Herman “Tex” Finsterwald II
Age 81, of Grand Blanc, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024. In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family on Herman’s Tribute Wall at detroitcremationsociety.com.
Herman Finsterwald II was born on August 15, 1942, in Flint, Michigan, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Herman and Elsie (Westman) Finsterwald. He graduated from Flint Central High School in 1960. He received a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from General Motors Institute (GMI) in 1966. He completed his internship at General Motors Fisher Body and continued to work there after graduation until retiring with over 35 years of service in 1997.
Tex developed a love for Soap Box Derby while racing in Flint as a child. His love kept him active by helping other young racers including his son Mark; Together they raced for 8 years and built six derby cars. He was the Flint Soap Box Derby director in the 70’s. He also was one of a few individuals who founded the National Derby Rallies (NDR) which provides additional opportunities for young racers to race around the country. He was inducted into The Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame in 2006. He was still active in the derby, attending races and helping others until the end. His love for racing extended even further as he attended over twenty Indy 500 races and went to numerous racing events across the country. In 1984 Tex designed an airfoil for the rear wing strut of the 2nd place finishing car at the Indy 500. In the mid-2000s he also worked on the U.S. Bobsled team along with a few of his close Soap Box Derby friends.
He enjoyed helping Mark with home improvements, working on cars and going to swap meets. He loved watching his grandsons when they were young and watching their golf tournaments and soccer games over the years.
Surviving Tex is his son; Mark (Christy) Finsterwald, grandsons Alex and Evan Finsterwald and his sister Lynn Croll.
Tex is preceded in death by his wife, Janet and his parents Herman and Elsie. Tex was a loving husband, father, grandfather. He was loved and will be sorely missed.
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Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
My connection with Tex was focused around the derby. He mentored our family for years. He became a very close friend after the passing of his wife, Janet. We had lunch weekly and our friendship grew far beyond derby. Tex will be deeply missed and the Scotti family is beyond grateful for the countless derby memories you have enabled. God Speed to you for your next journey!
I am so sorry to learn of the loss of Tex, my thoughts are prayers are with Mark, Christy, Alex, and Evan. I was blessed to have known him for forty nine years after he introduced himself to me at a Wildcat Soap Box Derby in Indianapolis in 1975. He became a mentor to me and his advice helped me to build cars that allowed multiple families to have derby success. Tex, Janet, and Mark treated me like I was family, years and great times I will always remember. In recent years I enjoyed talking with Tex about many things but our two hour plus conversations were mostly about family, derby and Indycar racing, Janet and my wife Lori, would tell us we were like two old ladies. I am going to greatly miss those visits with him . Tex was a good friend to my entire family , he has a place in all of our hearts and he will never be forgotten.
I’m so sorry to learn of Tex’s passing. I know he missed Janet tremendously so it makes me happy knowing he’s reunited with her in heaven. I had to stop and think about how long I’ve known Tex. I’m pretty sure it’s been at least 50 years because our Reed family has been friends with the Finsterwalds for a lifetime. The Soap Box Derby brought us all together and between my Dad, Tex, and others, National Derby Rallies was born. I have so many wonderful memories of “derby days” with the Finsterwalds with visits all over the country. I have just as many memories of Mark winning a lot of races! Our family also spent several New Years Eves with the Finsterwalds where Dad and Tex spent practically 24 hours straight in the basement working on derby cars to maximize their time together. I know my Dad considered Tex one of his very best lifelong friends. I have no doubt he was nearby to welcome Tex into heaven and couldn’t wait to usher him into a strategic engineering session for future derby races. My condolences to Mark, Christy, Alex, and Evan at the loss of your Dad and Grandpa. Thank you for sharing Tex with the rest of us.
So sorry to hear of Tex’s passing. My husband and I went to school with him and Janet. We also lived down the street from them when we lived in Grand Blanc. They were both great people and will be missed by many. May they both rest in peace.
Being the same age as Tex, our memories coincided. We spent many hours talking derby and family. When we both lost our wives, we consoled each other. Tex was a friend who can never be replaced.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I first met Tex when he provided the wheels for the masters car that I raced in the Inaugural Ultimate Speed Race in Akron. We became good friends from there and spent many hours talking derby and family, two of his and my greatest loves. He was my co-pilot in spirit as I drove to many SBD races as we talked the hours away. He will be greatly missed by all of his soap box derby friends. May God Bless you as you grieve and heal from your loss.
I wanted to send my sympathy to Mark, Christy and family. Where did the time go… all those New Year’s trips to Flint with Tex and my dad and I think you Mark working on cars in the basement… while the girls headed to the malls. We all played cards, played Atari, and watched college games. Life was simple then. Mark, I remember one time racing and there was a bird on the track. I closed my eyes and yelled thinking I was going to hit and nearly hit the rail. Tex met me in the pits checking out the car and didn’t believe I didn’t hit it. He kindly lectured me on not worrying too much about the birds – that they would get out of the way. Enjoyed the Indy 500 races together as families. I knew your dad primarily through derby… he was no nonsense. But I know he loved you and Janet with all his heart. His tribute to my dad at his passing meant a lot to me. God’s blessing to you in this time. Miss you and those years so long ago…
On behalf of the International Soap Box Derby, we are sorry for the loss of Tex. Being new to the Derby, I did not have the chance to meet him personally. But talking with others, he was a great value to Derby Nation! He will be missed.
My heart felt wishes to the family. I grew up in Derby with the fatherly help from Tex. In the late 80s when I worked for GM and would travel to Flint, Tex and I would stay up all night with him making me derby smarter. His Derby mind and friendship were like no other I have had in Derby. He was always there to set me straight. In 2004 when our daughter (Hilary) won the All-American and I am taking the ceremonial walk down the track to the finish line, who did I see walking up the hill to greet me, TEX. We met at the tunnel for a big hug and to shed a few tears. He then added that he was proud of me. For a man growing up with no father, those few words have meant the World to me.
I cherished every minute with him and I look forward to seeing him again on the big hill in the sky.