Harry left home at the age of 14 years to attend St. Pauls College, as a high school freshman in Concordia, MO. After College he attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. His vicarage was spent at St. John's Lutheran Church in Red Bud, IL. His first and only church was St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL where he served for 49 years. During this time he spent a number of years as President of the Southern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church - MO Synod. In 1973 he and Alma moved to Effingham, IL.