Retired pastor and theologian Rev. Jack Lundbom of Chicago, Illinois, died February 17, 2026. He was 86.
Jack Russell Lundbom was born to parents Carl Russell and Dorothy (Ohlson) Lundbom in Chicago on July 10, 1939. He was baptized on New Year’s Day 1940 at North Park Covenant Church, the church of his youth. He was very active at the church during his growing-up years, attending Sunday school, participating in youth groups, singing in the choirs, etc. He also attended numerous camps at Covenant Harbor, and after making his own confession of faith in Jesus, he completed his confirmation at 14 and officially joined the church as a member in 1953.
After graduating from North Park Academy, Jack attended North Park College in 1959. He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of arts degree. He attended the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon, and North Park Theological Seminary, where he earned his divinity degree in 1967. He also earned a PhD from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California.
Jack married Linda Larson on August 15, 1964. They had three children, David, Joan, and Jean.
Jack was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1979 at the Annual Meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado. He and Linda served in pastoral ministry together at Covenant churches in Ogden, Iowa; Boston, Massachusetts (Jamaica Plain); Hilmar, California; Hopkinton, Massachusetts; Thomaston, Connecticut; Beverly, Illinois; and Menominee, Michigan.
Jack was celebrated as a preeminent scholar of ancient Hebrew rhetoric and served as visiting professor for numerous theological seminaries, including Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Andover Newton Theological School, Yale Divinity School, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Lutheran Theological College in Chennai, India, and Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong.
He wrote several critically acclaimed commentaries, including a three-volume, 2,200-page commentary on the book of Jeremiah, which Rev. Craig Anderson called his “magnum opus” in this review for Pietisten. He wrote commentaries on every major and minor prophet in the Old Testament except Obadiah. He was still writing biblical commentaries and had just started on a new book. His latest book, Isaiah: Prophet of a Remnant and Messianism, will be published this year.
Jack was preceded in death by his daughter, Joan. He is survived by his wife, Linda; children, David (Barbara) and Jean; grandchildren, Evelyn and Julie; and sister, Virginia Larson. Memorials and condolences may be sent to his family at 5 McKenney Lane, Kennebunk, Maine 04043. A memorial service will take place at North Park Covenant Church on Monday, March 30, at 1 pm.
Peace be to his memory.
