OUR COUNCIL
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randy steinheimer
president
My wife, Debbie, and I joined St. Mark’s in 1992, when our son Nathan was 5 years old.
Through the years Debbie and I served in the Education Ministry by teaching Sunday
School, serving on the Worship Team, and teaching Confirmation. At different times I
served as the Sunday School Superintendent, Co-President of the Child Development
Center Board, and the Church Council Secretary. After thirty-five years of teaching,
Debbie and I retired from West Aurora Schools in 2014, and continued to teach
part time in the School of Education at Aurora University until 2022. We are now
grandparents and cherish our time with our two grandchildren.
I have served as the President of the Church Council for the past three years and look
forward with great optimism to continue serving as President. St. Mark’s has undergone
a long season of transition, and through it we have remained a strong, resilient, and
faithful church community. We are now ready to look toward the sunshine and promise
of 2025. It will be a transformative year in the leadership of St Mark’s, and it is my
humble honor to continue to serve St. Mark’s.
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JEANNE FLYNN
vice-PRESIDENT
My name is Jeanne Flynn, and I have been a member of St. Mark’s since 1993. I am
married to Michael, and we have one daughter, Rebecca (Becca) who is 28. I am
currently teaching 8th grade confirmation and am involved with McCleery School, VBS,
bread baking, the Seeker’s women’s group and providing office coverage. Michael and I
also support many outreach programs and feel that this is one of the areas in which we
are called to serve.
As a tenured member of St. Mark’s and, with a social worker’s training and skill, I believe
I contribute to council through my gift of discernment and my ability to relationship
build. I am excited to see how and where St. Mark’s will continue to grow, and I want to
be part of this forward movement. As the probability of new staffing (Pastor & Deacon)
seem very close, this next Council term also brings with it the excitement of newness
and the challenge of adjusting to leadership change. I firmly believe that St. Mark’s can
do this, and I have the energy for this exhilarating work.
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rob creaney
treasurer
My family has been attending St. Mark’s since 2015 and we became members
in 2018. My wife, Alisa, and I have five kids, three of which are now confirmed
members, one is an active member of the youth group and one is active in the
confirmation process. This is my fourth full year on council and third full year as
Treasurer. You can usually find me and my family supporting Saturday night worship.
I’ve also been helping on the Stewardship committee, the property team, the
endowment committee and I am currently one of four individuals who puts the
building to sleep every night. What we love about St Mark’s more than anything is
the people and the sense of community.
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Jon Miller
congregational secretary
Jon Miller is a 20-year resident of Aurora and a member of St. Mark’s since 2007. He
has served in various positions in higher education for 25 years and currently works
at Northern Illinois University assisting students as a First Year Academic Advisor. He
and his wife Pam have been married since 2001 and have three children, Ben (17),
Daniel (14) and Hannah (13), who are active in the Youth Group and Confirmation
programs and attend West Aurora schools. Jon has participated in music ministry as
a member of the Lion’s Voice Choir and the Glory Ringers participates in the liturgy
as a Worship Assistant and is part of the Banner Team. Jon was elected to Council
in 2022 and was asked to fill the role of Secretary later in that year. He has played
an active role on the Stewardship Committee and the fall Stewardship campaign. As
Council Secretary, Jon also authors the Council Happenings information after each
monthly Council meeting.
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MIKE BAUMAN
My wife and I grew up in South Dakota and after college lived in several places.
Our four children were born in Illinois but mainly grew up in Ohio. We moved back
to Illinois five and a half years ago to be near our granddaughter. We attended
Christmas Eve service at St. Mark’s in 2019 and officially joined a year and a half
later. I have been active leading the Outreach group and getting ESSE at St. Mark’s
established. I have served on Council for the last three years which has broadened
my appreciation for how much our members care about helping others and take
action to do so. St. Mark’s has weathered the challenges of the pandemic and
pastoral change with members supporting our staff, Council and each other in so
many ways. I know that we will continue to be there for each other and be a blessing
for our neighbors and community. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great
congregation.
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matt greising
My name is Matt Greising. My family joined St. Mark’s in 2001. My wife, Faith, and
I have three daughters and four grandchildren. On Church Council I coordinate the
Property Team and provide support for our online presence. In addition to Council
responsibilities, I play with the Glory Ringers handbell choir because I enjoy making
music with an amazing team. I am also a member of the group that bakes the bread
we use for Communion because it is so gratifying to be able to literally feed my
church family.
St. Mark’s is blessed with members who are caring and committed to sharing Christ’s
love with each other and the community around us. I am blessed to be a member.
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JULIANA (JULIE) JOERGER
My name is Juliana (Julie) Joerger. I was raised Catholic but started attending the Lutheran
church when I was married. My husband Tom and I attended Our Saviors Lutheran
Church in Naperville with his family until we moved to the West side of Aurora and joined
St. Mark’s in 1992. We tried different churches in the area but felt right at home here
at St. Marks. St Mark’s allowed us to experience meaningful worship and it aligned with
our core beliefs of what it means to be a Christian. We felt that this was a good place to
attend with our children so they too could be taught these same beliefs. From bringing
them to church as infants for their 1st Sacrament to helping them prepare to receive
their 2nd Sacrament and finally reaffirming their faith thru Confirmation. During this time
Tom and I taught Sunday school at the grade school levels until the last of our children
completed their Confirmation. They are all grown now Julissa (34), Forrest (30) and
Keegan (27). Tom and I also ushered and were communion assistants.
