Pastor Kari Lee
Pastor Kari L. Lee is a native of South Dakota and grew up in a small rural dual church setting, not unlike that of St. Andrew's and Holy Trinity. She is a graduate of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with an undergraduate degree in Religion/Religious Studies. Pastor Lee continued her theological education at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and was ordained into the ministry of the American Lutheran Church on February 17, 2019.
Pastor Lee served as Director of Children's Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sioux Fall, SD; Campus Minister and Interim Children's Minister at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene, OR; and completed her internship at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell, IA, as Director of Young Households. Pastor Lee began serving St. Andrew's Lutheran, Sully, IA, and Holy Trinity Lutheran, Newton, IA, on February 1, 2019. She has a narrative preaching style and is a skilled worship leader and singer. She is an organized, well-rounded, and capable individual with a passion to proclaim the good news of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and to work with all people to celebrate all of of God's creation.
Pastor Lee lives near Grinnell with her husband, Logan, and their two young daughters, Runa and Maiken.
Pastor Lee served as Director of Children's Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sioux Fall, SD; Campus Minister and Interim Children's Minister at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene, OR; and completed her internship at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell, IA, as Director of Young Households. Pastor Lee began serving St. Andrew's Lutheran, Sully, IA, and Holy Trinity Lutheran, Newton, IA, on February 1, 2019. She has a narrative preaching style and is a skilled worship leader and singer. She is an organized, well-rounded, and capable individual with a passion to proclaim the good news of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and to work with all people to celebrate all of of God's creation.
Pastor Lee lives near Grinnell with her husband, Logan, and their two young daughters, Runa and Maiken.
Pastor Ken Ahntholz (Retired)
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Ahntholz was raised in the farming community of Table Rock, NE (80 miles south of Omaha). He received his B.A. degree in Social Work from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA and his theological education from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA January 18, 1970, he was ordained into the ministry of The American Lutheran Church. In 1983 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree (Parish Revitalization) from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. Pastor Ahntholz completed two years of Residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Iowa Methodist Center in Des Moines. He was granted the status of Board Certified Chaplain from the Association of Professional Chaplains in 2005. Pastor Ahntholz has served congregations in Iowa full time for 22 year. He began his ministry as Associate Pastor for the Ridgeway Lutheran Parish (Madison, Orleans and Peace Lutheran Churches), Ridgeway, IA. Following this he was Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran in Rual Neola, IA; St Johns' Lutheran in Pomerory, IA; and Resurrection Lutheran Church in Ankeny, IA. He served an additional 6 years at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bouton, IA, as a part-time contract pastor.
Pastor Ahntholz's professional career also include 17 years as an institutional Chaplain with Luther Care Services, Iowa Health-Des Moines and Hospice of Central Iowa. He has sought variety in his pastoral experience, not only for personal enrichment, but also for broadening his understand and perspective of God's working in and through the lives of a variety of people and circumstances.
Pastor Ahntholz and his wife, Lois, are the parents of three adult children and four grandchildren and live in Ankeny where Pastor Ken sings in the Ankeny Community Chorus. Pastor Ahntholz has been involved with numerous churches through the years as an Interim Pastor, including Holy Trinity in Newton for 10 months in 1994-95. He began serving Holy Trinity again in February 2010. Pastor Ken began serving St. Andrew's in January 2016 and retired January 31, 2019.
Pastor Ahntholz's professional career also include 17 years as an institutional Chaplain with Luther Care Services, Iowa Health-Des Moines and Hospice of Central Iowa. He has sought variety in his pastoral experience, not only for personal enrichment, but also for broadening his understand and perspective of God's working in and through the lives of a variety of people and circumstances.
Pastor Ahntholz and his wife, Lois, are the parents of three adult children and four grandchildren and live in Ankeny where Pastor Ken sings in the Ankeny Community Chorus. Pastor Ahntholz has been involved with numerous churches through the years as an Interim Pastor, including Holy Trinity in Newton for 10 months in 1994-95. He began serving Holy Trinity again in February 2010. Pastor Ken began serving St. Andrew's in January 2016 and retired January 31, 2019.
