Background
Pinger was born on August 16, 1897 in Lindsay, Nebraska, United States; the son of John and Elizabeth (Kraus) Pinger.
Pinger was born on August 16, 1897 in Lindsay, Nebraska, United States; the son of John and Elizabeth (Kraus) Pinger.
Pinger studied at Franciscan School of Theology.
Pinger became an ordained priest of Order of Friars Minor in 1924. Six years later he served as a superior of Changtien in China. Then in 1932, Henry was appointed a priest at Prefect of Changtien. In 1937, he was a titular bishop and then an ordained bishop at diocese of Capitolias on September 21, 1937. Also the same year Pinger served as a vicar apostolic at diocese of Zhoucun.
He spent four years in Japanese concentration camps during World War II, and was arrested by the Chinese Communists in 1951 and imprisoned for five years. In 1946, Henry was appointed a bishop at diocese of Zhoucun and held it for thirty seven years. In addition, he was a chaplain for the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1958-1984. In 1984, Pinger became a bishop at St. Paschal's Church, where he served until 1986.