Rev. Henry F. Fingerlin

Reverend Henry Frederick Fingerlin, 87, of Centennial, Colorado entered Heaven on Sunday, September 27, 2015. Henry Frederick Fingerlin was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on March 9, 1928, to Alfred & Martha Fingerlin. Rev. Otto Luessenhop baptized him into the Lord's Kingdom on April 15 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. Despite being taken from their widowed mother during the Depression, Henry fondly remembered a carefree preteen – teenage life on his bicycle, either delivering newspapers or riding along mountain trails and going fishing. Henry graduated from Palmer High School, repeated his junior and senior years of high school at Concordia Academy (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) as he needed to catch up with the other students in German, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew and graduated in 1947. He received his Associates in Arts Degree from Concordia College, Milwaukee in 1949. Henry attended Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri. Pastoral training included summer field work in Hobbs, New Mexico, Corvallis, Oregon, and Philomath, Oregon. He vicared at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois, and graduated in 1954. He served Our Savior Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, before being asked by the Colorado District's Mission Board to start a new congregation in the South Denver area. Shepherd of the Hills was started in 1963 and added a school in 1985. Highlights during his ministry include the growth of the congregation & school as the area grew, development and teaching of Adult & Junior Confirmation classes, Kennedy Evangelism, Stephen Ministry, Lenten services with special children's messages, teaching at Lutheran High School and later at SOTH Christian School, weekly Bible studies groups—Sunday morning, Nursing Home, Men's Bible Breakfast & Koinonia, Sunday morning radio broadcasts, serving at conferences, conventions, and a circuit counselor and reconciler. He served on the ""Literature Board"" for the Synod, and wrote for the Concordia Pulpit. Retirement in 1989 gave Henry the time to publish his manual ""Fellowship With God: An Instruction Manual for Youth and Adults on the Basic Doctrines of Christianity."" Other joys included witnessing to and baptizing members of the Arapahoe County prison system, chapel talks at Lutheran Schools, internet ministry and seminary classes to unchurched people worldwide, and ministry to the ""lesser brothers"" in life. Henry loved fishing, gardening, and trying to grow fruit trees in an unsuitable climate. He was on the founding board for Lutheran Valley Ranch Association (1958) and from his enjoyment of sketching, drew up the plans that grew into a cabin made from area timber and rock, laying the floor over many years using polished rose granite pieces from the Pikes Peak monument refuse pile! It gave him great joy to say he baptized his children and most of his grandchildren, and felt blessed to see them grow in their faith in Jesus. He is survived by his loving wife, Berdeen ""Deenie"" of 55 years; children, Becky (Scott) Nelson, John (Marilyn) Fingerlin, Heidi (David) Lewis, Mary Beth (Douglas) Kistler, and Daniel (Tasha) Fingerlin; grandchildren, Andrew Nelson, Rebekah, Marcus and Josiah Fingerlin, Skylar Lewis, Shelly (Bill) Hewitt, Thomas, Cole and Dawson Kistler, Nora, Rya, Nolan and Lola Fingerlin; great grandchildren, Hunter and Gunnar Hewitt; and nephews, Trey, Francis and Martin Fingerlin and their families. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred & Martha Fingerlin; and brother, Alfred Fingerlin, Jr. The family has heartfelt gratitude for your love and support over the years. We hope that the memories of how your life was ministered to through Henry's life will be inspirational and grow fruit in your life. Jesu, Juva! To God be the glory! A Celebration of Life to honor Reverend Fingerlin will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 10:00 AM, at Our Father Lutheran Church, 6335 South Holly Street, in Centennial, Colorado 80121. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Reverend Fingerlin's name to: Shepherd of the Hills Christian School Tuition Assistance Fund 7691 South University Boulevard Centennial, Colorado 80122 Please share your memories of Reverend Fingerlin and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.