Pastor Jon and Pastor Jean Schmidt
Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor
Pastor Jon is the son, grandson, nephew, and spouse of a pastor! He was born in New York City, and grew up near Buffalo NY and suburban Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Pastor Jon has served congregations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin since his ordination in 1986, most recently in Gladstone, MI, where he also served in a variety of synod and community ministries. He currently is a member of both the Synod’s Endowment Fund Committee, and the School of Theology Board, which he chairs.
Pastor Jean grew up in suburban Chicago. She graduated from Valparaiso University (IN) with a degree in Home Economics/Secondary Education. She spent her first career as a Patient Relations Coordinator at Loyola University Medical Center. In 2009 Pastor Jean completed her studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary and was ordained. Her first call was serving a small congregation in Perkins, MI. She is currently a member of the Synod’s Evangelism and Outreach Committee, and Gundersen Health System’s Institutional Review Board.
Pastors Jon and Jean were married in 1999 and adopted their daughter, Rebecca, from Novosibirsk, Russia in 2002. The Schmidt family enjoys bike riding, cross country skiing, watching sports, listening to music, visiting small wineries (though Rebecca looks for grape juice!), traveling, and spending time as a family.
pastorjon@oursaviorswestsalem.org
pastorjean@oursaviorswestsalem.org
Wendy Kane
Director of Youth Ministry
Wendy was born on a dairy farm with two younger sisters and one older brother who had special needs. She graduated from DeSoto High School and has an Associates Degree in Community Developmental Disabilities from Western Technical College. She’s worked as a respite provider, in-home care provider, Special Olympics coach, life coach and help design adaptive devices for individuals with special needs to do their jobs better. She is the proud mom of a daughter, Kamryn, who serves as a caregiver in a day care.
Wendy currently works for Xerox and is contracted to provide services in the Trane facilities in La Crosse, and the Thermo King facility in Bloomington, MN. She oversees three Mail Centers, three shipping centers, one print center and two warehouses. She works with a wonderful team that she helps mold to be organized, good communicators , and to work under pressure. Her responsibilities are many and being focused, a multitasker, and a team player is key to being successful.
At Our Savior’s Wendy participates in the Church choir and the Education Committee, and she organizes the picnic of Gospel on the Green. For a couple of years she has taught Sunday School and now is working with older kids through the Sunday morning breakfast club.
On the side she has been a 4-H Leader for the Pleasant Valley club for the past three years. For fun she watches her niece and nephew every Saturday, and spends as much time as she can with family, especially on family vacations which provide new memories every year.
As of December, 2020 Wendy was no longer “interim” Youth Director. She looks forward to expanding her connections with kids and families in the years to come. She is excited to utilized her current skills and push herself to learn more about this role and what she can share with these young individuals.
Kristine Seeger
Administrative Assistant
Kris is a native of West Salem. She and her husband, Ron, have been married for over 30 years and have two daughters, Katie and Janna. Kris is an active member of the West Salem Presbyterian Church, where she serves as Head Deacon. Kris loves to spend time with her family and friends, and two family dogs, Sadie and Bailey, playing games, watching sports, riding bikes, canoeing, and listening to music. Kris has 18 years of banking experience and 15 years at Gundersen Health System in the Revenue Cycle Department.
Jill Iliff
Treasurer
Jill joined Our Savior’s in 2010. Before that she belonged to Wesley United Methodist Church in La Crosse where her father-in-law was pastor for 19 years.
Jill has a finance degree from WWTC & has been involved in accounting for over 20 years. She currently works for the Brenengen Autogroup in the accounting department and is also responsible for processing payroll for all the dealerships & Body Shop. Jill has been married to Eric for over 20 years. They have 4 children (Jennifer, Jacob, Josh & Jon), a cockapoo named Charlie. When Jill has time to herself she enjoys reading, bowling, going on walks, getting a pedicure and hanging out with the kids
treasurer@oursaviorswestsalem.org
Eric Sorenson
Choir Director
I have been a choral/general music teacher since 1976. I worked at WSHS from 1976 to 1986. I continued my teaching career at Lincoln MS in LaCrosse and retired from teaching in 2006. I still substitute teach, clinic choirs, and adjudicate music festivals. I have been a co-director and member of the LaCrosse Coulee Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus for three years.
My wife Barbara and I have been married for 22 years and have three children. Megan is a junior at UWEC, Amy a sophomore at Winona State, and Andrew a sophomore at UW Green Bay. Barb’s children, my step children, Laurie and Brian round out our extended family. Laurie and husband Chris have a daughter Sarah. Brian and wife Kim have three girls, Ashley, Alexa, and Ava.
If you don’t see me on the golf course you may see me on my Harley this summer.
Directing the OS choir is the highlight of the church year for me. If you enjoy singing God’s praises there’s not a better church choir in the area than ours! COME JOIN US!
Linda Berg
Director of Music and Organist
Linda and her husband Gary joined OSLC in 1988. As organist/pianist, she plays for services, directs the handbell choirs, accompanies the Senior Choir, plays piano in the S.O.S. Band, and accompanies special music as needed. Linda started playing piano in 1965 and started playing organ for church services at Northwest Prairie Lutheran Church at age 16. While earning a degree at UW-Oshkosh in Music Business, she studied piano under Dr. James Kohn. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists. Her day job is at Davig Financial in Holmen, and Gary and Linda have two grown children, Kyle and Alyson.
linda@oursaviorswestsalem.org
Kathy Brison
Organist
Kathy lives in West Salem and has been a member of Our Savior’s since 1978. She taught music for 39 years, the last 36 years in West Salem retiring in 2005, and she has been a widow since 2003. Kathy has been a part of the music ministry at Our Savior’s over the years serving as organist, choir accompanist, and Sunday School music director. Currently Kathy plays the organ for worship once a month and for most funerals; she plays the trumpet on special occasions and is part of the West Salem Jazz Band. She enjoys reading and going to concerts.
