russ and stacy

On Sunday, March 4, 2007, Russell Peck and his wife Stacy translated into heaven due to an auto accident. They were on their way back from the LSAM State Basketball Tournament. He had served on the LSAM board for the past seven years. In addition, Mr. Peck was the fifth grade teacher, athletic director, and basketball coach at King of Glory Lutheran School. Russ taught school in the St Louis area for the last sixteen years, serving at River Roads Lutheran School, St Luke’s Lutheran School, Messiah Lutheran School, and Immanuel Lutheran School- Washington, MO in addition to King of Glory. With the love of Christ, he transformed his students in the classroom and on the basketball court.

Their family, friends, and the King of Glory family will miss Russ and Stacy Peck greatly. Russ was a great teacher, coach, mentor, role model to his students and friend. Stacy was very involved in his ministry. She helped Russ with his sports teams—keeping track of plays, taking photos, even washing uniforms! She was also working with some students on the school yearbook. Russ and Stacy put their whole hearts into King of Glory Lutheran School. She was media coordinator for the Lutheran International Center- LCMS Foundation.

They were married on August 10, 1996. Russ is survived by his parents, Roger M. and Janice (Baumann) Peck; his brother, Ryan (Sara) Peck; his step-grandfather, Jack Zimmermann; his nephew, Brady Peck, all of Merrill, Wis. Stacy is survived by her parents, Charles and Patricia C. (Lady) Courtway of De Soto; her aunt, Jean (Mike) Adams of Lemay and her uncle, John Courtway of Washington County.

Russ would always end his notes and emails with these words “Saved to serve.” Russ knew how much God loved him. He knew that he could never be good enough (even though he was a good and God-fearing young man) or do enough good things to earn God’s favor. He believed in God’s Word, which says there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. The only way to please God and be with Him forever is to believe that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins on Himself. Russ and Stacy both believed in Jesus and we know that we, who also believe that, will see them again in heaven someday. Therefore, Russ believed that God saved him to serve others, to share God’s love with everyone, to be an example to the young people of King of Glory. The best tribute we can give to Russ and Stacy is to also live by that motto—”Saved to serve.” Serve God by serving others with the kind of love that puts God first and others before ourselves.

The outpouring of support not only for the parents of Russ and Stacy but to the students and staff of the school as well has been overwhelming. Cards, letters, phone calls, and emails from around the world have brought comfort and peace to all of us. We can truly say that we will meet them again in heaven.

One of the letters we received spoke of what Stacy once wrote of Russ: “As a Lutheran School teacher, Russell has the opportunity to touch, inspire and influence countless young lives. Over the years, Russell has explained baptism with the same enthusiasm that he explains basketball plays to his students. Some of these young people have asked to be baptized – and asked their coach to be their godparent.” This speaks volumes as to the lives that they both touched over the years.

Russ would tell us to not to mourn their passing but to celebrate their entrance into heaven and to keep bringing Christ into the lives of children. "Well done, good and faithful servants."

Memorials may be sent to the School: Please designate Russell and Stacy Peck Memorial