Pastor Roger McKinstry
February 15, 1943 ~ May 5, 2024
Pastor Roger McKinstry, 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home, Waterloo, Iowa. Visitation: 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church, Marion, Iowa. Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church, Marion, with visitation before from 9:30 ' 10:30 a.m. Luncheon will follow at the church.
Roger was born on February, 15, 1943, in Worcester, Massachusetts, son of William and Irene (St. George) McKinstry. He attended Worcester schools, graduating from Worcester State Teachers College in 1972. Roger married Caroline Riegel in 1968 and they lived in Northern New Hampshire where Roger was a teacher until 1980. His wife, Caroline, died in 1977, and in 1980, Roger entered Trinity Lutheran Seminary, getting ordained in 1984. As a pastor he served congregations in West Union, Ossian, Tripoli, Lamont, Dundee, Ryan, and Earlville. He retired from full time ministry in 2010 but filled in at churches until 2019. He was also a speech coach, a playwright, a scout master, an opera lover, a world traveler, and was known for jokes that would make you groan.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Lisa) McKinstry; sisters, Judy Fay, Debra (Raymond) Bisson, and Betty (Jim) Barber; granddaughters, Cara McKinstry and Emma (Trevor) Averhoff; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Caroline; sister, Sandra Patriarca; and brothers, William McKinstry and Robert McKinstry.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Cedar Rapids
May this tree stand tall & as firmly planted in this world as I have heard you did Roger. May your journey into the cosmos be of utmost brilliance.
I will always remember Pastor McKinstry at Grace Lutheran in Tripoli. He was the most caring person, loved teaching our boys and others in confirmation and was know as the “Candy Bar” pastor for getting the answers right! He also spent many hours with us when we had a tragic death in the family in 2001. Loved when he would come back and sub preach. Best of all he loved his raspberry pie!! Rest in Pease you great servant of God.
Dawn & Kevin Holm
One of my favorite Pastors. So great with the kids! He took my daughter, Cara under his wings during confirmation & conducted her funeral service six months later. Such a blessing & helped us during a very painful time. Cara absolutely adored him❣️RIP Pastor McKinstry you were one of the best.
My deepest sympathies to his family. Such a wonderful man. This world could use more like him.
Jill Boeckmann
May your heart and soul find peace and comfort.
You will be forever missed Roger, thankful you were able to help at our wedding.
One of his gifts as a pastor was interpreting and explaining how the Bible passages written so long ago had meaning for our current life. He was one of the best! Our sympathy to Mark and families.
Mark and family you have my sympathies. We appreciate the time he served as an intern pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, Iowa in the early 1980’s.
Our deepest condolences to our neighbor’s family.
I was Roger’s professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and remember him well, including his devotion to his son. Please accept my condolences at your loss.
Rev. Walter F. Taylor, Jr., Ph.D.,
Ernest W. and Edith S. Ogram Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies
Trinity Lutheran Seminary