Colonel Kristian Michael Mineau

Colonel Kristian Michael “Kris” Mineau (USAF, Retired) passed away Monday at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 80. Born in Berlin on November 26, 1941, Kris spent the war years with his mother, aunt, and maternal grandmother in Tutzing, Bavaria, before emigrating to the United States in 1949. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Louise (Scheuermann) Mineau, and stepfather, Earl Mineau. A graduate of Worcester Academy (1960), the United States Air Force Academy (B.S. 1964), the University of Illinois (M.S. 1973), and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1999), Kris served his country faithfully throughout his 28 years in the U.S. Air Force and 30 years of full-time Christian ministry. His decorated military service included 100 combat missions over North Vietnam; a faculty appointment teaching calculus at the USAF Academy; instructor pilot duty in the F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle; squadron command, wing deputy command, and senior leadership positions at the Numbered Air Force and Major Command levels. Perhaps the most impactful event of his Air Force career occurred in 1969 when Kris miraculously survived a low-altitude, supersonic ejection from an F-4 Phantom as a young Captain—an experience that immediately brought him to faith and eventually led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Kris retired from the military at the rank of Colonel with awards including the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross. He dedicated the next 30 years to Christian ministry and public service, including 5 years as missions pastor of Trinity Evangelical Church in North Reading, Massachusetts, and 15 years as president of the Massachusetts Family Institute. He led Bible studies, taught adult Sunday School, and served as an elder at churches and Air Force chapels across the country and around the world. Additionally, he sat on the board of directors for multiple non-profit organizations and volunteered in both leadership and service capacities. In 1965, Kris married the love of his life, Lura. Together, their Air Force and ministry adventures spanned the globe with multiple assignments in Arizona, Florida, and England; memorable stints in Saudi Arabia, Germany, and California; a remote tour in Korea; and mission opportunities in the then-Soviet Union, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Romania. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2015 with a final trip to Israel, which had always held a special place in their hearts and had been a favorite destination over the years. A devoted father and loving grandfather, Kris prayed for his four children, their spouses, and his ten grandchildren by name each day. Kris is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lura (Balcomb) Mineau of Tulsa; son Kris Mineau II and wife Margot of West Simsbury, Connecticut; daughter Carrie Kittinger and husband Danny of Tulsa; son Brigadier General David Mineau (USAF) and wife Amy of Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; daughter Karen Huggard of Arlington, Virginia; and grandchildren Luke Kittinger and wife Sarah, Emily Mineau, Kellie Kittinger, Cullen Huggard, Garrett Mineau, Christian Huggard, Teddy Mineau, Elizabeth Mineau, Andrew Mineau, and Joshua Huggard. He will be remembered for his enduring faithfulness to his family, to our nation, and above all to the Lord. A celebration of life with full military honors will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Woodlake Church (Bixby campus), and the family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Friday, September 9, 2022, at Hayhurst Funeral Home (Broken Arrow). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Neighborhood Scholarship Program at Worcester Academy (Massachusetts) or to Galcom International, a ministry dedicated to sharing the Gospel in unreached areas throughout the world.

Tributes

Colonel Kristian Michael Mineau

November 26, 1941 - September 5, 2022