
Harold “Harry” J. Hinrichs
Harold “Harry” J. Hinrichs, 88, died July 8, 2023, at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines. Harry is survived by his wife, Starr (Scherf) Hinrichs; three children from his first marriage to Joan (Foster) Hinrichs, Renate Hinrichs (Todd Johnson), Erika Hinrichs-Biehle (Frederick Biehle) and Harold Hinrichs (Felicia Beanum Hinrichs); grandchildren, Lincoln, Zora and Calder; four step-sons; seven step-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Karen Hinrichs Ohnen (Virgil Ohnen); and niece, Susan Hinrichs (Alan Carroll).
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Herbert; and sister, Erna Hinrichs.
Harry earned his bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College, divinity degree from Wartburg Seminary, master’s in theology and doctor of ministry from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Center, Massachusettes. He was a certified clinical pastoral educator and offered the second congregationally based training program in the country.
Harry dedicated his life to serving others first, as a Lutheran pastor in Chicago’s southside and later in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was during his time in Green Bay that his love for the Packers began to grow. Harry moved on to Minneapolis where he served for 13 years as director of Family Life and Aging for the American Lutheran Church. He then moved to Milwaukee to develop and direct Caring Community, Inc. He retired from a 14-year career with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. In 1997, Harry married Starr Scherf and lived in Johnston for more than 25 years.
Following his retirement, Harry’s caring and dedicated service in community continued with Golden K Kiwanis, as board advisor for the Storybook Project, as a volunteer at ChildServe, Johnston, and as a reading mentor at Findley Elementary.
Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Ave. in Des Moines with burial in Flatville, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to ChildServe of Johnston, Wartburg College Scholarship Fund, or Golden K Kiwanis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Herbert; and sister, Erna Hinrichs.
Harry earned his bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College, divinity degree from Wartburg Seminary, master’s in theology and doctor of ministry from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Center, Massachusettes. He was a certified clinical pastoral educator and offered the second congregationally based training program in the country.
Harry dedicated his life to serving others first, as a Lutheran pastor in Chicago’s southside and later in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was during his time in Green Bay that his love for the Packers began to grow. Harry moved on to Minneapolis where he served for 13 years as director of Family Life and Aging for the American Lutheran Church. He then moved to Milwaukee to develop and direct Caring Community, Inc. He retired from a 14-year career with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. In 1997, Harry married Starr Scherf and lived in Johnston for more than 25 years.
Following his retirement, Harry’s caring and dedicated service in community continued with Golden K Kiwanis, as board advisor for the Storybook Project, as a volunteer at ChildServe, Johnston, and as a reading mentor at Findley Elementary.
Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Ave. in Des Moines with burial in Flatville, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to ChildServe of Johnston, Wartburg College Scholarship Fund, or Golden K Kiwanis.