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Ronald Waterstradt, Pastor

 

Pastor Waterstradt was born in Evergreen Park, Illinois, the oldest of six brothers and sisters. He grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he went to St. Luke Lutheran School.

Ron attended high school at the preparatory department of Concordia College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His college training was at Concordia and at Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin. He completed his studies for the Ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin, graduating in 1966.

Pastor and his wife, Jeanette, met at Zion Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he served as Vicar and she was a Sunday School teacher. They were married shortly after graduation from the Seminary. Jeanette works as an administrative assistant for the Association of California Water Agencies in Citrus Heights.

The Waterstradts have two children: David, who is a pastor in Palos Heights, Illinois, and Rachel, who is a professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Pastor Waterstradt's first call was to a dual parish in Clare and Gladwin, Michigan. He served there for twenty years. The parish began two daughter congregations during his pastorate there.

In 1986 the Waterstradts moved to California when Ron was called to Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, a mission congregation on the north side of San Diego. He served there until late in 1989 when he accepted the call to St. Mark's. He was installed on the first Sunday of 1990.
Jason Schmidt, Pastor
Pastor Jason Schmidt graduated from Northwestern Prep School (1992) in Watertown, WI.  He then attended Dr. Martin Luther College (now Martin Luther College) in New Ulm, MN where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1996 and his Seminary Certification in 1998.  Following graduation from Martin Luther College he furthered his preparation for the public ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI.  As part of his formal seminary education he served a vicarship in Salt Lake City, UT.  He completed his seminary education in 2002.  After graduating he was assigned to serve Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bremerton, WA and after two years was reassigned to serve Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in South Shore, SD.

Pastor Schmidt and Shannon met while attending Martin Luther College.  In the summer of 2000 they were married in Tucson, AZ right before Pastor’s vicar year.  God has blessed their family with three beautiful children.

In addition to serving in the ministry Pastor Schmidt enjoys spending time with his family, gardening and other outdoor activities.