Name: Service for Rev. Frederick W. Henkelmann
Start: 2024-12-30T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-12-30T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Champagne Funeral Chapel

Rev. Frederick W. Henkelmann
Reverend Frederick W. Henkelmann, 76, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Pigeon, died on December 25, 2024.
Fred was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on June 25, 1948, to Reverend Ernst and Evelyn (Westphal) Henkelmann. At age 2, his family moved to Pigeon, Michigan where he attended Cross Lutheran School and Laker High School, graduating in 1966. Fred received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College in 1970, the same year he married Raylene Friederich on June 20th.
Fred continued on to earn his Master of Divinity degree in 1974 from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, during which time he spent his one year internship at Oaks Indian Mission in Oaks, Oklahoma. Fred, Raylene, and daughter Sarah moved to Cleveland, Australia in 1974, where he served three congregations for six years – St. James, St. Paul, and Faith Lutheran. During this time, son Matthew and daughter Rachel were born. In 1980, he returned to the United States with his family and served eight years as pastor to Dovre Lutheran Church in Newburg, North Dakota and English Lutheran Church in Maxbass, North Dakota. In 1988, he was called as pastor to Peace Lutheran Church in Linton, ND, and served until he retired in 2013.
Fred was a dedicated father, actively engaged in his children's lives, and his love for Raylene was evident throughout their 54 ½ years of marriage. He attended every school sports and music event, and never missed an opportunity to help his kids, even rebounding basketballs, or timing their workouts. He played tennis, followed Detroit baseball and football, and was a ham radio operator. Fred followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather to be a Pastor, and he was a faithful servant of God to the very end of his life.
Fred is survived by his wife Raylene and their three children, Sarah Henkelmann, Matthew (Charlene) Henkelmann, and Rachel (Adam) Henderson, and two grandchildren, Eli Henderson and John Henkelmann. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Ruth and Lois.
Funeral services will be 11:00am Tuesday, December 31st at Cross Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 2-6pm Monday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Pigeon.
Memorials may be made to Cross Lutheran Church Organ Fund, Lutheran World Relief (give.LWR.org), or your local church.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Huron Daily Tribune on Dec. 27, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Frederick Henkelmann

Sponsored by Ransford Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. - Pigeon.

3 Entries

Karl Otto

June 19, 2025

A great friend and classmate. Both Peggy and I enjoyed our time with Fred whether that be in Australia or North Dakota.

George Mohr

January 3, 2025

I was saddened to learn of Fred´s passing. I wish to offer my sincerest sympathy to Fred´s family. We have never met. I am proud to have had Fred as a friend and proud to learn of all of his successes in life.

I was a neighborhood kid, who grew up with Fred. We were in the same class at Cross Lutheran School. We were confirmed together. We graduated in 1966 from Laker High School. Since then I have only seen Fred one time - at my father´s visitation in Pigeon.

When growing up, Fred was always willing to participate in games -- flies and grounders, 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 baseball games where we made half of the field "foul," football, shooting hoops, etc. He was the only kid in the neighborhood to could play tennis, understood the game and could consistently hit the ball against the church, etc. Fred was good at everything.

A cherished memory from back in the 50´s was one summer we built soap box derby cars (not even close to the real thing). Back then we were avid fans of the "Lil Rascals" shows. The neighborhood kids built a car. Another neighborhood built a car. The challenge was made. We needed to race the cars. Of course we had no hills to race them down. We had to resort to pushing our cars in a head to head race. We recruited Fred to push our car in the race because he has the biggest, strongest, fastest kid in the neighborhood. Our car won the race but only because Fred pushed it!

Rest in peace dear friend.

Karl and Peggy Otto

December 29, 2024

We are sorry to read this and glad we got to spend time with Fred and Rae last April. As Fred passes through those pearl gates we are sure the words " well done good and faithful servant" will be said.
Karl and Peggy Otto

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