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The Congregational Council of First English Lutheran Church is comprised of 15 elected members. These dedicated members are the governing body of the church.

How to contact your Council members    
           

Phyllis Anderson  phylrog@netzero.net          
Diane Bemis         dmbemis@aol.com
Laurie Berkedal    laanberk@new.rr.com
Jeff Boettcher         boettcher12@hotmail.com
Bruce Catterton     catterton@nmfn.com
Jeff Diehl                 jpd@advisorygrp.com
Karen Dorn,
Vice President       kdorn@tds.net
Fred Hauser,
President                fhauser@ymcafoxcities.org 
Mike Lokensgard, mlokensgard@gklaw.com
Treasurer
Wayne Luck           wluck@new.rr.com
Kirsten Owens
Peter Peregrine    peregrinefam@sbcglobal.net
Judy Snavely,
Secretary                snavely@athenet.net
Mary Vandenberg  mvandenberg1@new.rr.com
John Zweig            jzweig@new.rr.com

Meet the 2006 Congregational Council

Phyllis Anderson and her husband, Roger, have called First English their church home since 1969. They have three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Phyllis is a greeter, communion server and assists on the Counting Committee. She is member of the Miriam Circle and the Elder Care Task Force and a former member of the Trust Committee. She also participates in the Local Needs quilting group. Phyllis is a graduate from Concordia College, Moorhead , Minn. , and is retired from Appleton, formerly Appleton Paper.

Diane Bemis has been a member of First English since 1985. Diane and her husband, Jeff, have three children: Megan, Jenna and Kyle. She is involved in adult education and Bible study and often volunteers for youth fundraising. Diane is a registered nurse at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Employee Health Services Department.

Laurie Berkedal xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Not pictured)

Jeff Boettcher and his wife, Nancy, have been members of First English since 1980. He began serving on the Council in 2004, works on the Youth Ministry Team and helps out when needed at the North Site. Jeff and Nancy have two children, C.J. and Kathy. They began attending North Site services when they were held at Appleton North High School . Jeff enjoys fishing, bicycling, reading, “goofing off with the kids and occasionally getting a canoe wet.”

Bruce Catterton and his wife, Mary, joined First English 1988. They have two sons, Ryan and Ross. Ryan, who graduated from Wartburg College , is an instrumental band instructor in Easton , Md. Ross is a saxophone performance major at Lawrence University . In addition to his Council membership, he serves as a lay reader, assists each Sunday with the Television Ministry, teaches eighth- and ninth-grade confirmation classes and will begin teaching a seventh-grade Sunday School class this fall. He is a graduate of the Lay School of Ministry and the Bethel Bible program. Bruce is a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual, specializing in long-term care coverage. He also serves on the Fox Valley Symphony board of directors.

Jeff Diehl joined First English in 1985 and lives in Greenville with his wife, Traci, their sons, Ethan and Corey; their two Bearded Collies, Spock and Jordan; and their Persian cat, Ernie. In addition to serving on the church Council, Jeff is an usher and a member of the Parish Choir. Jeff also is a member of the Manawa-Weyauwega Masonic Lodge No. 82, the Beja Shriners and has served as a member of the Divan. Jeff is a certified financial planner and is founder and president of The Advisory Group, Inc., a financial planning and employee benefit consulting firm. Jeff teaches leadership classes for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in Wisconsin , North Carol ina and Michigan , where he serves on the National Membership Committee. During his membership in the NAIFA, he has served as state president, state legislation director and regional director. Jeff also serves on the NAIFA-WI Educational Foundation. Jeff received the Distinguished Service Award during his membership in the Fox River Valley Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, where he has served as past president. Jeff was recognized by “Corporate Report Wisconsin ” as one of 16 Future Leaders of Wisconsin for his accomplishments.

Karen Dorn, vice president of the Congregational Council, joined First English in 1997 with her husband, Chuck. They have a daughter, Kimberly. This is Karen's second term on the Council. Professionally, Karen is a mediator and owns Alternative Resolutions, Inc. She is president of the Wisconsin Association of Mediators. Karen volunteers for a variety of community organizations, including United Way .

Fred Hauser, president of the Congregational Council, joined First English in September 1988. He and his wife, Wendy, have a daughter, Hilary; and two sons, Jordan and Jens. He has served as an usher, was vice president of the Council and chaired the former Youth Committee. Fred is president of the YMCA of the Fox Cities. His community service includes membership in the Downtown Appleton Rotary Club and the United Way Youth Impact Council. He is president of the Appleton Business Improvement District and is on the board of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Lokensgard, treasurer of the Congregational Council, joined First English in 1997. He and his wife, Mary, have two children, Sigrid and Anders. Michael serves on the Support Ministry Team and the Finance Subcommittee. He volunteers as a reader and welcome host. Michael is an attorney at Godfrey & Kahn , S.C. , specializing in commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He is a member of the Appleton Education Foundation board, the Community Hospice Foundation, White Heron Chorale and the Fox Valley Rowing Club.

Wayne Luck is Senior Litigation Counsel at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Wayne joined First English in 2004. He also serves on the Mission-Vision Team, the Habitat for Humanity team and the Worship Ministry Team. In addition to working behind the scenes at church picnics, cooking and cleaning, he is a new member sponsor and worship assistant, worship assistant coordinator and welcome host at the North Site. Wayne is involved in the community as a volunteer for Lifest, Habitat for Humanity and the Blood Center . He is on the Hortonville School District Strategic Planning Committee and works on fundraising efforts at the Fox Cities Emergency Shelter.

Kirsten Owens xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Peter Peregrine is a professor of anthropology at Lawrence University . He and his wife, Anne, joined First English when they moved to Appleton in 1995. They have two daughters, Alison and Kate.

Judy Snavely, secretary of the Council, has been a member of First English since 1988. Judy has served as a Sunday School teacher, usher and Sunday morning reader. She also prepares and serves communion on Sunday and serves communion to the homebound. She also helps in the church office. She served three years on the council before accepting the position of secretary. She has worked on a variety of committees and is a member of the Worship Ministry Team. Judy is a 2005 graduate of the Lay School of Ministry. She has two children: Allison, who is married to Aaron McGinnis; and Laura. Judy, who retired from the Kaukauna School District as a reading specialist in 2003, enjoys working in her yard, golfing, biking, crocheting, basket weaving, exercising, traveling, and kayaking with her daughter, Allison. Judy enjoys volunteering in the community and spending time with family and friends and says, “It is an honor to be a part of the Congregational Council and a joy to a part of the FELC family .”

Mary Vandenberg joined First English in 1975. In addition to her role on the Council, Mary is a member of the Miriam Circle and teaches the "Bethel Bible Study." She also assists with the monthly Lutheran World Relief Coffee sales at the North Site. Mary serves in various worship assistant roles at North site. In the community, she is a member and secretary of the Fox Valley Lutheran Homes board of directors. Mary, who is retired from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, enjoys "reading, walking, traveling in Wisconsin and beyond, and spending time with our parents and sons."

John Zweig, a native of Illinois, moved to Appleton after he retired from the Army in 1998. John and his wife, Margaret, have been members at First English since 1999. They have three children in college. In addition to being a member of the Congregational Council and chairman of the Support Ministry Team, John works in a variety of roles at First English, including serving as an usher and worship assistant. He chaired the Self-Study Task Force and served on the Call Committee during our recent transition. John’s volunteer activities in the community included being a Scout leader and soccer coach, along with Band Boosters and Odyssey of the Mind.