Walter Wangerin, Jr.

Walter Wangerin, Jr. (born February 13, 1944) is an award-winning American author and educator best known for his religious novels and children's books. Wangerin was born in Portland, Oregon, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. The family moved often. Wangerin Jr., the oldest of seven children, grew up in various locations including Shelton, Washington, Chicago, Illinois, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Edmonton, Canada, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and F... more

Walter Wangerin, Jr. (born February 13, 1944) is an award-winning American author and educator best known for his religious novels and children's books. Wangerin was born in Portland, Oregon, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. The family moved often. Wangerin Jr., the oldest of seven children, grew up in various locations including Shelton, Washington, Chicago, Illinois, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Edmonton, Canada, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1968 he attained an M.A. in English literature from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He went on to study at Concordia Seminary and Christ Seminary-Seminex, both in St. Louis, Missouri. He attained his M.Div. from the latter in 1976. He has been a professor at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana since 1991, where he teaches literature and creative writing, and is writer-in-residence. Author of over thirty novels, numerous children's books, a handful of plays, he also holds many awards for his short stories and... less