Trinity Staff
Rev. Andy Behrendt
Lead Pastor
Pastor Andy was first called to Trinity as associate pastor of family life and youth. Installed in the church basement during a 2010 tornado warning, he became lead pastor at the end of 2019, just in time for a pandemic. Pastor Andy is a former newspaper reporter and occasionally still moonlights as an improvisational comedian. He’s married to Tracy, the Waupaca Historical Society’s director. Raised in the Green Bay area by an ELCA pastor and a piano teacher, “PA” is now a dad to two boys of his own, Ben and Christian. The four Behrendts feel enormously blessed to be part of the Trinity community.
Jean Schwirtz
Sunday School Coordinator
Jean has been Trinity’s Sunday School coordinator since March 1985. Her duties include planning activities for Trinity’s students age 3 through grade 5. These include Sunday School, Christmas programs, Jake the Pancake Man, the Palm Sunday parade, and more. From Jean: “What a blessing this congregation and job have been to me. I have enjoyed watching students grow up here, and now their children are attending and participating in activities.”
Wanda Eikenbary
Director of Music Ministries
Wanda has been employed at Trinity since 2004, taking on full-time leadership of the music ministries in 2006. She has a passion for music (having majored in it in college) and Christian ministry, so this was the perfect job for her. Wanda has especially enjoyed working with the many gifted musicians who are active in our congregation and feels blessed to have served Trinity throughout these years.
Lori Niemuth
Administrative Professional
Lori is an administrative professional who has provided office support to the staff and assistance to Trinity members and visitors with inquiries since August 2017. She graduated with honors from Fox Valley Technical College with an administrative professional degree and is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. It is a priority for her to have educational updates while working in this technical position. In her time away from work, she enjoys exploring God’s beautiful world on a zipline, running through airports, and tasting new cuisine!
Delaney Barbeau
Youth Coordinator
Delaney is excited to work with everyone at Trinity, especially getting to know the youth. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as an education major. Delaney is a licensed foster parent and has worked with youth most of her life. She comes from a large family and grew up in Rosendale, a small town near Fond du Lac. Delaney spends most of her free time at her parents’ farm or out exploring nature. She enjoys camping and hiking as well as reading a good book at home. One of her favorite Bible verses is “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” — 1 Timothy 4:12
Rev. Dr. Chuck Tews
Interim Associate Pastor
We’re grateful that Pastor Chuck is back with us as a part-time interim associate pastor at Trinity while we look to call our next associate pastor. Pastor Chuck retired in 2014 as Trinity’s longtime senior pastor after 27 years with our congregation. When the interim ends, Pastor Chuck will again step back from ministry at Trinity and keep necessary boundaries, just as he did when he retired a decade ago. We’re also thankful to his wife, Sharon, and their children and grandkids for sharing “PC” with Trinity as well as residents at Bethany, where he continues to serve as a chaplain.
Rev. Mark Ziemer
Interim Associate Pastor
Trinity is blessed to have Pastor Mark with us once more as a part-time interim associate pastor, resuming a role he held in our last transition from 2019 into 2021. Pastor Mark and his wife, Claudia, grew up on dairy farms in the Jackson-Cedarburg area. After spending their first year of marriage on internship in the Texas panhandle, Pastor Mark finished at Wartburg Seminary and served eight years in Hollandale and Blanchardville, 14 years at St. John’s in Marion, and 18 years at Grace in Tomahawk until retiring in September 2019. Pastor Mark and Claudia have three children. Nate and his wife, Corrie, and their three kids belong to Trinity, which connected Pastor Mark to our congregation. Andy and wife Sarah and their three children live in Pewaukee; and Amanda and husband Jake and their two daughters live in Gays Mills, where Pastor Mark and Claudia also reside when he isn’t way out east here at Trinity.
Rev. Andy Behrendt
Lead Pastor
APastor Andy was first called to Trinity as associate pastor of family life and youth. Installed in the church basement during a 2010 tornado warning, he became lead pastor at the end of 2019, just in time for a pandemic. Pastor Andy is a former newspaper reporter and occasionally still moonlights as an improvisational comedian. He’s married to Tracy, the Waupaca Historical Society’s director. Raised in the Green Bay area by an ELCA pastor and a piano teacher, “PA” is now a dad to two boys of his own, Ben and Christian. The four Behrendts feel enormously blessed to be part of the Trinity community.
