Pastor Geske and his wife, Cathie are both natives of the northwest suburbs of Chicago. They have four children—Emily (28), Hannah (27), Joshua (25), and Elijah (24). Pastor Geske graduated from Valparaiso University (B.A. in Psychology) in 1992 and obtained his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1996. His first call was to The Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Macon, GA (1996-2001). At Holy Trinity, the Congregation was pleased to start new ministry together with the creation of Trinity Woods Summer Day Camp. From there, he returned to the Northern Illinois District to serve at Messiah Lutheran Church on the northwest side of Chicago (2001-2010), during which time he served as Circuit Visitor for Circuit E15 and assisted in the creation of Concord Lutheran School, a joint school sponsored by the churches of the circuit. God brought the opportunity to serve as short-term Vacancy and Sabbatical Pastor at Zion, Clyman, WI and Trinity Reeseville, WI (2011), Vacancy Pastor of St. Paul Oconomowoc, WI (2012) as well as Assistant Pastor at Pella Lutheran Church in Waupun, WI while teaching confirmation class at Good Shepherd, Watertown, WI. The Geske family then moved to Walcamp Outdoor Ministries in Kingston, IL to serve God’s people with Pastor Steve as Executive Director (2013-2016), during which time he visited the 234 congregations of the NID, English District, and SELC in northern Illinois and southeast WI, and had the opportunity to preach at many. He was vacancy pastor at Immanuel Freeport, IL (2017). He was Pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church, Wauseon, from November 2017 to August 2021, during which time the congregation began using screens in worship and livestreaming during Covid. Most recently, he was installed as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Hop Bottom, PA on September 18, 2021.
Pastor’s wife, Cathie, is a secondary science certified teacher who is active in food and children’s ministry, is a singer, has played in bell choirs nearly all her life, and enjoys visiting sick and shut-ins. They live in the Grace parsonage with their adult child Hannah. They all enjoy their dog, five cats, usually around 100 quail, and about 80 rabbits in Hopping Bottoms Homestead. Half of their backyard is dedicated to growing at least a year’s worth of food.
Lana Fluck, Preschool Teacher
Ashley Beavers, Preschool Aid
Wayne Resseguie, Custodian
Anne Bode, Organist
Patti Barankovich, Musician
Eileen Gundell, Musician
