Salvation Army

Commissioner Robert Steven Hedgren requested dismissal as Territorial Commander of the Eastern Territory due to ongoing health issues. After this was granted, he was appointed as a Territorial Secretary for the Southern Territory

Comissioner Steve Hedgren
Rank	Commissioner
Session	Disciples of Jesus
Birth Date	March 7, 1950
Death Date	August 25, 2021
Relations	Commissioner Judith Hedgren (wife)

Commissioners Steve and Judy Hedgren entered honored retirement after distinguished officer careers over five decades in three USA territories. General Andre Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox conducted the retirement ceremony in a service at the Tampa, Florida, Corps. Lt. Colonel Vern Jewett presided at the meeting, which was themed “Celebrating a Lifetime of Simply Trusting.”

Lt. Colonel Martha Jewett, Lt. Colonel Ron Busroe, Colonel Mark Tillsley and Major Barbara Rich spoke words of tributes from the perspective of friends, and Captain Lori Miller offered a tribute from the family. The Southern, Central and Eastern territories, where the Hedgrens served, were represented by flags borne by Lt. Colonel John Needham (South), Lt. Colonel Norman Marshall (Central) and Lt. Colonel Wayne Maynor (East). The Hedgrens' Disciples of Jesus sessional flag was carried by Lieutenant Matt Hedgren.

Just prior to the retirement ceremony, Commissioners Hedgren reflected on their 38 years of service as Salvation Army officers.

Married in April 1975, Steve and Judy Hedgren entered officer training in the Central Territory in 1976 and were commissioned in 1978, serving for a year as cadet lieutenants 1978 and appointed to the Rockford, Illinois, Citadel Corps. They later served as corps officers at the Champaign, Illinois, and Port Huron, Michigan, corps and in 1986 were appointed as divisional youth leaders in the Midland Division.

In early 1991, the Hedgrens transferred to the USA South and led the area commands in Tampa and Miami before a two-year appointment as Atlanta Temple corps officers. Following an appointment on the Arkansas-Oklahoma divisional staff, they served as divisional leaders in AOK and Florida.

In October 2008, they began appointments as chief secretary and territorial secretary for women's ministries in the USA East and in August 2010 were appointed as Eastern territorial commander and territorial president of women's ministries. In the fall of 2012, the Hedgrens returned to the USA South as a result of health issues and served as senior consultants.

The Hedgrens served on the teaching staff for the National Seminar on Evangelism, Central Music Institute as well as the South's Territorial Music Institute and Territorial Youth Institute. They have been featured speakers at officers councils, youth institutes and camps and corps events across the nation and in the Caribbean, Australia and South America. General John Gowans assigned them to plan and coordinate two sessions of the 2000 international congress in Atlanta. General Cox appointed them to coordinate the international officers councils at last year's Boundless congress in London. They also served on two High Councils. Commissioner Steve was the featured speaker for 10 years on The Salvation Army's Wonderful Words of Life radio program.

The Hedgrens have two children, Lieutenant Heather Needham (Jay) and Lieutenant Matthew Hedgren (Jessica) who serve as corps officers in Fort Myers and Leesburg, Florida, respectively. They have six grandchildren.

Commissioner Steve Hedgren was born on March 7, 1950, in Chicago, Ill., into a Christian family to parents Robert & Eleanor Hedgren who were dedicated people who were involved in The Salvation Army and who demonstrated a tremendous love for their children. Commissioner Hedgren was called to his eternal home on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, after battling his cancer for over 11 years, from his home in San Antonio, FL, and surrounded by his loving family.

He had been involved with The Salvation Army as a child and was involved in various programs that were offered at his corps such as band, songsters, assistant corps sergeant major and corps cadets. He was enrolled as a Junior Soldier in Aug. 1958, and a Senior Soldier in Dec. 1962.

After attending high school, Commissioner Hedgren completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. Following graduation, he attended the Institute for Biblical Studies sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ and taught by faculty from Dallas Theological Seminary. After completion, he became a staff member for Campus Crusade for Christ ministry attached to the athletic department at Arizona State University.

On Apr. 12, 1975, he married the love of his life Judith Ann White. Together, they felt the call to Salvation Army officership and applied to go into the College for Officers for the session of 1976, as a member of the “Disciples of Jesus” session of cadets, commissioned in June 1978. They were commissioned as Cadet/Lieutenants to Rockford Citadel Corps, IL, as well as Champaign, IL, Port Huron, MI, DYS in the Midland DHQ in the USA Central Territory.

In 1991, they transferred to the USA Southern Territory, with appointments in Tampa, FL, Miami, FL, Atlanta Temple, GA, General Secretary, DHQ AOK, Divisional Commander- AOK, Divisional Commander, FL. From there, the Hedgrens transferred to become Eastern Territory Chief Secretary, Territorial Commander- Eastern Territory, Territorial Secretary for Mission & Territorial Sr. Consultant before retiring in Apr. 1, 2016 with over 37 years of active service and, even in retirement he continued to work and serve the Lord. In addition to his appointment while serving in St. Louis, was part of the pastoral team attached to the St. Louis Cardinals, often presenting pre-game devotions to the Cardinals, and visiting teams. He also co-authored a book, ‘Mapping Our Salvationist DNA.’

In his papers for training, Commissioner Hedgren says under call to Officership: “This came when I became aware of the fact that I had to be a Salvation Army officer and nothing else in life would satisfy me. I am committed to the great commission of our Lord, and I want to use the Salvation Army as my vehicle to help accomplish this. On days when I have doubts as to whether this is really the right thing to do (or the thing I want to do), there is that underlying feeling that this is where God wants me, but there is a sense of urgency of His call to be an officer.”

Together, they have two children Heather (Jay) and Matt (Jessica) and six wonderful blessings – Brody Hedgren, Ryder Hedgren, Griffin, Needham, Harper Needham, Tate Hedgren and Duke Hedgren.

Surviving Commissioner Steve Hedgren are his wife Commissioner Judy, children Captains Heather (Jay), Matt (Jessica), grandchildren Brody, Ryder, Griffin, Harper, Tate & Duke. His two sisters Lt. Colonel Diane (Norman) Marshall of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Claudia Sjogren of Roswell, GA.

His parents, Robert and Eleanor, and sister Debbie, and brother-in-law Jerry Sjogren, have preceded him in death.

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