Finkbeiner, Elvin C.
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E L VI N
CARL
F I NKB E I NE R
1 8 9 6
-oElvin Carl Finkbeiner was born in Leighton
township, Allegan county, Michigan, May 3, 1896, a
son of
ndrew G., and Anna B•, Finkb einer of German
descent.-
He has a sister Lula, who married James
D. Clark and resides in Middleville, Michigan; a
brother, Oscar L., who married · arion Harper and
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also resides in !Yliddleville; and a sister Ruth, who
married Wilbur Klump and resides in the same village.
Elvin Carl Finkbeiner attended the rural schools
and the school in Caledonia,
uated from t h e
[ichigan, and was grad-
iddleville high school in 1914.
He
remained with his parents on the farm for six years
and then in the f a ll of 1920 entered Albion College,
planning to enter the vhristian ministry.
In 1924
Albion College granted hi m the degree of Bachelor of
Arts.
In October, 1922, he was ap pointed by ·Dr. Franklin H. Clapp, District Superintendent, as supply pas
_!
tor of the Butler charge and in September, 1923, he
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joined the
.i\
ichigan Annual vonference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church on trial.
In the fall
o~
1924
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he entered Garrett Biblical Ins.ti tute in Evanston,
Illinois, and was graduated in 1927 with the degree
of Bachelor of Divinity.
June
St. Clair,
2~
1925, he was married to Burmah Wertz of
~ ichigan.
and Ada Langel
She is the daughter of John L.
ortz, was graduated from the St.
Clair high school, earned a teacher's life certificate in the Normal School at Ypsilanti, Michigan,
and taught school several years at Yale, Algonac and
other schools in that part of Michigan.
Mr . and '1!rs. Finkbeiner are the parents of:
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Barbara, born March 2, 1928;
Betty, born February 1, 1933;
Ellen, born February 6, 1935; and
Norma, born January 5, 1937.
Mr. Finkbeiner supplied the Carlton charge on
the Ann Arbor District in the Detroit Annual Conference during the summer of 1925, and in the fall was
given Pokagon in the Michigan Annual Conference as a
student appointment while attending Garrett Biblical
Institute.
In 1927, he was ordained Elder under the
seminary rule.
Since then he has served as pastor
the following charges: Schoolcraft and Portage
1927-9; Deeetur, 1929-1931; Rosebush Circuit, 19311934; Levering Circuit, 1934-1940; Bangor and Breeds ~
3
ville, 1940- •
Mr. Finkbeiner's parents are members of the
Methodist Church at Middleville and the father served
as a Sunday scho ol teacher and as superintendent and
Elvin very naturally joined the church at the age of
twelve.
He bec ame an active worker in the Epworth
League, which, with the influence of his pastors,
particularly E. K. Lewis and J. H. Westbrook, led him
into t h e Chrristi an mi nistry.
He was greatly
encoura ged by Willi am H. Helrigel, who went into the
ministry from the Middleville Methodist
(
~ hurch,
as
J
did also Geor ge Stanford and Ralph Harper.
resley
l
Shondelmeyer and his brother Harvey went into the
ministry of the Church of Christ from Middleville,
which is some record for a town of its size.
Mr. Finkbeiner s ays that his seminary experience
broadened his outlook and that his experience as a
pastor has mellowed and deepened his spirit.
He
has sought to build steadily and has given special
attention to the young people.
written in 1941.
The foregoing was