Obituary for Rev. Raymond Dale Finch
Finch, Reverend Raymond Dale
The Reverend Raymond Dale Finch began his life’s journey on April 6, 1940 and reached his destination on May 1, 2021. Dale is survived by his wife and best friend, Donna (Honsberger); his daughters Lesley Finch (Phil Woodhouse) and Rebecca Gracey (Jason); his grandchildren Emily Vervaeke (Mike), Dan and Joe McLaughlin, and Austin and Kathleen Woodhouse; his sister Dorothy Donnelly; and nieces and nephews.
Dale attended Rolph St. P.S., Tillsonburg District H.S., and Pauline Johnson C.I., Brantford. He graduated with a BA and MA from WLU, a MEd from U. of T., and a MDiv from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. He taught French, German and Latin in Oromocto N.B., Brantford and Waterloo before accepting a position as language department head at Guelph Collegiate. His family and he spent a year in West Germany where Dale taught as an exchange teacher in a German secondary school. Dale also spent two years as a lecturer in the French Department of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Dale and Donna participated in a number of volunteer journeys to the Dominican Republic.
After ordination, Dale served at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Belleville, and Reformation Lutheran Church, Kitchener. He enjoyed all aspects of parish ministry but especially visiting and writing challenging sermons. After retirement he served as interim pastor at St. Peter’s, Cambridge (Preston); St. James, Baden; St. Paul’s, Bridgeport; St. Peter’s, Brodhagen; Mt. Zion, Waterloo; Zion, Stratford; Trinity, Ayton, and St. Matthew’s, East Zorra. He and Donna spent nine months as volunteers with Canadian Lutheran World Relief, he in administration of Augusta Victoria Hospital, a Palestinian Hospital in East Jerusalem.
Dale was a man with a strong sense of justice, never hesitating to stand up for issues he firmly believed in whether or not popular. He had a wicked sense of humour, loved learning new things, enjoyed movies, travel, and the arts, and spent many hours directing high school drama before Theatre Arts became an option in the curriculum. Over the years he was active in the community as a member of Big Brothers Association, Belleville Theatre Guild, Kairos, Interfaith Grand River, Men’s Breakfast Club, volunteer chaplaincy, and the Men’s Probus Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. His guiding principle was to try to follow Jesus’ example to help make this world a better place.
Dale was predeceased by his mother Elsie Beecroft (Weatherwax), his father Raymond Finch, his
stepfather Wm. Beecroft, and his brothers Douglas Finch and Gregory Beecroft.
The family would like to thank the support and care of Dr. Tan and the nurses and care givers of the Palliative Care Team of the Waterloo Wellington LHIN for making it possible for Dale to remain at home.
Dale's family will receive relatives and friends from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener.
A private memorial service will take place at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2021 followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener.
Masks are mandatory to attend visitation. Please R.S.V.P. your attendance through the funeral home web site or call the funeral home 519-749-8467.
You are welcome to join the family for the memorial service which will start at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday with a video tribute at https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial donations to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (Augusta Victoria
Hospital) or St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kitchener.
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Pastor Raymond Dale Finch's memorial.
The Reverend Raymond Dale Finch began his life’s journey on April 6, 1940 and reached his destination on May 1, 2021. Dale is survived by his wife and best friend, Donna (Honsberger); his daughters Lesley Finch (Phil Woodhouse) and Rebecca Gracey (Jason); his grandchildren Emily Vervaeke (Mike), Dan and Joe McLaughlin, and Austin and Kathleen Woodhouse; his sister Dorothy Donnelly; and nieces and nephews.
Dale attended Rolph St. P.S., Tillsonburg District H.S., and Pauline Johnson C.I., Brantford. He graduated with a BA and MA from WLU, a MEd from U. of T., and a MDiv from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. He taught French, German and Latin in Oromocto N.B., Brantford and Waterloo before accepting a position as language department head at Guelph Collegiate. His family and he spent a year in West Germany where Dale taught as an exchange teacher in a German secondary school. Dale also spent two years as a lecturer in the French Department of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Dale and Donna participated in a number of volunteer journeys to the Dominican Republic.
After ordination, Dale served at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Belleville, and Reformation Lutheran Church, Kitchener. He enjoyed all aspects of parish ministry but especially visiting and writing challenging sermons. After retirement he served as interim pastor at St. Peter’s, Cambridge (Preston); St. James, Baden; St. Paul’s, Bridgeport; St. Peter’s, Brodhagen; Mt. Zion, Waterloo; Zion, Stratford; Trinity, Ayton, and St. Matthew’s, East Zorra. He and Donna spent nine months as volunteers with Canadian Lutheran World Relief, he in administration of Augusta Victoria Hospital, a Palestinian Hospital in East Jerusalem.
Dale was a man with a strong sense of justice, never hesitating to stand up for issues he firmly believed in whether or not popular. He had a wicked sense of humour, loved learning new things, enjoyed movies, travel, and the arts, and spent many hours directing high school drama before Theatre Arts became an option in the curriculum. Over the years he was active in the community as a member of Big Brothers Association, Belleville Theatre Guild, Kairos, Interfaith Grand River, Men’s Breakfast Club, volunteer chaplaincy, and the Men’s Probus Club of Kitchener-Waterloo. His guiding principle was to try to follow Jesus’ example to help make this world a better place.
Dale was predeceased by his mother Elsie Beecroft (Weatherwax), his father Raymond Finch, his
stepfather Wm. Beecroft, and his brothers Douglas Finch and Gregory Beecroft.
The family would like to thank the support and care of Dr. Tan and the nurses and care givers of the Palliative Care Team of the Waterloo Wellington LHIN for making it possible for Dale to remain at home.
Dale's family will receive relatives and friends from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener.
A private memorial service will take place at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2021 followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener.
Masks are mandatory to attend visitation. Please R.S.V.P. your attendance through the funeral home web site or call the funeral home 519-749-8467.
You are welcome to join the family for the memorial service which will start at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday with a video tribute at https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial donations to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (Augusta Victoria
Hospital) or St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kitchener.
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Pastor Raymond Dale Finch's memorial.