07/02/2026
Congratulations to Delray Beach resident Bill Wilsher for being awarded the Good Samaritan Award from Lutheran Services Florida. He was nominated by Tony Durante, also a Delray Beach resident, who is pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church & School in Plantation. Pastor Tony Durante tapped Bill Wilsher to be volunteer lead with creating a garden at the Lippman Youth Shelter.
Bill Wilsher is retired from the Parks division of Palm Beach County Government. He currently serves on the board of Sister Cities of Delray Beach. He has also been appointed by Mayor Tom Carney to serve on the committee for beautification of City of Delray Beach, Florida Government Veteran's Park. Bill is married to Kathy Wilsher, who retired from Trinity Lutheran School in Delray Beach where she was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. During their time as members of Trinity Lutheran in Delray Beach, Bill Wilsher volunteered on lay-led committees for the campus and building expansions.
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Saturday, June 20, 2026 Bill Wilsher received an award for community service at Lutheran Services Florida's Good Samaritan Award banquet. Bill, a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Delray Beach (Pastor Tony's previous congregation), is well known for volunteering his expertise in garden-scaping for non-profit organizations.
When Our Savior Lutheran Church in Plantation planned a tranquility garden at the Lippman Youth Shelter for Bless Broward Community Service Day in April 2025, Pastor Tony remembered Bill and asked if he would design a peaceful space for the shelter's children and staff. Bill exceeded every expectation. He visited the property multiple times, met with church leaders and shelter staff, and produced detailed, hand-drawn plans for the garden and for both the front and back grounds as well. He donated the designs and contributed many of the materials needed for the project. True to his word, Bill was present for all three phases of installation. He worked alongside volunteers, guiding them and getting his hands dirty to ensure the vision became reality.
Our Savior submitted Bill's name for the Good Samaritan Award in gratitude for all his contributions to the tranquility garden effort. Lutheran Services Florida (LSF), a nonprofit organization that helps the state's most vulnerable, accepts nominations from local congregations for Good Samaritan nominees who performed extraordinary acts of volunteer service. Bill was one of twenty recipients of the award at the June 20 banquet held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Miami. We are deeply grateful for him and the gifts he has shared with Our Savior Lutheran Church and the Lippman Youth Shelter.
LCMS Florida-Georgia District
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
