Immanuel Lutheran School Staff

I was born on March 2, 1970 in St. Cloud Minnesota.  I attended Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 1992 with a BA degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Outdoor Education and Environmental Science.  In 1992 I accepted a position to teach 6^th grade homeroom, science 6^th-8^th grade.  While serving at Immanuel I have been a youth director and Sunday School Superintendent.  I accepted the call to serve as principal in April of 2006.  I look forward to the opportunity to “Be Transformed as I serve God at Immanuel.  I married my wife Wendy on July 2, 1994.   Wendy and I have two children Caleb who will be in 4^th grade and Kaitlyn who will be in 3^rd grade.   I enjoy coaching rec. soccer, playing with our dog and enjoying time at the lake.

I grew up in North Dakota and am a graduate of Concordia University in St. Paul, MN.  I am a Director of Christian Education, a Lutheran school teacher, and I just completed a Master’s in Early Childhood education.  I have three children: Joshua, Alexandra (Ali), and Paige.  I enjoy reading, golfing, camping, and have a strong loyalty to the MN Vikings!  The only thing I love more than the Vikings is teaching young children. 

My son Josh (27) has finished his service in the United States Air Force and is back in Wisconsin Rapids.  He plans to attend U of W in Stevens Point.  My daughter Ali (20) continues her third year of education at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI.  My daughter Paige (20) will start her third year at Robert Morris College in downtown Chicago, IL.  Paige will be using her sports scholarship to play soccer for RMC.  I still have Shiner and Zoe living at my house.  We like to take walks and often visit the dog park in Rome.

A small community in Nebraska is where I was raised.

It was there that I learned God is to be praised. 

I’ve taught in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, too.

Teaching kids about Jesus is a fun thing to do. 

Joel is my husband and Luke is our son.

Being with them is always a lot of fun. 

I like to camp and swim and read.

Watching Luke run is fun indeed.

Be transformed means to be changed, sometimes the changes are small, and sometimes they are more noteworthy. Since last year, which had been my first on the staff here at Immanuel, I have changed from sixth grade homeroom teacher to second grade teacher, acquired a new son (in law) as my daughter Joline was married July 14, 2007, became an “empty nester” as my husband Kevin and I sent our youngest child Caleb off to college this fall, and became a grandma upon the birth of my first grandchild Amelia Danielle September 3, 2007. Through these transformations I realize that God in his great goodness always wants to give us more than we can ask or imagine…always.   These newest transformations in my life had been preceded by many others. I was born in Milwaukee, spent the majority of my childhood in New York City, attended Concordia Ann Arbor, graduated from Concordia River Forest, taught in Texas, managed apartments in Wisconsin, taught in Michigan, and worked with children with autism. In my free time enjoy spending time with my family, reading, sewing, and quilting.

Schools I attended were Immanuel Lutheran, Maine West,   Valparaiso University, and Concordia, River Forest.

Have a husband, Mark, and three sons.

Activities I enjoy are biking, walking, golfing, and a few minutes of quiet time.

Raised with my brother, Mark, in Illinois.

Our visits with our families are always special.

Never a dull moment at our house!

During the summer we enjoyed soccer games, baseball games, and vacation.

Yes, bargain shopping is something, I enjoy, too!

K

Sharing Jesus everyday is a blessing and joy.

Teaching is the most rewarding job I could    imagine.

Rewards come in the form of smiles, hugs, and seeing the children grow.

Another year of fun and learning has begun!

I read a great book this summer by Andrew Clements, one of my favorite authors.  It’s called No Talking!  So in honor of that book (you’ll have to read it to really get this J) here is my biography:

Born July 27.

Parents: Ivan, Jackie. 

Raised in Rapids.      

Didn’t attend Immanuel.                                 

Graduated from Lincoln.                                            

Attended Concordia, Minnesota.                                

Taught in Topeka.

Married to Jennifer.

Taught in Milwaukee.

Daughter Megan born.

