Faculty and Staff

Robert Wiest joined Our Redeemer in July of 2003. He originally was a farmer in the Deshler area with his wife’s family. In 1994 he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and DCE Certification from Concordia University, Seward, NE. He served as DCE for 7 years in northern Illinois and Nebraska. In 2000 he earned his Master of Science in Family Life Ministry from Concordia University and continued his education to become Pastor at Concordia Seminary. In August of 2001 he moved with his family to St. Louis, MO, where he began his studies. He was called to Our Redeemer in 2003 as a Vicar and was inducted July 20, 2003. At the end of the Vicarage, according to God’s Will, he will be ordained as a Lutheran Pastor. Vicar Wiest and his wife have three children.

 JoAn Stolzenburg Walling has been our principal and teacher since 1992.  She is a 1967 graduate of Concordia, Austin; a 1969 graduate of Concordia, Seward; and received her Master’s Degree in Administration from Concordia, Seward, in 1992.  She has two daughters and one grandson.  JoAn has taught in Lutheran schools in Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.  She enjoys being an active part of school and church music ministries, including organ, choir and handbells. Favorite Bible verses are Psalm 121:1,2,7,8 "I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth… The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

 Tamra (Wagner) Jurchen has been our Kindergarten/pre-school teacher since 1996.  She is a 1969 graduate of Concordia Teacher’s College, St. Paul Minnesota.  She is married to Rev. Arnold Jurchen, who serves the dual parish of Goehner and Cordova, Nebraska.  They have 4 grown up children, a married son in graduate school studying Chemistry, a married son teaching in a Lutheran High School in Florida, and a son and daughter attending college.  Tamra has taught grades K-3 in Divernon, Illinois, Chugiak, Alaska, Quesnel and Parksville, British Columbia, Canada, and for the past five years at Our Redeemer.  While in Alaska, Tamra and her husband started the first Lutheran School in that state.  She enjoys teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and participating in contemporary worship, playing keyboard and bass guitar.  A Favorite Bible verse is Psalm 27;1 "The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?"

Julie (Vollstedt) Phillips has been our grades 1-4 teacher since 2000. She is a 1999 graduate of Concordia University, Seward. She is married to Chad and they have a daughter. She enjoys spending time with her family on Sundays and taking their 3 hunting dogs to hunting tests. A favorite Bible verse is Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Karen (VonFange) Clausen is our new half-time teacher. She will teach reading in grades 1-2, Science in grades 1-4 and Language Arts in grades 5-8. She is a 1964 graduate of Concordia University, Seward.  She recently celebrated her 25^th year in the teaching ministry. All but one of those years was spent at St. John’s Lutheran School, Waco, which recently closed. One of her special joys in teaching is to watch first graders ‘unlock the code’ and begin reading on their own. She is married to Bryce Clausen and they live in Utica. They have two married children living in Lincoln, and two grandsons. A favorite Bible verse comes from Jeremiah 29:11, "‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’"