Dr. Paavola to the care of our risen Lord.”
Concordia will host a campus gathering for prayer, remembrance and mutual support so that students, faculty and staff may come together as a community.
Members of the CUW community, past and present, are invited to gather Tuesday, March 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant. This time together will provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to pray, hear God’s Word and support one another as we remember Dr. Paavola’s life and ministry.
A teacher who made connections
Paavola had a gift for making connections — between Scripture and daily life, between theology and vocation, and between himself and the students who filled his classroom.
On the first day of class, he often drew a circle on the board and filled it with a handful of his interests. Then he invited students to identify what they had in common with him. Dogs were almost always the most popular answer. Motorcycles often came in second.
It was a simple exercise, but it reflected something deeper about Paavola’s approach to teaching. He believed learning happened best when people felt seen, known and invited into the conversation.
For David Koester, a senior majoring in applied theology and theological languages, those connections were clear from the start.
“I was blessed to have two classes with him — one of them my very first class at CUW, New Testament — and they were a blast,” Koester said. “From lively lectures to his timeless sayings, like ‘Let’s look at our friend the clock … oh! we’re so good,’ he was a master at his craft. His style brought so much light to the classroom and so much joy to students’ faces, even for those of us who braved the 7:30 a.m. classes.”
Koester remembers Paavola as someone whose love for Scripture was unmistakable.
“He loved God and he loved His Word,” Koester said. “He was a fantastic servant of the Word. His preaching was thoroughly biblical and theologically sound, and he always found ways to help us see the message more clearly.”
Beyond the classroom, Koester said Paavola invested deeply in the lives of his students.
“He impacted me immensely during my freshman year and encouraged me when I was unsure about my path to becoming a pastor,” Koester said. “He was always open to talk — whether about the farm, since I’m a farm boy, too, or about a new theological discovery.”
“And above all, he was a very kind person,” Koester added. “A gentle soul and loving heart. The impact he made on me and countless others is immense and impossible to fully put into words.”
Finding joy on two wheels — and in God’s creation
Those who knew Paavola also knew about another of his great passions: motorcycles.
According to a 2019 article written by former Director of University Communications Kali Thiel, Paavola’s love of riding began early. On Nov. 27, 1970, his father surprised him with his first motorcycle, a Yamaha 305. Paavola was still two years shy of the legal driving age, but growing up on a 200-acre dairy farm in Minnesota meant he already had years of experience operating tractors and trucks.
That gift sparked a lifelong passion. He built quite the collection: a Honda Africa Twin, BMW R60/5, Honda VFR and Yamaha FJR.
“Rarely a week has gone by without a ride,” Thiel wrote in her profile. After joining Concordia’s faculty in 1996, Paavola began keeping detailed riding logs, recording the temperature, distance and weather conditions of many of his journeys.
For Paavola, riding was more than a hobby. It was a way to clear his mind and find joy in everyday rhythms.
“I tell my students, ‘You want me to ride. I’m a happier person when I ride,’” he once said with a grin. “If you have some issues or stress, a 60-mile round-trip commute to work will take it right out of you.”
Many of those rides took him between his home in Cedar Grove and Concordia’s Mequon campus. Others carried him across Wisconsin as he preached in congregations and served the church he loved.
Even on the road, his mind often returned to Scripture and the calling he shared with his students. Thiel noted that Paavola knew Scripture so well he could draft sermons in his head while riding.
A life of faithful service
Alongside his work in the classroom, Paavola remained deeply connected to congregational ministry. Most recently, he served as pastor at River of Life Lutheran Church in Saukville and on staff at First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedarburg, all while continuing to mentor Concordia students preparing for lives of service in the church.
Carol A. Lueders Bolwerk, director of parish nursing and congregational health ministries, worked alongside Paavola for decades through his support of parish nursing and congregational health initiatives. She remembers him as a steady presence who rarely declined an opportunity to serve.
“One can describe Dan with many kind words, but servant leader, faithful friend and cherished mentor come to mind,” Bolwerk said. “I worked closely with Dan for several decades as he supported parish nursing and congregational health ministries. He never seemed to tire and never declined any requests. He was always there supporting, nurturing and mentoring.”
Bolwerk said parish nurses across the district looked forward to hearing Paavola speak at annual gatherings. For nearly two decades, he preached at the Tuesday parish nurse district representative meeting and led Wednesday summer chapel services, often delivering the conference keynote tied to the theme of the gathering.
“Parish nurses would attend the annual conference just to hear him and would tell me, ‘You have to have Dan again next year,’” Bolwerk said.
Reflecting on his passing, Bolwerk said Paavola often reminded others to view life through the promise of Christ.
“His untimely death has caused us to wonder, to be troubled and to question,” she said. “But Dan would calm us and soothe our spirits. He would remind us that our life on earth is only a steppingstone to life eternal with our dear Jesus. We are here to serve Him for a time, but our real home is waiting for us.”
For many who encountered him, Paavola embodied the vocation he taught so often: a life rooted in Christ and lived in service to others.
A life never forgotten
As the Concordia community remembers his life and legacy, it also gives thanks for the many ways he shared the Gospel with students, congregations, colleagues and friends. President Erik Ankerberg encouraged the community to continue lifting up those closest to Paavola in prayer.
“Please continue to keep Dr. Paavola’s family, along with the congregations of First Immanuel Lutheran Church and River of Life Lutheran Church, in your prayers during this time,” he said.
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s,” Romans 14:8.
For years to come, Paavola’s influence will continue to be felt in classrooms, sanctuaries and perhaps even on quiet Wisconsin roads. He will be deeply missed.
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