In Memory Of
Gary L. Ferch
1952
2022
Gary L. Ferch
October 20, 1952 — July 1, 2022
Gary was born on October 20, 1952, in Denver, CO to John and Irene (nee Mathews) Ferch. He remembered his childhood fondly, fishing and camping in the Rockies, playing with his dog Teddy, and helping his father build houses for the family construction business, Statewide Builders.
The family were members of Metropolitan Bible Church in Denver where his father served on the board. Gary remembered coming home after a church service at age 9 and being overwhelmed with a feeling of his need for God's salvation. He prayed alone in his room that night, trusting in Jesus and accepting His love and forgiveness.
The family moved to Arvada, then to Loveland later in his childhood, where he enjoyed playing high school football and helping his uncle and aunt, Ray and Anna (nee Ferch) Sells, on the family farm during the summers. A major knee injury during his senior year changed his plans for college—an event later remembered as a major intervention from God in his life, preparing him for a call to ministry.
During his time in college, he became involved in campus Young Life meetings, where his long-held faith helped him overcome depression and find a new identity. As he attempted to share his faith, Gary realized his need for ministry training, and enrolled in Florida Bible College in 1972.
At FBC, Gary developed a deep love for the Bible, and sensed a calling to share the good news of God's love with others. It was there that he met his wife, Donna (nee Williams). They fell in love as they traveled the nation during the summers with Indian Bible Mission, holding camps for Native American children on reservations and in communities from New York to Minnesota to Oklahoma.
Gary and Donna were married upon his graduation on December 17, 1976 and moved to Indiahoma, OK where they served for the next six years in youth ministry at Post Oak Mennonite Brethren Church. There they developed a burden to serve indigenous communities that had no local church, and Post Oak commissioned them as missionaries with New Tribes Mission in 1981.
Gary and Donna served with NTM for 19 years, where they served overseas terms in Greenland (1988-1993) and Mexico (1995-1999), and taught anthropology and cross-cultural evangelism in Kentucky (1982-1987) and Wisconsin (1993-1994). Together they raised five children, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, and Mary Lee.
The family moved to Saint Louis, MO in 1999 and began attending Hope Church where Gary volunteered on the church Missions Committee and the Elders' Board. In 2001, they resigned from NTM and joined Friends in Action, where they became passionate about empowering local church leaders to carry on the work of the ministry. Gary's focus at FIA was in northern Bolivia, where he supported a local network of Bolivian churches in their desire to establish a radio station, riverboat ministry, and training center to serve communities in the surrounding jungle. Gary championed this cause across the US, raising funds and recruiting volunteers to help in the Bolivian ministries.
Gary was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Though the outlook was bleak, his positive attitude was an encouragement to all. He insisted that his suffering allowed him to know and experience God more deeply, and thanked God even for this final trial.
Gary is survived by his wife Donna and his five children and their spouses: John & Katie (nee Amiri) Ferch, Luke and Ngan (nee Le) Ferch, Mark and Christine (nee Pellegrini) Ferch, Matthew and Kelsey (nee Konrad) Ferch, and Mary Lee (nee Ferch) and Logan Miller. He is fondly remembered by seven grandchildren: Elijah, Evangeline, Naya, Cora, Malachi, Lyra, and Rosalie. He is also survived by his sister Linda Lander, and nieces Crystal (Jared) Senn & Sarah (Alex) Roller. Finally, he is remembered by his spiritual family—the countless lives impacted by his ministry across the United States, Greenland, Mexico, and Bolivia.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 9, 10:30am, at Hope Church, 4200 Brown Road, St. Louis, MO and will be streamed online. Interment will take place at Post Oak Cemetery, Indiahoma, OK, in a private family service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions towards Gary's ministry in Bolivia can be made to the Memorial Fund at Hope Church: Click Here to donate
To share a memory of Gary or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
The family were members of Metropolitan Bible Church in Denver where his father served on the board. Gary remembered coming home after a church service at age 9 and being overwhelmed with a feeling of his need for God's salvation. He prayed alone in his room that night, trusting in Jesus and accepting His love and forgiveness.
The family moved to Arvada, then to Loveland later in his childhood, where he enjoyed playing high school football and helping his uncle and aunt, Ray and Anna (nee Ferch) Sells, on the family farm during the summers. A major knee injury during his senior year changed his plans for college—an event later remembered as a major intervention from God in his life, preparing him for a call to ministry.
During his time in college, he became involved in campus Young Life meetings, where his long-held faith helped him overcome depression and find a new identity. As he attempted to share his faith, Gary realized his need for ministry training, and enrolled in Florida Bible College in 1972.
At FBC, Gary developed a deep love for the Bible, and sensed a calling to share the good news of God's love with others. It was there that he met his wife, Donna (nee Williams). They fell in love as they traveled the nation during the summers with Indian Bible Mission, holding camps for Native American children on reservations and in communities from New York to Minnesota to Oklahoma.
Gary and Donna were married upon his graduation on December 17, 1976 and moved to Indiahoma, OK where they served for the next six years in youth ministry at Post Oak Mennonite Brethren Church. There they developed a burden to serve indigenous communities that had no local church, and Post Oak commissioned them as missionaries with New Tribes Mission in 1981.
Gary and Donna served with NTM for 19 years, where they served overseas terms in Greenland (1988-1993) and Mexico (1995-1999), and taught anthropology and cross-cultural evangelism in Kentucky (1982-1987) and Wisconsin (1993-1994). Together they raised five children, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, and Mary Lee.
The family moved to Saint Louis, MO in 1999 and began attending Hope Church where Gary volunteered on the church Missions Committee and the Elders' Board. In 2001, they resigned from NTM and joined Friends in Action, where they became passionate about empowering local church leaders to carry on the work of the ministry. Gary's focus at FIA was in northern Bolivia, where he supported a local network of Bolivian churches in their desire to establish a radio station, riverboat ministry, and training center to serve communities in the surrounding jungle. Gary championed this cause across the US, raising funds and recruiting volunteers to help in the Bolivian ministries.
Gary was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Though the outlook was bleak, his positive attitude was an encouragement to all. He insisted that his suffering allowed him to know and experience God more deeply, and thanked God even for this final trial.
Gary is survived by his wife Donna and his five children and their spouses: John & Katie (nee Amiri) Ferch, Luke and Ngan (nee Le) Ferch, Mark and Christine (nee Pellegrini) Ferch, Matthew and Kelsey (nee Konrad) Ferch, and Mary Lee (nee Ferch) and Logan Miller. He is fondly remembered by seven grandchildren: Elijah, Evangeline, Naya, Cora, Malachi, Lyra, and Rosalie. He is also survived by his sister Linda Lander, and nieces Crystal (Jared) Senn & Sarah (Alex) Roller. Finally, he is remembered by his spiritual family—the countless lives impacted by his ministry across the United States, Greenland, Mexico, and Bolivia.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 9, 10:30am, at Hope Church, 4200 Brown Road, St. Louis, MO and will be streamed online. Interment will take place at Post Oak Cemetery, Indiahoma, OK, in a private family service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions towards Gary's ministry in Bolivia can be made to the Memorial Fund at Hope Church: Click Here to donate
To share a memory of Gary or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gary L. Ferch, please visit our flower store.
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