Moved to Vesper.

Son Ethan born.

Teach fourth grade.

Nine years here.

Run, bike, swim.

Love spicy food.

Read like crazy.

Loves the Lord.

Thanks for reading!

Be Transformed; this is what God asks all of us to do. I have transformed from a Kansas Jayhawk  to a Badger and Packer fan. After attending St.John Lutheran School in Palmer KS., I went to Linn Rural High School and eventually graduated from Concordia in Seward NE. I then taught for 10 years in Decatur, IL., before coming to Immanuel. Now I enjoy teaching Jr. High Students, coaching and farming. My coaching includes basketball and track here at Immanuel and football at Lincoln High School. My wife Chris, who works at Stora Enso Whiting division as an occupational health nurse, and I also have a farm where we raise corn, soybeans, hay and cattle.  I look forward to the TRANSFORMING that will happen here at Immanuel as we truly learn to conform to God’s will for our ministry.

IWhen I think of “Being Transformed”, I can certainly think of a lot of changes that I still need to make to continue to grow closer to Christ.  Thank goodness that through Christ’s sacrifice and grace, He has already covered up my sin and transformed me into His child.  As a teacher I definitely want my students to continue to grow, but I also love reminding them each day that they also have been transformed into children of God.  I began my ministry here in the fall of 1994 and have enjoyed teaching Junior High students.  Prior to this call I spent one year teaching at St. Matthew in Pittsburgh, PA.  God prepared me for His service through my upbringing by my parents in Iowa and through my involvement in church and youth activities.  The next part of my training took place at Concordia University in Seward, NE.  God has also blessed me with my family, friends and colleagues here at Immanuel.

Growing up in Liberty, Mo., I graduated from the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music in Kansas City.  I met my wife, Chriss, while working on my master’s degree at Concordia University, River Forest, IL.  We have two children and one grandchild.  Our daughter Erin and her husband, Eric, live in Merrill with their one-year-old son, Austin.   Our son, Adam, attends college in Winona, MN.  My wife teaches first grade at St. Paul Lutheran School in Stevens Point.  Over the past 29 years, I have served congregations in Chicago, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Des Plaines,

Fall is my favorite time of the year.  God changes greens of summer to the spectacular colors of autumn.  God also changes lives at Immanuel Lutheran School.  I am glad to be a part in helping children to see God in the beauty of ART.  Being a grandmother of 7 grandchildren is awesome and challenging.  I enjoy baseball (well, all sports), painting, sculpting, reading, and travel.  God has let me become an art independent consultant and given me good health.  THANKS TO HIM!

Hi, I am Wendy Wilson.  I was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids.  I attended the University of Wisconsin/Marshfield and earned my Associate Degree in Science.  I am currently the Library Director at the Lester Public Library o f Arpin.  I have two wonderful children, Joshua who is attending North Dakota State University, and Amy who is a junior at Lincoln High School.  I am looking forward to being in Immanuel’s School library this year and working with the students and staff of Immanuel Lutheran School.  I have always been a reader, so being in the library is a perfect fit!

Hi!   My name is Kellie Klingforth. I am the Director of the Child Care Center.  I have been working in child care for 2 years.  I have a son, Brandon, who comes to Cougar Cubs with me. I enjoy biking, camping, and reading. Children are the highlight of my life. 

I was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids.  After high school I earned an Associate Degree from Mid-State Technical College for Administrative Assistant.  I’ve been married 24 years to Brian and we have two kids; Jenna a Freshman at UW La Crosse and Zach a Junior at Lincoln High School.  Brian, Jenna and Zach are alumni of Immanuel Lutheran School as well as my mother-in-law Judy Weigand.  Besides spending time with my family, I enjoy my menagerie of pets.  Evenings and weekends you can find me at We Be Jammin Music here in Wisconsin Rapids, helping my husband operate our store.  I’m very proud to be part of Immanuel Lutheran School and look forward to continuing on with the Immanuel family for many years.