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In Memory of Rev. Pablo Nestler

December 3, 1927 - April 16, 2023

Pablo Alfredo Mayorga-Nestler was born December 3, 1927, in Barranquilla, Colombia, one of six children. His mother, Sara, was a teacher and his father, Campo, was a Presbyterian minister. Pablo came to the U.S. with a music scholarship at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. With a Master of Music degree, he returned to Colombia to teach music. Following his teaching career, he returned to the U.S. and married Helen Heller. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Later he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University. In 1982, Helen passed away. Pablo continued with the plans he and Helen had made for him to attend Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology, earning a Master of Divinity degree. During his tenure at SMU, he met and married Diana Thomas. After ordination in 1987, Pablo's first call was to St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was an exciting, if snowy, adventure beginning a new Hispanic ministry. His next call was to Zion Hungarian Lutheran Church, also in Bethlehem. This was followed by a call, at age 73, to Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Florida. Retirement did not sit well with Pablo and he began yet another career as a chaplain for Vitas Hospice. Finally accepting retirement at age 81, he moved to Round Rock to be near family in Texas. Here he taught ESL, led Bible studies at Hearthstone and Trinity Care Centers for several years. You can't keep a good man down. Pablo leaves four children: David (Kate), Sara (Joe), Stephen, Timothy (Roxanne) and 2 stepchildren: David Thomas, Stephen Thomas (Inez), seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.


A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 6, at 11 am at Palm Valley Lutheran Church, Round Rock.


We remember Rev. Nestler’s family and friends in our prayers and trust that the promise of the Resurrection is true and sure. 


In Christ,


Bishop Sue Briner