Roger McKinstry

Roger McKinstry

Marion

Pastor Roger McKinstry, 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home, Waterloo, IA. Visitation: 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church, Marion, IA. 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, MA, 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 Northen 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.

Please share your support and memories with Roger’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.