In 1973, Kurt and Jo-Ann (from Hamilton, Ontario) were married in Downingtown, PA. They have two sons, Nikolas and Alexander. A Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Research brought the family to the University of Utah Medical School in 1976, where Kurt began his teaching and research career as a Research Assistant Professor. In 1981, he accepted a faculty position in Oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dept. of Medicine. With numerous grant awards from the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the US Navy, he published more than 100 peer-reviewed research, review articles and book chapters, dealing mostly with the cellular stress response, thermotolerance, heat shock proteins, and stress-induced protein glycosylation - (partially listed at: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/38755650_K_J_Henle). In 1989, he was promoted to Professor of Medicine in Hematology/Oncology and Professor of Physiology/Biophysics.
Throughout his career he held positions as organist/choir director in a number of Christian denominations. In 1992, the Henles left the Episcopal Church and joined the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), where Kurt held a position as Elder and music director at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA). In 1997 he and Jo-Ann helped to plant St. Thomas Reformed Episcopal Church in Little Rock, together with the Rev. Robert W. Bowman.
In Jan. 2001, Kurt accepted early retirement as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medicine and completed the M. Div. degree from Cummins Memorial Seminary in 2003 under the direction of the Rev. Dan Thornhill and Bp. Daniel R. Morse (REC). From June of 2003 until October 2008, Jo-Ann and Kurt worked in St. Louis to grow a new parish, Holy Trinity Anglican Church (History of Holy Trinity Anglican Church). The Henles then followed God's call to plant a new Anglican Mission in Traverse City, Michigan. In November 2017 the Parish voted to affiliate with the United Episcopal Church, Diocese of the Great Lakes, as the jurisdiction most in keeping with Anglican theology, liturgy and traditions. This will assure continuity in the way we have served our Lord since our beginning in 2009.
God, in His Greater Wisdom, chose to take Jo-Ann home on December 29, 2018, when she succumbed to mucosal melanoma in the nasal cavity. Bp Hustwick conducted the Memorial Service in Traverse City on March 18, 2019. She continues to be missed by all who knew her, but we look forward to joining her in heaven when we follow God's call to return home.
May God continue to prosper His work in every corner of the earth.
Blessings in the name of our Triune God!
Fr. Henle was born in Germany, and emigrated with his family to the USA as a teenager. He received the B.A. & M.A. degrees in Physics from the Universities of Bridgeport, CT, and Wisconsin-Madison, WI, concurrently minoring in organ music. Drafted out of graduate school, he served most of his military time in the US Army Nuclear Effects Laboratory at Edgewood Arsenal, MD. While stationed there, he was music director at Old Spesutia Church (St George's Episcopal) in Perryman, MD and was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1970.
After the Army and a year of study at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, he completed a Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in hyperthermia & radiation biology.
A short Biography of Fr. Henle
The Right Reverend David T. Hustwick, Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the Great Lakes (DGL)
The Right Reverend John Pafford, retired Bishop
The Right Reverend Jackson Worsham. Bishop Emeritus
The Reverend Kurt J Henle, PhD, Rector
The Reverend Winston Rowlett, Curate
The Most Rev. Peter D. Robinson, Archbishop, United Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA)
A short Biography of Fr Winston Rowlett
Father Winston, shown at his ordination to the priesthood in the DGL on Sept. 19, 2020, is seen standing in front of Bp Hustwick, flanked by his parents, Barbara and James at the Church of Sts Andrew & Matthias in Hastings, MI.
Fr Winston writes:
Through Hope College, I earned a BA Degree in Religion, with Biblical Studies emphasis, in 1997, and a BA Degree in English, with Education emphasis, in 2000. Since then, I’ve earned an Associates of Applied Health & Science Degree, with Respiratory Therapy emphasis, through Muskegon Community College (2004), a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies Degree through Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of the greater Cornerstone University (2014), and a Master of Divinity Equivalency through Abilene Christian University, via online program (2018).
As of last year, I completed my Anglican studies via the online program with the Latimer Theological Institute, under the auspices of facilitator Fr Patrick Rodgers+ and instructor ++Abp Peter Robinson, in good enough time to prepare for my ordination by +Bp David Hustwick at Sts Andrew & Matthias Church in September 2020.
Currently, I live with my parents and work as a cashier at Walmart in my hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, enjoying Sundays off, regularly –– an arrangement conducive to my parish life as the Curate with All Saints’ Anglican Church in Traverse City. Other work experiences include sales, respiratory therapy, home health care, substitute teaching, mail handling, transportation assistance, and facilitation of programs for persons with special needs.
My hobbies include reading, social media, TV, and exercise. By means of social media, I enjoy Facebook connections with members of a Catholic young adults group in Traverse City, properly named TC Frassati –– wherein I feel honored being the token Anglican enjoying fellowship with delightful Roman Catholic brothers and sisters! In terms of exercise, I very much enjoy resistance training, and I look forward to taking advantage of my recently-acquired membership with the ICE hockey & physical fitness facility in TC. As far as TV is concerned, despite my age of 46 years, I very much enjoy watching SpongeBob Squarepants episodes, whether re-runs or new ones; otherwise, the station is turned to Fox News, almost every evening! For reading material, I enjoy books on Church history, theology, politics, and physical fitness.
Although my aspirations, on a personal level, are many, my vocational aspiration is to learn Biblical Hebrew. Having been privileged to learn Biblical Greek, which enhances my ability to engage the New Testament, I think I’d benefit from increasing my ability to engage the Old Testament, by learning Biblical Hebrew –– God’s will permitting.
