Rev. Donald Feick

The Reverend Donald H. Feick, 93, of Hermitage, TN, died Thursday, January 9, 2014. Fr. Feick was a retired Episcopal priest who lived a life dedicated to serving God, country, and community.

Born August 4, 1920, in Avalon, PA, he was the son of Harry W. and Pearl H. Feick. He studied economics at Grove City College; later, at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, he studied for the ministry.

After graduating from college in 1942, Fr. Feick served in the U.S. Air Force in the European theater in World War II. Subsequently, he served as a Foreign Service officer in the U.S. State Department in the reconstruction of post-war Germany. He returned to the U.S. in 1957.

Over his life as an Episcopal priest, Fr. Feick served at churches in Newport, PA; Mt. Joy, PA; Smyrna, DE; Coudersport, PA; and Chambersburg, PA. After retiring from full-time ministry, he served in interim and part time roles in Waynesboro, PA; Coshocton, OH; and Rugby, TN. In addition to serving his congregations, he was active in diocesan leadership, both in Harrisburg, PA, and Delaware, serving on and chairing a number of committees, and as Chairman of the Armed Forces Division of the Harrisburg and Delaware dioceses; he also served on the Executive Councils for both dioceses.

His volunteer work reflected his life-long commitment to service. He chaired the Franklin County Migrant Ministry program and served as chaplain to multiple organizations: the Retired Officers Association of Chambersburg and Fairfield Glade, the Delaware State Police, the Blue Lodge and Consistory in Coudersport PA, the VFW, the American Legion, the Air Force Association, National Sojourners, and as the Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He served on the boards of Shippensburg Home, Chambersburg Insight, and Meals on Wheels. He was active in the Lions Club, Rotary, and the Exchange Club.

He is perhaps best known for his abiding interest in people and their lives. He struck up conversations with everyone – with visitors to his congregations but also with gas station attendants, cashiers, and people he would see only one time. Always eager to learn about people, their families, and their lives, he connected with them easily. Even at the hospital in his last hours, he displayed his natural curiosity and concern by getting to know the nursing staff, and then introducing them to visitors who came to see him.

While serving during the war, Fr. Feick met Evelyn Joan Johnson of London, England, at a dance in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, England. They married in 1945; Mrs. Feick passed away in 1988. Fr. Feick married Geraldine Stansberry in 1989. She survives him, as do his son, Lawrence (Maura Farrell) Feick of Pittsburgh, PA, his daughters Alison (Alexander Beattie) Feick-Beattie, Kimberley (Daniel) Steenstra of Shippensburg, PA, and Jennifer (Douglas) Eshleman of Chambersburg, PA. He was the proud grandfather of Heather (Shaun) Rogers, Matthew Feick, Michael Mohler, Ashley Feick, Logan Steenstra, and Emma Eshleman, and great-grandfather of Caeden, Peyton, Caroline, Jack, Graham, and Charlie Rogers, and Laila Kushner. He is also survived by a stepson, Glenn Holliman, and two stepdaughters, Alice Murphy and Rebecca Payne. His siblings Harry, Nancy, and David Feick, predeceased him.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2014 in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Shippensburg at 10 a.m. Officiating will be The Right Rev. Nathan Baxter, Rev. Barbara Hutchinson, Rev. Patrick Pierce, Father William Murphey, and Rev. Deacon Betsy Ivey. Private burial will be in Norland Cemetery. A visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 58 S. 2nd St., Chambersburg, PA, 17201 or to Christ Church Episcopal, P.O. Box 25, Rugby, TN, 37733.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.