Edwin Erich Achenbach was called home to his Lord and Savior on January 2, 2026.

Born in 1932 in Hartenrod, Germany, Edwin was the oldest of seven children born to Robert and Katharina Achenbach. Following his seminary studies and service with the Tabor Brotherhood in Marburg, Germany, he emigrated to the United States in 1962, moving to the Fellowship Deaconry in Liberty Corner, New Jersey.

In 1964, Edwin was married to Anneliese Edith Bergmann, who predeceased him in 2004. Together, Anneliese and Edwin raised five sons, John Andrew, Frederick William, Paul Eric, David Christopher, and Mark Benjamin. In 2008, Edwin was married to Wanda Spethmann, with whom he lived in Sparta, New Jersey, spending his twilight years continuing to serve the Lord, enjoying their large extended family, many grandchildren, traveling, and gardening.

Edwin served as the General Director of the Fellowship Deaconry and as House Father to the Deaconesses living and working there for many years before his retirement in 2008.

Edwin is survived by his wife Wanda and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his son Fred, together with his wife Elma, and their children (Zachariah, Nathanael, Caleb, Chloe, Elizabeth, Josiah and Elijah), his son Paul, together with his wife Esther, and their children (Alexis, Eric, Bethany, Peter and Robert), his son David, together with his wife Sarah, and their children Isaac and Katarina, along with David’s older children Austin, Aiden, and Anneliese, and his son Mark, together with his wife Gabriela, and their children Daniel and Anja. Edwin’s oldest son John predeceased him in 2022, and was survived by his wife Jenn and her daughters Savannah and Marlena.

Edwin is also survived by siblings Horst Achenbach, Hannelore Wolz, Rosel Mueller, and Christel Bender, all of Germany, and many nieces and nephews and their extended families. He is predeceased by two sisters Hildegard Achenbach and Johanna Achenbach.

Visitation will be held at the Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, New Jersey on January 9th from 6-8pm.

A Funeral service will be at Fellowship Deaconry Ministries, 3575 Valley Road, Liberty Corner, New Jersey on January 10 at 11:00am (Zion Chapel). A Viewing will take place from 9:30am to 11am at the Deaconry prior to the funeral. 

Livestream will be available for the for funeral sevice: https://youtube.com/live/gKveAr7aL8w?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts in his memory may be made to: Liberty Corner Mission, PO Box 204, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938.