Our pastor, Rev. Emma Grinde, accepted our call in the summer of 2022.
Pastor Emma graduated Wartburg Theological Seminary in May 2022, was ordained on July 16, 2022, at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City, IA; started at Lewis Valley & Mindoro Lutheran Churches on August 1, 2022; and was installed at our churches on August 21, 2022.
Pastor Emma was born and raised in Story City, Iowa, attending Iowa State University upon graduation from high school, majoring in Culinary Science. Upon her graduation in 2013, she worked as a Food Scientist with Organic Valley, moving to Viroqua. She became involved at Immanuel Lutheran while there and, by 2017, had discerned her call to ordained ministry. She was part of the La Crosse Area Synod's Candidacy process and enrolled at Wartburg Theological Seminary. Her last year included an extension to her internship, which was at The Lutheran Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Pastor Emma graduated Wartburg Theological Seminary in May 2022, was ordained on July 16, 2022, at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City, IA; started at Lewis Valley & Mindoro Lutheran Churches on August 1, 2022; and was installed at our churches on August 21, 2022.
Pastor Emma was born and raised in Story City, Iowa, attending Iowa State University upon graduation from high school, majoring in Culinary Science. Upon her graduation in 2013, she worked as a Food Scientist with Organic Valley, moving to Viroqua. She became involved at Immanuel Lutheran while there and, by 2017, had discerned her call to ordained ministry. She was part of the La Crosse Area Synod's Candidacy process and enrolled at Wartburg Theological Seminary. Her last year included an extension to her internship, which was at The Lutheran Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Our organist, Sharon Pfaff, is a life-long member of Lewis Valley. Sharon is retired from the Melrose-Mindoro schools after being the Choir Director for many years. She is married to Wendell and they live in Mindoro. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Our treasurer, Jodi Anderson, is a member at Mindoro. Jodi is married to Dustin and they have three children. Jodi is involved in many areas of the community: Treasurer for the parish, Girl Scout Leader, Melrose-Mindoro Choir & Band Parents member, Town of Farmington Treasurer... Jodi was also the Mindoro Spanferkel 2014 Citizen of the Year.
Our custodian at Mindoro Lutheran is Cheri Timm, a life-long resident of the Mindoro area and a custodian at the Melrose-Mindoro Schools. Cheri has kept Mindoro Lutheran looking beautiful since she started here in 1998. Cheri is married to Mike and they have three daughters and two grandsons.
The parish administrative assistant is Mona Van Riper. Mona is a life-long member of Lewis Valley. She and her husband, Russell, have three daughters, two grandsons, and one granddaughter.