* The Rev. Edward Spirer; Minister, Church Builder

The Rev. Edward N. Spirer, a Lutheran minister who built 53 churches, including one of the earliest in the San Fernando Valley, has died in a Carlsbad convalescent hospital. He was 95.

Spirer died Thursday of complications of a recent stroke, said his wife, Marie A. Spirer.

Born Jan. 23, 1895, in Wilmington, Del., Spirer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1918 and came to California as a contractor.

Stricken by kidney disease, Spirer, the son of Jewish parents, vowed to become a Christian minister if he recovered. In 1930, he graduated from a Nebraska seminary and was ordained soon after.

The following year, Spirer established and built St. Matthew Lutheran Church in North Hollywood. He served as the church’s pastor for 20 years, except for a stint as an Army chaplain during World War II.

In 1951, he became director of church extension for the Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod of the Pacific Southwest and saved as much as 40% on building costs by using volunteer labor. He was nicknamed the “little minister” because of his height: 5 feet, 1 1/2 inches.

Spirer supervised the construction of 53 churches in the southwest United States and Hawaii, including the First Lutheran Church of Glendale, Luther Memorial Church in Burbank and St. Michael Lutheran Church in Sun Valley, the latter of which he served as pastor from 1972 until 1976.

He is survived by his wife of 10 years; stepson, Michael Carranza of Moorpark; stepdaughter, Carol Burchman of Vista, Calif., and a step-granddaughter.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N. New Hampshire Ave. Burial will be in the graveyard of Lihue Lutheran Church on Kauai, Hawaii, which he twice helped restore.

Pierce Brothers Meyer-Mitchell Mortuary in Van Nuys is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Spirer’s name to any organization benefiting the homeless or to the donor’s favorite charity.