The Rev. Alfred Buehner, 91, of Pensacola, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Azalea Trace of congestive heart failure.

A mentor to many, a friend to all, a gentle giant, and a leader in the Lutheran church, he led a long and fulfilling lifetime of giving. Alfred, known to most as Pastor Al, was born on February 11, 1931, in Cleveland, OH. He was a first generation American born to the late Alfred and Regina Buehner. Following his graduation from West Tech High School in Cleveland, he attended college at Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. His strong faith led him to a career in the Lutheran clergy. During his last year of college, he accepted an arranged blind date and met the love of his life, Carol Jean Riedel. Together, they continued their long-distance romance, getting engaged just before his college graduation. They were married on April 19, 1952 and started their 70 years of adventure with Pastor Al's start of seminary at Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, OH.

Just before his graduation from seminary in 1955, Carol and Al welcomed their first child, Linda, into the world. Pastor Al then began a mission congregation in Detroit, going door to door in the neighborhood to invite residents to church. He and Carol welcomed their second child, David, during this time. From Detroit, the family moved to East Cleveland, where Pastor Al took on the challenges of a large city congregation at St. James Lutheran Church. Al took it all in stride. His gentle soul and ability to bring people together were a blessing to all around him for all his years. In Cleveland, Al and Carol welcomed their third child, Timothy. The family's time in Cleveland cemented many great, long-lasting relationships with other pastors and their families, who became a part of the Buehner's extended family. The annual summer camping trips with some of this extended family (the Roliks) were a source of great joy for Al. They were able to travel to every state except Hawaii in their camper.

After his years at St. James, Pastor Al was called to a congregation in Kettering, OH. Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, named after one Pastor Al's favorite hymns, was a suburban congregation that was beginning to expand. During this time, Al enjoyed making stained glass pieces and reading many mystery novels. He then moved to a position with Lutheran Social Services in Dayton, serving in a community service capacity, until he was appointed as an Assistant to the Bishop for the Southern Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (now the ELCA). He began serving as a member of the "deployed staff", traveling all across Southern Ohio to support the many Lutheran congregations in that region. Al and Carol then moved to Columbus, where he remained until his official retirement, supporting the growing mission of the church.

Through his years in Dayton and Columbus, Pastor Al was blessed to welcome four grandchildren; Anja, Linnea, Nathaniel and Tyra; from his son Tim and his wife Randi. Al and Carol loved traveling to Florida to spend time with them as they were born. Watching them as they grow and participating in their lives was one of Al's favorite pastimes.

Pastor Al officially retired in 2000 though, as many know, pastors never really retire. Shortly after, they moved to Navarre, FL to be closer to Tim and his children in Tallahassee, and to their daughter, Linda, in Gulf Breeze. Their son David also moved to Florida a few years later, and they were happy to have their children all back in the same state. In 2001, they welcomed the last of their grandchildren; Hannah, Lauren and Stephen. The triplets, born to Linda, were fortunate to grow up with their grandparents close by.

After moving to Florida, Pastor Al continued to serve at the behest of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA.  He served as a supply pastor and interim pastor across Northwest Florida, settling in as a long-term interim pastor for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pensacola, FL. Since fully retiring, he continued to offer his guidance to all until his last days. Despite his struggles, he remained a force of positivity and always made everyone around him smile. In the past two years, Pastor Al and Carol were blessed further with two great grandchildren, Ivolyn and Elin, children of his oldest granddaughter Anja and her husband Patrick. They have brought incredible joy to his and Carol's lives.

Pastor Al is survived by his beautiful wife of 70 years, Carol; his three children, Linda Brent (Baradon), David, and Tim (Randi); his seven grandchildren, Anja Shropshire (Patrick), Linnea, Nathaniel, Tyra, Stephen Baradon, Lauren Baradon and Hannah Baradon; and two great-grandchildren, Ivolyn and Elin Shropshire.

Visitation will be held 10:00am until a Memorial Service to begin at 11:00am (CST) (12noon EST) Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4600 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503. You can also watch the service at 11:00am CST at the following live link: Https://tinyurl.com/watchstpaul

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Paul Lutheran Church, a re-development congregation of the ELCA.