Dr. Kenton “Kent” Earl Finanger, 93, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 12, 2026, at Trillium Woods Life Care Services in Plymouth, Minnesota, surrounded by the love of family and the legacy of a life well lived.

A pre-service Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 28, 11AM - 1PM at The Center for Faith and Life at Luther College in Decorah, IA. A funeral service will follow at 1PM at the Center for Faith and Life with a reception at The Peace Dining Room in the Dahl Centennial Union.

The service will be livestreamed: https://youtube.com/live/HeQOitnEumc?feature=share

Interment will be held on Monday, June 29, 10 AM at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors.

Please join the family at an additional service to celebrate the life of Kent Finanger on Friday, July 17, 2026, at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota. Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. with an hour visitation before the service starting at 1:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to “The Kent Finanger Wow! Fun! Wow! Fund” at Luther College in support of Athletic Excellence at Luther College.

1) Open this link: https://engage.luther.edu/register/givenow
2) In the fund drop-down box, Select “Other”
3) Enter “Kent Finanger Wow! Fun! Wow! Fund”
4) Select “My gift is in memory of” and type in Kent Finanger

Kent was born October 25, 1932, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Earl and Beatrice (Peterson) Finanger. The middle of three children, he grew up with a deep appreciation for family, faith, hard work, and community. The family moved to Milwaukee, WI, where Kent graduated from Wauwatosa East High School in 1950. His Wisconsin roots led him to become an avid, lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.

Kent's relationship with Luther College began in 1950. What followed was a journey few could match. As an athlete, Kent earned All-Conference honors in football, basketball and track, became a Little All-American running back, and set a Luther football scoring record that still stands. He graduated from Luther College in 1954 with a BS degree in Biology.

Yet his greatest contributions were still ahead of him.

On June 19, 1954, Kent married Lucia Engelstad at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois, with Lucia’s father, Reverend Conrad Engelstad, officiating. Together they raised five children—Mark, Phillip, Judith, Daniel, and Sarah—and built a home centered on faith, education, service, and love.

Following his honorable discharge after two years of service in the United States Army, Kent and Lucia settled in Decorah, IA. There they became woven into the fabric of the community, and Kent began what would become a remarkable 40-year career at Luther College, serving his Alma Mater as a professor, department chair, mentor, and coach. During this time, Kent earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1957 and, in 1963, he earned the PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Iowa.

Over his 40-year career, he coached an astonishing 93 seasons across football, basketball, baseball, track & field and cross country. He led teams to conference, regional and national championships, highlighted by the historic 1985 NCAA Division III Men’s National Cross Country Championship. Under his 29 year helm, Men’s Cross Country teams won 23 Iowa Conference Championships and helped establish Luther as one of the nation's premier distance running programs.

His influence extended far beyond wins and championships. Kent founded the All-American Cross Country Meet in 1973, helped launch the Luther Women's Cross Country program in 1975, and, alongside Lucia, established the Scandinavian Sports Clinic at Luther. In 2000, Kent was honored, along with Luther icons Hamlet Peterson and Edsel Schweizer, as a Luther legend at the Legends Fitness for Life Center. In 2017, Luther College honored his extraordinary impact by creating the “Kent Finanger Endowed Chair” given in his honor by an anonymous donor. The $1 million dollar gift signified the first endowed coaching position in Luther’s history.

Yet those who knew Kent best rarely spoke about his records or awards. They spoke about his enthusiasm and his legendary signature slogan: “WOW! FUN! WOW!”

They spoke about his ability to make every person feel valued. They spoke about the encouragement he offered so freely and the confidence he inspired in others. Kent loved people. He loved learning their stories, understanding their dreams, and helping them become the best version of themselves. Whether in a classroom, a playing field, at church, or around the family table, he had a gift for uplifting others and bringing out their potential. Generations of students, athletes, colleagues, friends, and family members carry his influence with them today.

Following Lucia's passing in 1992, Kent was blessed to find love again. On April 6, 1996, he married Lois Dahl, warmly welcoming her children—Debra, Brian, Steven and Nacia —into his family. Together, Kent and Lois enjoyed many happy years surrounded by family and friends in Decorah, IA; Goodyear, AZ; Mankato, MN; and Plymouth, MN. When the “Kent Finanger Golf Classic” was established in 2005 in Goodyear, Lois played a significant role, organizing live and silent auctions, raffles, and planning gala dinners and decorations. Through the contributions of a dedicated committee and the tireless efforts of Kent and Lois, the golf classic became one of the most successful Alumni events offered at Luther.

Among his many honors were induction into the Wauwatosa East High School Hall of Fame and the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame, where he was recognized not only for his accomplishments but for the lives he changed.

To know Kent was to be uplifted by him. He made people believe they could do more, become more, and give more. The world is better because he was here, and his influence will continue to inspire generations to come.

Kent is survived by his wife, Lois (Dahl) Finanger; Children: Mark (Lois) Finanger; Phillip (Kimberly) Finanger; Judith (Larry) Moen; Daniel (Lori) Finanger and Sarah (Craig) Chyle; step-children: Debra (Tim) Rilley; Brian (Nancy) Dahl; Steven (Debra) Dahl; and Nacia (Michael) Wheelock; sister, Patricia (Finanger) Nuesse; brother-in-law David Nuesse; their children Laura, Lowell and Rhonda; sister-in-law, Carol (Dahm) Finanger and her children Kristin, Erik and Kari.

Kent’s 18 grandchildren include Lars (Emily) Finanger; Hans (Elizabeth) Finanger; Andrew Finanger (Jeannie Folan); Allison (Wes) Gregg; Blake (Sarah) Moen; Anna (Steven) Knuth; Erika (Quintin) Abel; Christa (Peter) Sauve; Scott Finanger; Jonathan Finanger; Caleb (Isabel) Chyle; Camrin Chyle; Chloe Chyle; Erik (Mikal) Dahl, Jorgen (Elise) Dahl; Alicia Mayer-Wheelock and Nathan Mayer; Dan Wheelock, and Joe (Marissa) Wheelock.

Kent’s 20 great-grandchildren include Kaia & Elin Finanger; Libby & Ruben Finanger; Lina & Martin Finanger; William & Jackson Gregg; Matthew & Luke Moen; Grayson and Caden Knuth; Leni and Brooks Dahl; Breken and Ily Dahl; Naomi, Olivia and Leo Wheelock, and Mason Lesyinski.

Kent was preceded in death by his wife, Lucia; parents, Earl and Beatrice Finanger; parents-in-law Conrad and Hattie Engelstad; brother, David Finanger and a step-granddaughter Megan (Rilley) Lesyinski.