Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church will be holding a special service to remember its former pastor, Verne Voss, and former pre-school teacher, Kathie Voss, who died following a car accident Tuesday afternoon.

The Richfield couple was struck by a semi-truck while driving in South Minneapolis. Verne Voss died shortly after the accident and Kathie Voss died Thursday morning at Hennepin County Medical Center, according to the church.

"The congregation is just really shocked right now," Pastor Peter Leyrer said.

Verne Voss was pastor at the church from 1986 to 2005, according to Leyrer, who took over for Voss when he retired in 2005. Leyrer added that Kathie Voss was a preschool teacher at the church's school for many years.

While Verne and Kathie Voss were not members of Pilgrim at the time of their deaths, Saturday's service is meant to give congregation members a chance to remember the couple and their service to the church.

"We wanted an opportunity for the congregation to be able to celebrate their ministry and the ministry they leave behind," Leyrer said. "Many young members will remember having Kathie as a teacher."

The special service will have a heavy focus on music, since Verne Voss was a vocalist and guitarist, Leyrer said. He also added that parking is usually a challenge for the church since it doesn't have its own lot, but participants are allowed to park at the Morman church on 39th Street and Nicollet Avenue.

For directions to Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church, click here. Funeral information has not been released yet.