Pastor John F. Kassouf's Obituary
Pastor John Kassouf, 69, of Fredericksburg Va., was reunited in heaven with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at his home.
John was born in Brooklyn, NY to Frederick and Caroline Kassouf. Two weeks after his birth, Frederick Kassouf went to heaven. Caroline remarried, Hans B. Schott when John was five and he was raised in Mount Vernon, NY, and attended Immanuel Lutheran School. John graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1972.
John attended Concordia College in Bronxville, NY where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Lutheran Teachers Diploma. While in school he worked for Vernon Studios as a professional photographer; while working there he met his future wife, Francine. He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Mt. Vernon, NY.
On June 4, 1978, John and Francine were married and shortly thereafter relocated to Baltimore MD. He served as a sixth-grade teacher and Minister of Christian Education at Calvary Lutheran Church and School. While serving at Calvery, he went on to get it a Masters in Education from Towson University and a Director of Christian Education degree from Concordia College St. Paul Minnesota. He then became the principal of Calvery Lutheran until 1987. For a short time after, John went on to serve as principal at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Catonsville, MD.
In 1989, while caring for his three young sons and wife, John and Francine took a step of faith and he went back to school full-time to fulfill his calling to become a minister. He attended Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharine’s, Ontario on the campus of Brock University. There, John attained his Master’s of Theological Studies.
John was ordained on June 28, 1992, and he was called to serve, First Lutheran Church in Huntingtown, MD. He served as Senior Pastor for 9 years. He then was called to serve at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bel Air, MD, where he served for 4 years as Senior Pastor. After his time in Maryland, he was called as the Senior Pastor of Risen Christ Lutheran Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. After 12 years at the beach, he was called to serve locally at Redeemer Lutheran Church, where he served for 7 years until illness prevented him from continuing his professional ministry.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Francine Kassouf; his three sons, Andrew Kassouf (Erin), Tim Kassouf (Jamie), and Mark Kassouf (Ashley); three grandchildren, Elisha, Rebekah, and Charlotte; his siblings, Lesa Robertson (Joel), Kurt Schott (Lynn), and Karl Schott (Julie); his uncle, Richard Kassouf; and a multitude of other loving extended family.
His family will receive friends from 6 pm to 9 pm on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels, 10719 Courthouse Rd, Fredericksburg. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 11 am at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 5120 Harrison Rd., Fredericksburg. All are welcome to join the family for a luncheon immediately following the service.
John dedicated his life to making sure he took as many souls to heaven as possible and his final message to you is: “Set your heart and life on Christ; tell others, including the next generation, that they might believe - See you in heaven! Be there! See 2 Timothy 4:1-8.”
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Choices Women’s Center, or any church that he served at - Calvary Lutheran Church and School - Baltimore, MD, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church - Catonsville, MD, First Lutheran Church - Huntingtown, MD, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Bel Air MD, Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Myrtle Beach, SC, or Redeemer Lutheran School and Preschool, Fredericksburg VA.
“GO OUT THERE AND GIVE ’EM HEAVEN!”
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