Leadership

Pastor Bill Uetricht

Pastor Bill is married to Bev who is employed as a para-professional at North Muskegon Schools.  Bill and Bev have two boys, Micah who lives in Chicago and is employed by the Illinois Tenants’ Union, and Jacob who is pursuing a Fire Science Degree. He works at Home Depot and at the Muskegon Township Fire Department.  Bill graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  He has been a political junky for many years but is a bit disillusioned by the current political climate.  He graduated with a Master’s of Divinity degree in 1985 from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. For 16 years Bill has been active in the triathlon world.  He loves to swim and ride his bike.  A knee and back injury prevent him from running as he used to do.  He loves all kinds of music, especially country and jazz.  He has been known to sing many Frank Sinatra classics.  He likes to spend time with his wife and especially enjoys good food with her. Currently, he is the president of Family Promise of the Lakeshore and serves on the Board for the Lakeshore Museum Center.  To contact Pastor Bill, please click here; additionally, please check out Pastor Bill’s blog by clicking here.

Director for Youth & Family Ministries:  Ed Wosinski

Ed has served as the Director of Youth & Family Ministries since the fall of 2007.  He enjoys the diversity of his work and the various people he connects with throughout the church.  He and Deb have been married for 22 years and have two daughters Abby and Maddie.  As a family they enjoy camping, bike riding, canoeing, hiking, reading, and lazy Saturdays.  Ed has worked with youth throughout his career, prior to joining the staff at First Lutheran he served as the Youth Development Director for Newaygo County Community Services in Fremont.  Ed is currently the vice president of the Fremont Public School board and chair of the Curriculum committee.    Ed serves as a Big brother through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore, he has been matched with his little brother since the fall of 2009.  To contact Ed, please click here.

Music Director:  Janine Norwood

Janine graduated from Holland High School and Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing with a RN degree.  She has been involved in church music since the age of seven, playing the piano for Sunday school.  At the age of 14, she started playing the organ at Bethel Reformed Church in Holland, MI for worship services throughout her college years.  Upon graduation from college, she became the organist/pianist and Children’s Music Director at Central Park Reformed in Holland.  Prior to coming to First Lutheran, she served as a full-time Music Director at Calvin Christian Reformed in Muskegon for seven years.  Throughout her training, she has studied music privately and at Hope College.

Janine is married to Ernie and they have six children; four sons and two daughters.  She and Ernie also serve as foster parents through Lutheran Child and Family Services of Michigan.

Outside of playing music at the church, Janine loves to shop, attend Christian music concerts, travel, and spend time with friends.  To contact Janine, please click here.

Church Secretary:  Dawn Shank

Dawn moved to Whitehall, Michigan when she was a sophomore in High School from Saint Charles, Illinois.  She married Stanley Shank right after high school and they have four children.  Dawn has attended Muskegon Community College and Ross Medical School.  Prior to her position here at First Lutheran, Dawn was a Crisis Aide at Every Woman’s Place, and a Medical Assistant for Shoreline Pediatrics. Working in the human service field has always been her passion.  She remarks, “Helping others truly helps me! This is a ministry that God had blessed me to be apart of.”  Dawn is active and faithful to this congregation and feels very blessed that she and her family are part of this family at First Lutheran Church.  To contact Dawn, please click here.

Intern Pastor:  Ken Ranos

Ken is excited to be at First Lutheran for his internship. A graduate of Capital University with degrees in music and religion, he is in his third year at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH, studying for his Masters of Divinity degree with a concentration in the Church in a Diverse World. He hails originally from Chicago, IL, where he lived and worked until heading off to college. Most recently, Ken completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the VA Medical Center in Jackson, MS over the summer. He enjoys biking, hiking, camping, and backpacking, feeling a closeness to God out in the midst of creation. He also enjoys reading, movies, and watching his favorite hockey team. To contact Ken, please click here.

Nursery Attendants

Toni Schillaci

Lori White

Church Council Members

Dolores Brondyke, President

Kent Johnson, Vice President

Stewart Veeck, Treasurer

Sylvia Koski, Secretary

Jackie Westenbroek and Deb Roest, Members At Large

George Bramer, Building and Grounds Chair

Dani Zizak, Fellowship Chair

Billie Bramer, Lay Ministry Chair

Marianne Newman, Outreach Chair

David Aker, Stewardship Chair

Nancy Burton, Worship & Music Chair

Jeff Lucht, Youth Ministry Chair

First Lutheran Church would like to thank Paul Petersen for taking the photographs of our staff.  These photos are copyrighted by Petersen Photography and may not be used without permission.