Rev. Erin Coutts
Associate Pastor
Pastor Erin was called to Trinity as the associate pastor after serving a congregation in International Falls, Minnesota for her first call. She was raised in southeastern Wisconsin and received a Bachelor of Arts from UW-Madison in 2013, as well as a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in 2018. In her spare time, Pastor Erin love to read, go on walks, play board games, and make crafts.
Jean Schwirtz
Sunday School Coordinator
Jean has been Trinity’s Sunday School coordinator since March of 1985. She just celebrated 35 years in this position. Her duties include planning activities for Trinity’s students ages 3 thru grade 5. These include Sunday school, Christmas programs, Jake the Pancake Man, Palm Sunday parade, vacation Bible school, plus more. From Jean: “What a blessing this congregation and job have been to me. I have enjoyed watching students grow-up here and now their children are attending and participating in activities.”
Wanda Eikenbary
Director of Music Ministries
Wanda has been employed at Trinity for 16 years, taking on fulltime leadership of the Music Ministry in 2006. She has a passion for music (having majored in it in college) and Christian ministry, so this was the perfect job for her. Wanda has especially enjoyed working with the many gifted musicians who are active in our congregation and feels blessed to have served Trinity throughout these years.
Mike Steuerwald
Building & Properties Supervisor
Mike began working at Trinity in 2017 and takes care of our church both inside and out. Originally from Stevens Point, Mike moved to the Town of Lind, where his grandparents were from, and enjoys working on the hobby farm he has created on his property. Mike is a very humble person and you will never hear him boast about his work. However, he often works long days, electing to volunteer extra hours to ensure our church is taken care of. Trinity has depended on him greatly through COVID-19 as we have established a lot of new procedures. Outside of work, he has one daughter named Maddie, who he spends a lot of time with. In his free time, Mike enjoys working outside and hanging out with his brother who lives down the street from him.From Jean: “What a blessing this congregation and job have been to me. I have enjoyed watching students grow-up here and now their children are attending and participating in activities.”
Alicia Dorsett
Administrator
Alicia was selected to serve as Trinity’s first Administrator in January 2020. Concurrently, she also serves in the Wisconsin Army National Guard (WIARNG) and is Wisconsin’s first female field artillery officer. Alicia has a passion for volunteer work and currently serves in leadership positions for Badger Honor Flight and the Wisconsin National Guard Association. She hopes to get involved in volunteer capacities around Waupaca. Alicia earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in Political Science and Communication and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 2019.
Lori Niemuth
Administrative Professional
Lori is an administrative professional, who has provided office support to the staff and assistance to Trinity members and visitors with inquiries since August 2017. She graduated with honors from Fox Valley Technical College with an administrative professional degree and is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. It is a priority for her to have educational updates while working in this technical position. In her time away from work, she enjoys exploring God’s beautiful world on a zipline, running through airports, and tasting new cuisine!
Delaney Barbeau
Youth Coordinator
Delany is excited to work with everyone at Trinity, especially getting to know the youth. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as an education major. Delaney is a licensed foster parent and has worked with youth most of her life. She comes from a large family and grew up in Rosendale, a small town near Fond du Lac. Delaney spends most of her free time at her parents farm or out exploring nature. She enjoys camping and hiking as well as reading a good book at home. One of her favorite Bible verses is “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” — 1 Timothy 4:12
Shannon Anderson
Volunteer Coordinator
Shannon and her family moved from Pensacola, Florida, to Waupaca in 1996, the same year they joined Trinity. After her two children started school, she became a high school English teacher, teaching at Waupaca High School and two other area schools during her career. She is a life-long gardener, an avid reader and writer, and a bit of a health nut. Over the years, Shannon has volunteered in many roles at Trinity. Currently, she serves on the Stewardship Team, where she exercises her language skills. It is a position she never knew she needed! She also serves on the team that built and planted the Memorial Garden. One thing Shannon has learned from volunteering at Trinity is that no matter what she is doing, she always has fun and works with wonderful people. She looks forward to being directly involved with all of you and helping you find a place to use your gifts and talents to serve God.