Early Childhood Center Board -

Please Welcome Karen Roedel

      St. Peter’s Lutheran Early Childhood Center Director Karen Wessel was born on August 18, 1957 in Truman, Minnesota.  Just a few months before she was born, her dad had just moved her mom and her older brother from Australia.  Her mom and dad met while her dad was a lay missionary to New Guinea.  She believes this is where her desire to be in ministry began.

         Karen grew up on a dairy farm in Truman, Minnesota.  She graduated from Truman High School in 1975 and attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There she studied nursing before transferring to Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota.  She graduated from Concordia in 1979 with a BA degree in Elementary Education/ Early Childhood Education.

           She married husband Martin on December 29, 1979 in Truman.  Martin is also a Lutheran teacher and together they have served at several Lutheran Schools.  Karen served as Preschool and Kindergarten teacher at St. John’s Lutheran, rural Vernon Center, Minnesota.  She also taught Kindergarten at St. Paul’s Lutheran, her home congregation in Truman.  She was able to help start and direct the Preschool program at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Unionville, Michigan.  She taught first grade, Preschool and helped start and direct the Child Care program at St. Stephens Lutheran in Horicon, Wisconsin.  She was most recently Minister to Children at St. Matthew’s Lutheran in Wixom, Michigan.   
          Karen and Martin have five children.  Their oldest Jennifer, 26, is a medical student in her 3rd year at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.  Kaleb, 23, is the Sports Editor for the Waseca County News in Waseca, Minnesota.  Shane, 21, is living in Horicon, Wisconsin where she and Martin served until September 2006.  Hunter is 9 and in 4th grade and Brooklynn is 8 and in 2nd grade.  Their two youngest attend school at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Farmington Hills, Michigan where Martin teaches 5th and 6th grade and is the Athletic Director.  In her spare time Karen likes to walk, ride her bike, play tennis, and ice skate with her family.  She also plays guitar, loves to sew and bake.    
         

         Please be sure to introduce yourself to Karen and her family.  We are pleased to have her join the family of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, School, and Early Childhood Center.