Barrie E. Henke
1945-2023
Reverend Barrie Emil Henke was born on February 16, 1945, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of four boys born to Bernhardt Henke and Pauline (Montgomery) Henke. Rooted deeply in the red Oklahoma soil, he was raised in the small town of Orlando, Oklahoma, where his father owned and operated a Texaco service station. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Orlando, attended Walther League at Zion Lutheran Church, Guthrie, and, after the Orlando church closed in 1961, joined Christ Lutheran Church in Perry.
Upon graduating from Orlando High School, Reverend Henke went on to receive an Associate of Arts degree from St. John's College in Winfield, Kansas in 1967; a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1969; and Master of Divinity Degree with certification for the pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. His year of vicarage took place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Downey, California. He was ordained into the Lutheran ministry on June 24, 1973, at Christ Lutheran Church in Perry, Oklahoma by the Rev. Walter Wehmeier.
Before his ministry in Oklahoma, Rev. Henke previously served as pastor of the congregations of St. Peter Lutheran Church in rural Lakefield, Minnesota (July 1973 – August 1977); St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, Minnesota (August 1977 – January 1981); and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Onalaska, Wisconsin (February 1981 – September 1991). In September of 1991 he accepted the Call to serve as Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he served until his passing.
Throughout his 50 years of ministry, Pastor Henke was involved in the ministries of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, the Lutheran Laymen's League, as well as district outreach work on various levels of responsibility in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. During his time in South Wisconsin, Pastor Henke served on various LCMS District Boards, and served in the community with the Mobile Meals Board and the Emergency Food Pantry.
In Oklahoma, along with the serving as the pastor of a vibrant congregational ministry, Pastor Henke also served as Circuit Counselor for the Oklahoma City Circuit; as Oklahoma District LWML Counselor; as the Second Vice President of the Oklahoma District 2006-2008. Pastor Henke concluded 13 years of service as Oklahoma District President in 2022.
But more than a pastor, Barrie was a loving husband, father, Opa, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. On April 20, 1975, he married friend and college classmate Patricia Gunderman from Fulda, Minnesota. The Lord blessed their marriage with one son, Jason. He liked to travel abroad with friends, his cousins Joan and Charles, as well as with Jason and his family. Barrie also like to take road trips across the United States to see friends and his grandkids.
On the early morning of March 1 st ,2023, the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise He made with Barrie at the time of his Baptism, calling him to Himself and granting him the crown of everlasting life. Even though his body was beaten badly by cancer, Barrie remained a strong example of faith and perseverance to those with whom his life intersected. He held firmly to the promise of Romans 8:28-39, confident that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and that nothing will be able to separate us from the love God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Those preceding him in death, yet greeting him in eternity are his wife Patricia Gunderman, his parents Bernhardt and Pauline Henke, Brothers Robert (Bob) and Bernhardt (Benny) Henke.
Rejoicing in his victory while grieving the separation are his son, Jason and wife Nishia (Hotujec) of Parkville, Missouri; his grandkids, Abigail Long, Natalie Long and Jaxon Henke; his brother, Bruce and wife Marty of Orlando, Oklahoma; and many other cousins, nieces and nephews and their children, dear friends, prayer supporters.
Celebrations of his Faith, Life and Victory through Christ will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 308 NW 164th Street, Edmond, Oklahoma, on Sunday, March 5 at 4:00 PM. Edmond visitation will be at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond from 1-8 PM on Saturday evening, March 4th, and one hour prior to the worship on Sunday afternoon. His body will be laid to rest at Prairie Hill Cemetery, rural Fulda, to await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great day of the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
To live stream the service please use the following link www.holytrinityedmond.org/watch-online