Harry Oldenburger

Harry Oldenburger, 92, went on to be with the Lord in the early morning of January 2, 2019, passing peacefully in his sleep at Glenwood Place in Vancouver, WA. He was born June 6, 1926 near Manhattan, MT to Onnie and Tracy (Leep) Oldenburger. He accepted the Lord at the age of ten, and three years later dedicated his life for full-time Christian service. Harry served in the 8th Army in Japan after the end of World War II, where he became a chaplain's assistant. Sensing a call on his life to be a missionary to Japan, he studied Japanese at Seattle Pacific College. He also enrolled in a grad course at Multnomah School of the Bible where he met Elizabeth Benston and married her in 1954. Though they were accepted as missionaries to Japan by the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade, Harry ended up not passing the strict medical exam, so he served as office manager in the mission headquarters for some years. They adopted two children from Korea, a daughter, Joy (Oldenburger) Metcalf and a son, Tad Oldenburger. Harry earned his teaching credentials and a Master of Education degree at Central Washington State College and taught Language Arts at two Seattle area high schools for many years. During those years he had the remarkable opportunity to teach the Bible as Literature in public schools. Harry was the founding pastor of Praise the Lord Fellowship (now Rainier Hills Christian Fellowship) in Buckley, WA, where he served for close to 20 years. He has always been known and loved for his amazing capacity and ability in relating to people so that they feel unconditionally loved and accepted. This enabled him to serve as a spiritual parent to countless people whether neighbors, students, parishioners, and ministers. Harry retired and resided in Vancouver, WA since 1998, where he was active ministering to pastors, cross-cultural workers, and lay people all over the world via the internet, encouraging, comforting and exhorting them with scripture and prayer. In addition he ministered at retirement homes and senior retreats as well as among a Christian veterans group of which he served as president for many years. Harry is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Oldenburger; a daughter, Joy (Oldenburger) Metcalf of Keizer, OR; a son, Tad Oldenburger (spouse Pitsamai) of Dallas, TX; a brother, Andrew Oldenburger (spouse Joan) of Manhattan, MT; a sister, Evelyn (Oldenburger) Acton (spouse Dr. Loren W.) of Bozeman, MT; and 5 loving grandchildren, Elaine Lazzeri (spouse Drew) of Portland, OR, Eric Metcalf (spouse Emily) of Beaverton, OR, Ben Metcalf (spouse Lani) of Los Angeles, CA, Mark Oldenburger of Bangkok, Thailand and Andy Oldenburger of Bangkok, Thailand. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ruth (Oldenburger) Bechtel; and a son-in-law, Loren Metcalf. A Celebration of Life with military honors and reception following will be at City Harvest Church, 8100 NW 9th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98665 at 7:00 p.m., Tues., Jan.15, 2019. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR.

Harry Oldenburger

June 6, 1926 - January 2, 2019