 |
Staff
Rev. Dana Wimmer has served Waterloo First United Methodist Church since 2007. He came to Waterloo First following eight years of ministry at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Rev. Wimmer has 30 years of ministry with the United Methodist Church in Iowa serving in rural and urban environments. Rev. Wimmer's education includes a degree in philosophy from the University of Iowa, a Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, and a Doctor of Ministry from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. The Doctor of Ministry degree in the area of pastoral counseling focused on dream interpretation/personality type and their relationship to church visioning.
Dana has been married for 38 years to Jessica, who is also a pastor in the United Methodist Church. They have three adult children. They have three grandsons and one granddaughter, who allow them the experience of seeing through young eyes once again.
Dana's recent spiritual journey includes an interest in health and wholeness as part of the complete journey of spiritual growth. This interest has led to a steady yoga practice and physical team building experiences as an important support to mental and spiritual exercises. The interest in a strong, healthy body has also renewed his childhood interest in rock climbing.
Dr. Wimmer finds the intellectual interest of Waterloo First to be its greatest strength and growing edge. The intellectual stimulation and theological challenges of Waterloo First's Faith Exploration along with year-round book and Bible studies create an atmosphere of intellectual spiritual development strengthening the leadership core of Waterloo First.
 Jeff Frazier, Director of Christian Education, wfumcyouth@msn.com
Jeff Frazier came to Waterloo First United Methodist Churcch to serve as Director of Youth and Christian Education in August of 2007. Prior to coming to Waterloo he was the Director of Youth Ministries at Living Faith UMC in Tama for 3 1/2 years and the Director of Education at Hope UMC in Marshalltown for 1 year. The early years of Jeff's working life was being the owner and operator of a 50 Cow Dairy Farm north of Waverly, Iowa for 15 years. Jeff's education includes a B.A. in Religion from the University of Northern and he is a graduate of the Academy of Youth Ministry and Academy of Christian Education through the Iowa Annual Conference. Jeff serves on 3 Conference Boards and Committees, including the Conference Board of Higher Education, Conference Youth Ministries Board, and the Youth Strike Core Team. For the past year, he has also become a Co-Leader of the Cedar Valley site for a group called Sheltered Reality. This group was formed to empower youth to succeed in life. So, if you hear loud music and drums coming from the Youth Room at Waterloo First, that would be the young people from SR. Jeff is happily married to Sharm, and they have 3 children: Caleb, age 17; Laruen, age 14; and Christian, age 8. Life may have it's ups and downs, but Jeff says that the GREATEST blessing in his life are his wife and kids. Jeff was born and raised in the United Methodist church and watched his parents as they served for many years as Choir Director and Sunday School Superintendent. After falling away from the church, God called him back through several life experiences, and in 1999 he re-dedicated his life to Christ. It was through those life experiences, and specifically the loss of a young man named RJ, that drew Jeff to Youth and Christian Education. Jeff and his family enjoy the outdoors and go for long walks as many nights as possible. He also enjoys biking, swimming and most other sports. This summer, Jeff's goal was to get the golf clubs out of his garage, and he has finally achieved that goal. On a relaxing Sunday afternoon, you might find Jeff watching NASCAR from the comfort of his home. Blessing to ALL members and friends of Waterloo First!  Kimberly Bendell, Administrative Assistant, wfumckimberly@msn.com
Kimberly Bendell has served Waterloo First as Administrative Assistant for the past nine years. She has a strong Customer Service employment history, working 12 years for a major wheelchair manufacturer, three years for an elevator accessibility manufacturer, and two years for a small rubber company. She is originally from Wellington, Ohio where she graduated high school in 1981 and where most of her family still lives. Kimberly and her husband Ron have been married for 20 years and live in Cedar Falls with their youngest daughter Hillary. Their older daughter; Kristen and her husband live in Ohio. Kimberly enjoys church, family, friends, traveling, cooking, reading, golf and other summer activities, P.E.O. and her Shih Tzu; Beijing. Ron and Kim are a host family for the Waterloo Black Hawks hockey players for the past five years.
 Sally Thurman, Media Specialist, wfumcmedia@msn.com
Sally has been a member of First Church since 1990, she started working here September 2011. She was born in Wisconsin and moved to Texas when she was 11 where she eventually attended Texas A&M and met her husband of almost 30 years, Ollie. They lived in Ohio after they were married and eventually moved to Iowa. Their families live in Texas and New Mexico. They have four children; Audrey, 26, Darcie 23, Martha 19 and Keefer, 15. Sally has stayed at home raising the kids (and the pets), performing household projects (she's a lifetime member of the Handyman Club of America) and her own at-home business, where she published newsletters and prepared power point presentations. She also works as the office manager for her husband's Environmental Engineering company producing maps on Auto-Cad and helping with data entry and soil boring logs and helps with her son's paper route. In the summer she enjoys working at an organic farm for a share of the produce. As a member at First church she is in the Chancel Choir, Golden Bell Choir, Chair of Education committee, member of UMW Sarah's Circle and the Genesis Sunday School class. Sally lives outside of Denver, IA, in the woods with her husband, 2 of the kids and various pets. She enjoys reading, YOGA and watching the wildlife out her back windows and the woods change with the seasons.
 Phil Miller, Director of Music, wfumcphil@msn.com
Philip Miller has served Waterloo First United Methodist Church since June 1, 1990. Since high school he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Cornell College, Master of Music Education at Drake University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree with a major in music and a minor in education at the University of Iowa. His career in music spans 50 years including directing bands from elementary through college levels, orchestras from elementary through high school levels, elementary general music, private studio work from ages 2 1/2 to 60+ and directing several church choirs. Phil and Lois were married in 1966 and have one daughter, Michelle. Michelle and her husband Gary live in Chicago. Phil enjoys genealogy research, attending concerts and plays, reading, traveling, playing bridge and working Sudoku puzzles.  Delpha Brockmeyer, Church Organist, wloobrock@mchsi.com
Delpha Brockmeyer has been the organist, pianist and keyboardist at Waterloo First United Methodist for nearly 15 years. She considers her position as an opportunity for ministry. Her goal has always been to enhance the worship of God. Delpha feels equally comfortable doing traditional as well as contemporary music and uses whichever instrument she feels best expresses that music. The words of Martin Luther serve as her inspiration: "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given man that he should proclaim the Word of God, through music."
Delpha has been a public school teacher as well as a private piano and organ teacher. She took graduate courses in Church Music at Garrett Evangelical Seminary and is Certified in Music by the Iowa Annual U.M. Conference. Delpha is a member of the American Guild of Organists and the Fellowship of U.M. Musicians.
Delpha's experience has been primarily as organist but she has also served as Music Director, as well as Adult and Children's Choir Director. In addition to the U.M. Church, she has also served in Lutheran, United Church of Christ and Presbyterian churches.
Delpha is married to Rev. Myron Brockmeyer who is a retired United Methodist minister. Their family includes Diane, who is the secretary to Bishop Trimble (Iowa Area U.M.) and Mark (and Angela) who live in Shenandoah, Iowa. They have 2 granddaughters and 4 great grandchildren.
|
|
