Rev. Leah Rae Pogemiller

REV. LEAH RAE POGEMILLER

passed after a brief illness at Carle Foundation Hospital on May 31, 2022 in Urbana, IL. Eldest daughter born April 10, 1960 to Gerald E. Pogemiller and Rita R. Redfern in Iowa City, Iowa.

Leah graduated from Joliet West Township High School 1978; received a Bachelors of Science and Religious Studies at University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign 1982; and received a Masters of Divinity in Old Testament and Pastoral Counseling at Boston University School of Theology in 1985. Leah was an Ordained Deacon in Central Illinois Conference of United Methodist Church in 1984 and Ordained as an Elder in Central Illinois Conference of United Methodist Church in 1987.

She served as Pastor in the Central Illinois Conference of United Methodist Church and Illinois Great River Conference of United Methodist Church from 1985-2019. She was the Second Clergywoman in the IGR Conference appointed as a Senior Pastor of a local church.

She served as a  Student Pastor at Community United Methodist Church in Brighton, MA from 1984-1985, Senior Pastor in Illinois at Verona United Methodist Church-Mazon United Methodist Church from 1985-1989. Associate Pastor at Monticello UMC from 1989-1997, Senior Pastor at Asbury UMC from 1997-2004, Clinton UMC from 2004-2011 and Champaign First UMC from 2018-2019. Leah was appointed as District Superintendent in the Vermillion District of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church from 2011-2018. 

She was involved in the following: 

Trustee of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois.

Pastoral Care Instructor of The School for Licensed Local Pastors for IGR Conference UMC

Director of the Board of the United Methodist Ministries Credit Union

Numerous Conference Boards and Committees of the IGR Conference of UMC

Member of The Alumni Assoc. of the University of Illinois

She was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and University of Illinois Sports.

Her parents and stepmom, Judy Gandy-Pogemiller, preceded her in death. 

She is survived by sister, Gail (Bob) Stewart; brothers, Jay (Leann) Pogemiller and Steven (Colleen) Pogemiller; step-brother, Michael (Jessica) Gandy of Henderson, NV; nieces and nephews, Ryan (Kelly) Pogemiller, Kyle (Jeremy) Pogemiller-Kermani, Megan (Shane) Crabtree, Emily (Fiance’ John) Pogemiller, Kristina Stewart, CJ Stewart, Hannah Pogemiller and step-niece, Tori Church-Gandy; great nieces and great nephew, Abigail Pogemiller, Logan Pogemiller and Daphne Pogemiller-Kermani; and godsons, Deven and Zachary Long. She also is survived by many cherished friends.

Memorial Services will be held at Wesley Church and Foundation 1203 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801 on June 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm with Revs. Dan and Gay King Crede presiding. Cremation Rites were afforded and inurnment will be at Wesley Foundation Urbana with a private family service. 

Memorials may be directed to The Wesley Foundation – Urbana, IL or the Preacher's Aid Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. Leah Rae Pogemiller, please visit our floral store.