This year after a ten-year hiatus I decided to return to a teaching role in the Faith and
Daily Life program. Guiding and teaching these young soon to be adults on how to apply
their Christian beliefs into their daily lives in hopes that they can be the best they can
be is what I would like to achieve. That what we have taught them can make their world
a better place. Instill in them that the decisions they make are based on the principles
they have learned at St. Mark’s or home and know that their actions have an impact on
others. When it was announced that St. Marks was in search of council members and
with thoughtful consideration, I decided to see where I could be of help to continue the
Ministry at St. Mark’s and grow and help others grow in the church.
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GREGG KOBLISKA
My name is Gregg Kobliska. I have been a member at St. Mark’s since 2007. I live
in Sugar Grove with my wife Lorrie. We have 5 children and 9 grandchildren, most
of whom live out of state. When we first joined St. Mark’s, Lorrie got involved with
teaching FDL and I became involved with the Property Team. After I retired, I worked at
St. Mark’s as the Facility Manager until Lorrie retired in 2014. After that I filled in during
the summers for a number of years as needed. Working in this capacity was a great way
to get to know our facility, as well as many of the parishioners at St. Mark’s. I still am
active on the Property Team and in 2024 I became a Lay Deacon at St. Mark’s. I am very
aware of the need to serve our homebound and sick parishioners which is especially
true with our aging congregation. Trying to help serve the needs of the church and our
congregation continues to be very personally fulfilling. I look forward to continuing to
serve and contribute in whatever way I am called to.
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MARY MANDEL
My name is Mary Mandel, and I became a member of St. Mark’s in 2009 when I was
pregnant with my oldest son. I am married to Craig, and we have three boys, Aidan
(14), Ethan (12) and Ryan (9). The areas that I am most passionate about at St. Mark’s
are the RIC Team where we have made significant strides over the past several years
in becoming a much more outwardly welcoming congregation, and Youth and Family
Ministry. I am currently teaching confirmation but have taught Sunday School for
many years and help with VBS in the summer. I also occasionally play violin in
worship, alone and with my family.
I believe that my gifts to council are my ability to listen to many sides and help
mediate to a resolution (as a teacher that is a necessary skill to have). I am a positive
person, and I am also very driven as well. I am used to working with many different
people and am confident that our council is moving in a solid direction to a common
goal. St. Mark’s is in a good place right now and is healing, and I am proud to be a
part of that process as a part of church council.
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MARK MUELLER
My name is Mark Mueller. I have been a member of St. Mark’s since 1997. I live in
Oswego with my wife, Mindy, and our children Lukas (14) and Evelyn (11). Prior
to serving on council, my involvement with St. Mark’s included such committees/
activities as the pastoral call committee, synod assembly, The Neighbor Project,
and Feed My Starving Children. Since starting on the Council, I have also joined the
church property team committee as well as become more involved with assisting
during our church services. We at St. Mark’s have undergone, and survived, a lot of
change over the past few years and more changes are promised ahead of us. It has
been an honor to represent our church in this capacity these past three years and I
look forward to continuing this journey and helping in whatever small part I can to
move our wonderful church and congregation forward!
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MELVIN SMITH
Hello, my name is Melvin Smith. I have been a member of St. Marks for approximately
twenty-one or twenty-two years. My daughter Tatyanna was attending St. Marks
preschool at the time and she told me that the Pastor from the church would come
over with his guitar and sing with children. That is when I started attending St. Marks.
I have previously served two terms on council several years ago. I was mostly
involved with the hospitality teams for about ten years. I also taught confirmation
classes as well.
I am currently a member of the Glory Ringers and a member of the AV team.
I look forward to giving my best effort and contributing all I can to the congregation
of St. Marks.
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wILL FISHER
INTERIM SENIOR PASTOR
I am a cradle Lutheran. After completing Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN with an
additional year to complete a certification in Youth and Family Ministry, I was
ordained to Word and Sacrament ministry. While at seminary, I met and married
my now ex-wife (and still close friend), Nancy. We have three adult children: Tristan,
Andy, and Liam. I served Faith Lutheran Church in Brookfield, IL for 11 years. In
2017, I earned a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University of Chicago.
I also enjoy being active in community theatre, spending time with friends, playing
board games, and being with my miniature dachshund, Hendricks.
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JONI ACKLEY
COUNCIL RECORDING SECRETARY
I’m Recording Secretary for Council. I’ve been the Office Manager at St. Mark’s
since April 2022 and took on the Communications Manager position in October
of 2023. I’ve lived in Aurora for almost 23 years and I recently became a first time
home owner. I have a 15 year old cat named Brat, and a 7 year old Rottweiler named
Reaper that keep me company. Looking forward to seeing where the future might
lead at St. Mark’s.