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Meet Our Pastors! |
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Pastors |
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Rachel Thorson Mithelman
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Pastor Mithelman was raised in Thor, Iowa, where she was baptized,
confirmed, married and ordained Ullensvang Lutheran Church. She has a
Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Wartburg, College,
Waverly , IA, and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St.
Paul, MN. Pastor Mithelman served congregations in Minnesota, California and
Wisconsin prior to coming to St. John's in February 2005. Over the course of
her ministry, she has served numerous boards and committees dealing with
issues of hunger, domestic violence and mental health. Pastor Mithelman was
part of the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project pilot program in 1996 and
has been the LWR host for several fair-trade coffee trips to Nicaragua, most
recently in January of 2006. Pastor Mithelman is married to Pastor Jack Mithelman who currently serves Grand View College in Des Moines and Luther Memorial Lutheran Church. The Mithelman's have two children, a son at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, and a daughter at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. |
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Robert Speirs Associate Pastor pastorbob@stjohnsdsm.org
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Born in Brooklyn New York, Robert was baptized, confirmed and married at his home congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. He graduated from Brooklyn College, and then from Luther Seminary. Married, Bob's wife Terri works for Lutheran World Relief. Their children Amanda and Aidan attend school here in Des Moines.
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Ramon Runkel
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Pastor Runkel is a good friend of St. John’s. He is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church but worships here often
with three of his children who are members of the congregation. Pastor
Runkel served two parishes in Wisconsin early in his ministry. He then
served 6 years as chaplain in Plankinton, SD at the South Dakota State
Training School. From 1968-97, he served as Director of Chaplancy for
Lutheran Social Services of Iowa. “Ray”, as he is known, brings a wealth of experience as pastor, chaplain and clinical pastoral education supervisor to this position. His easy conversational style, humor, deep concern for people and love of the Gospel are readily apparent as he works with people. Ray enjoys gardening, hunting, fishing and caring for the family’s two Shetland ponies. |