Bob has been pastor of Christ the Lord Lutheran Church for more than 23 years. He arrived in Carefree, moving from Mesa, AZ, on December 15, 1988, as a Mission Redeveloper and Pastor of Christ the Lord Lutheran Church. At that time, the congregation used a rented store front as its worship site. All of the buildings on the new site were constructed during Bob’s 23 year ministry.
Bob grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin. He was Baptized, Confirmed, Married, and Ordained at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Watertown. He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy, in 1969. Nancy and Bob have two daughters, Mea and Angela, and three grandchildren, all of whom live in California. Nancy is the liver transplant social worker for Mayo Hospital, Phoenix. Bob became a pastor in the old American Lutheran Church, a predecessor to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in 1973. His educational background includes double majors in Classics (Latin, Greek, Ancient History and Ancient Philosophy) and English at Luther College. He received his MDiv from the Divinity School at Yale University. He has completed many additional hours of education at a great variety of educational institutions and centers of learning. He has served congregations in West Haven, Connecticut; Ames, Iowa; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Mendota, Illinois; Tempe, Arizona; and now Carefree.
Bob has been one of the driving forces of community organization for the Foothills area. He was part of the group which started the Foothills Food Bank and Resources Center and has served on its Board of Directors since its incorporation. He was one of the first drivers and daily captains for the area Meals-On-Wheels program which is now called Mobile Meals under the auspices of the Foothills Caring Corp. Bob was one of the area pastors active in establishing Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills. In 2008, he was named by Mayor Wayne Fulcher to be Carefree’s Distinguished Citizen. In 2010, he received the Quail Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Foothills Community Foundation. Bob is very proud to have served the Foothills community. In some ways, he has functioned as Carefree’s unofficial chaplain.
Nancy and Bob returned from Tanzania in October of last year. They describe the trip as life changing. They are seeking others to become involved in making a difference in the lives of the people of Tanzania, who are among the poorest in the world.
One of the hallmarks of Bob’s ministry in the Foothills area has been his engaging preaching style. Many have said that it is tough to catch a nap during his sermons. He looks, always, for ways that the Word of God speaks today.
Bob will retire as pastor of Christ the Lord in 2012. However, his ministry is far from over. Certainly, God will have lots more for him to do.