James Feiker Obituary

Jim Feiker went to be with the Lord on September 21st, following nearly a year's battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim was born on May 20, 1941, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota to Maurice and Mildred (Lien) Feiker, and along with his two brothers lived a typical Minnesota boy's life-hunting and fishing, trapping, playing hockey, and waterskiing. At age 12, Jim put his trust in Christ as his Savior, a choice that shaped the rest of his life. In high school, Jim was active in leading Bible clubs for fellow students, and became involved in the ministry of The Navigators as well. Jim attended Northwest Bible College for one year, received an Associates Degree from The University of Minnesota, and his B.A. from Mankato State University where he helped open a Navigator ministry. A life-long learner, Jim later did graduate work at South Dakota State University and Fuller Seminary. Jim spent four years leading the Navigator ministry at South Dakota State University. His marriage to Bev Stroup in 1971 was a love story that has remained strong for 41 years. Together Jim and Bev went on to minister to graduate students at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, where their first daughter, Susan, was born. The next 12 years Jim served on the pastoral staff of Fairhaven Church (C&MA), in Dayton, Ohio as Pastor of Discipleship and Missions. The Feiker's daughter, Sharon (Shae), was born in Dayton. Jim was a devoted family man who found great delight in his daughters, later his grandsons, and his dogs. Jim's great heart to see laborers raised up to reach the world for Christ moved the Feikers to get more directly involved in missions, first through The US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, California, and then through SEND International, based in the Detroit, Michigan area. With SEND, Jim helped in missionary preparation, and together the Feikers traveled to SEND's fields (Asia, Central Europe and Alaska), to do missionary care and development. For the past 12 years, the Feikers have ministered with Barnabas International while living in Colorado Springs, focusing on the spiritual development of mission leaders both locally and overseas. To aid this, Jim has written extensively on mentoring and spiritual coaching. Jim will be remembered for his deep care for and belief in people, his call to spiritual leadership and intimacy with God, for his sense of humor and for his oft repeated but deeply meant phrase, "Love you guys." Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughter Susan of Seattle, daughter Shae (Derek) and grandsons Espen, Leif, and Jonas Jacobson of Escondido, CA, brother Richard of Ventura, CA, brother Dennis of Minneapolis, several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and co-workers around the world. Celebration of Life services for Jim will be held Sunday, October 14th at 2:30pm at Glen Eyrie Castle, and Saturday, October 20th at 1pm at Fairhaven Church in Dayton, Ohio. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, and those at Pikes Peak Hospice for their competence and loving care for Jim during his illness.