Rev. Henry Gerike passed in death on August 6, 2025 at Evertrue Laclede Groves retirement community, Webster Grove, Missouri at the age of 76.
His funeral service will be August 27, 2025 at the Concordia Seminary Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus (801 Seminary Pl. St. Louis, MO 63105) at 9:35 AM. His internment will follow at Our Redeemer Cemetery (8300 Mackenzie Rd., Afton, MO).
Henry was born in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota on Aug. 17, 1948. He attended high school at Concordia Academy in St. Paul, MN, graduating from Concordia College with a BA in elementary education in 1970. He served in the Lutheran teaching ministry and as church musician in the St. Louis area and in Aurora, IL. Called as teacher and cantor at Grace English Lutheran Church and school in Chicago, IL, he earned the Master of Church Music (MCM) degree from Concordia University, Chicago. Attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, he earned the Master of Divinity degree and was ordained into the Holy Ministry of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He continued to serve at the seminary as music director, notably taking the seminary choir Laudamus on tours throughout the United States and recording many CD’s of choral church music. He served as cantor at Church of the Reformation-Lutheran in Afton, MO. He published music for the church most notably composing his hymn tune “Ascended Triumph” included in many hymnals under the title “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels”. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him.\, fellow musicians, pastors, parishioners, and all who sing of faith in Jesus Christ.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Victor F. Gerike and Lila W. (Bartelt) Gerike, his sister, Alice L. Lunneberg, and his brothers, Kirby C. Gerike and Paul F. Gerike. He is survived by his brother, Timothy A. Gerike ( Sue ) of Bloomington, IL, his sister Roxanne J. Heiliger (Michael) of Crystal Lake, IL, his brother-in-law Rev. Allen D. Lunneberg of Waterford, Michigan, his sister-in-law Ruth Gerike of Bloomington, IL and 15 nieces and nephews and 17 great-nieces and nephews.
The family is very grateful to the staff of Evertrue Laclede Grove for their faithful and competent care of our beloved brother, Henry!