Retired Covenant pastor James Lundell passed away in Davenport, Iowa, on January 18, 2024. He was 92.
James Richard Lundell was born on March 23, 1931,
to parents Arthur and Dora 
(Medicraft) Lundell on a farm in Kennedy, Minnesota. James worked on all aspects of the farm; he could be found milking the cows, bringing in the crops, and doing otherfarm tasks. He lived in close proximity to several relatives, including his grandmother Mathilda, who conversed with him exclusively in Swedish, thus sparking in him a love for the language.
After graduating Kennedy High School in 1949, James attended North Park College and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He attended North Park Theological Seminary, graduating in 1958. The following year he was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church.
While singing with a quartet, James met Twyla Liljegren, who was filling in for a soprano. They married on August 18, 1956. After brief stints at Evangelical Covenant Church in Savonburg, Kansas, and Sauganash Community Church in Chicago, James and Twyla served together at Covenant Congregational Church in Cromwell, Connecticut, for a decade. In 1968, James and his family accepted a call to pastor First Covenant Church in Moline, Illinois, where he faithfully served until his retirement in 1993. For over two decades he served on the board of directors for the Christian Friendliness Association in Moline and also for the Ridgecrest Village Retirement Community in Davenport. He also served the Covenant on the Board of Benevolence, the Board of Pension, and both the East Coast Conference and Central Conference boards.
James was a passionate servant leader and minister of the gospel who was loved and respected by many. He was known for his booming singing voice, sense of humor, strong handshake, and ability to speak Swedish. James and Twyla loved being grandparents and traveling with his siblings; they got to see much of the world from the deck of a cruise ship. After moving to Ridgecrest Village in 2015, James and Twyla met many new friends. James was an avid reader and enjoyed sitting in the commons area greeting everyone who passed by with a hearty “Hello!”
James was preceded in death by his wife, Twyla, in 2021. He is survived by his daughters, Debra Lundell of Minneapolis, Nancy Young (Terry) of Westfield, Indiana, and Susan Caldwell of Moline; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Friday, April 5, at First Covenant Church in Moline, with a visitation at Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory Limited on April 4. Additional time for visitation will happen one hour prior to the service. Memorial gifts may be sent to First Covenant or Youth Hope of Moline. Memories may be shared online here.
Peace to his memory.
