Colleen Henry
Colleen Yoder Henry was born in Chicago but grew up in Rockford, Michigan where her father was pastor of the Congregational (now UCC) church. After graduating with a major in English from Kalamazoo College, Colleen continued her studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary where she received a Master of Arts in Religious Education degree in 1969. Three days later, in the Chapel of the Seminary, she was married to her classmate – Tom Henry. The subsequent arrival of their two children, Anya and Brendan, led her into a lifetime commitment to creating high quality public education for children in the city.
Colleen and Tom have lived in Lincoln Park since 1975, a year after Tom became an associate pastor at St. Pauls United Church of Christ. During those 35 years , she has not only contributed to making Lincoln Park a better place to live, she has furthered the mission and goals of St. Pauls Church – far beyond her obligations as “the pastor’s wife.
Within the community, Colleen served in the following capacities:
President of the Lincoln Park Co-Operative Nursery School Board of Directors
President of District 3 Education Council (governing 77 northside public schools)
President of the first Lincoln Park High School - Local School Council.
At both Bell School and Lincoln School, Colleen was active on the Local School Improvement Councils and the PTA; organized campaigns to end teacher strikes and keep the schools open; represented Bell School at the District Education Council; edited the newsletter at Lincoln; and participated on numerous committee and projects.
For the District 3 Advisory Council, she served as Secretary, as President, and among her many activities developed the Council Handbook.
In addition to her 8 years on the LPHS-LSC, she was instrumental in incorporating Friends of LPHS, helped to raise funds, designed and wrote copy for school recruitment materials, and led beautification, publicity, and archival activities. For the Centennial celebration of LPHS, formerly Waller High School, Colleen authored a book about the history of the school. From 2002-2006, Colleen handled community relations and publicity for LPHS as director of external relations.
Colleen was a presenter for programs on LPHS for the Lincoln Park Research Initiative Programs in 2002 and 2004; served as the LPHS Rep for a Lincoln Park Community-wide Forum and on the marketing committee of Lincolnparkconnect.com.
In 1989 Colleen received a Builder of the Year Individual Award from B.U.I.L.D., Inc. for her “commitment to providing realistic alternatives for Chicago’s Street Youth.” In 1990 she received an LPCA Community Service Award for her work on behalf of the public schools.
In a publication about Lincoln Park by Melanie Ann Apel in association with the Chicago Historical Society, Colleen is cited for her hard work and dedication to the project. Likewise for the book The Historic Christmas Tree Ship by Rochelle Pennington, Colleen supplied photos and resource materials from St. Pauls archives. The book is about Captain Herman Schuenemann, a St. Pauls member whose story Colleen celebrated by producing a special Schuenemann Festival at the church in 2004.
Colleen is now the official historian and archivist of St. Pauls . Having sung in the Chancel Choir since 1974, she is affectionately known as the “Choir Mom” and hosts annual Choir Christmas brunches and spring picnics. For the Choir, she has also organized and produced ten How Sweet The Sound gospel concerts. Colleen is the long-time editor of the church newsletter Now You Know; and annually designs and develops the church’s Annual Report to the Congregation; hosts quarterly New Member dinners and brunches; and has, at one time or another, participated in all of the teaching and outreach ministries of the church. For the last three years, to raise funds for the youth Mission Trip to Appalachia, Colleen has hosted an exquisite “Tea at the Vicarage.”
Currently, Colleen’s favorite title is “Grandma” to 2 1/2-year old Colleen Kompare and her baby sister Beatrix.
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