Staff

Tawanda Murinda, Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator

Phone: (319) 427-1272

Email: tawamurinda@gmail.com

Tawanda Murinda joined the St. Peter staff in July of 2015 as the Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator. He is excited to share his passion for Youth Ministry with the congregation at St. Peter. Before moving to Dubuque, Tawanda spent his summers working at EWALU Bible Camp where he was a counselor and a coordinator for three years.

A native of Zimbabwe, Tawanda grew up in the capital, Harare, before coming to the United States for college. He graduated from Wartburg College with a Bachelors in Engineering Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Wartburg Theological Seminary. He hopes to one day become a pastor in the ELCA but would love to work with the youth in the global church. Tawanda also has a passion for service and will be hoping to incorporate that into his work at St. Peter.

Ranae Forsyth, Office Manager

Phone: 563-583-0860

Email: stpeterdbq@q.com

Jim Daack, Outreach Minister

Phone: (563) 556-0028

Email: gceramics@gmail.com

Jim joined our staff in January 2004. He visits the sick and homebound members of our congregation, implements regular visitations with visitors and prospective new members, and takes an active role in getting our inactive members involved once again in our church community. Jim is a long time member of the congregation and volunteers in a number of church activities, i.e. choir, soloist, lector, usher, and assisting minister. We are truly blessed that Jim is committed to this very important role in our congregational ministry.

Kristine Fishler, Organist & Keyboardist

Phone: (563) 599-3937

Email: kristine.fishler@gmail.com

Kristine Fishler joined the St. Peter staff in September 2007. She received her Bachelors in Music from Illinois Wesleyan University and her Masters in Music from Illinois State University. In addition to providing piano or organ music for services and the adult choir, Kristine enjoys working on special music with youths and adults. When not at church or teaching private lessons, Kristine enjoys spending time with her family.

Miriam Bjornstad, Education Coordinator

Phone: (563) 663-6558

Email: mjthywaybj@gmail.com

Since March 2007, Miriam Bjornstad has had the opportunity to serve St. Peter as the Education Coordinator. An exciting part of that ministry is the celebration of Faith Milestones. Nine Milestones are currently observed from Entrance into Sunday School for 3 year olds; through Prayer for 1st graders; Serving the Lord in 5th grade and up through High School Graduation. Each Milestone provides an opportunity to support families in living out baptismal promises. Miriam enjoys the planning and teaching of these Milestones.

She is involved in organizing "Feed My Sheep Sundays" which take place twice a year. These cross-generational servant events occur during the Sunday School hour and allow all ages to work together on hands-on projects to benefit others.

Miriam has a Social Work degree from Iowa State, but what prepared her most for her Education Coordinator position was her experience in several parishes serving alongside her husband, Greg, a Lutheran pastor. In 1998, Greg, Miriam and their two sons, Hans and Bjorn, moved to Dubuque so Greg could begin serving as the chaplain at Luther Manor nursing home. They joined St. Peter where Miriam became active in teaching Sunday School and VBS, singing in the choir and with Worship Teams and serving on the Worship Board.

Their older son, Hans entered the Marines after 9-11, married, had two beautiful children, Alexis and Aden, taught High School English and Literature in Florida for 3 years and was working on his Masters in English. Sadly, in August of 2013 he was killed in a motorcycle accident. With the Lord's strength and the support of their St Peter "family" Miriam and Greg are learning to deal with this loss.

Their younger son, Bjorn graduated from Clarke College, earning a degree in Graphic Design.  He is currently working in the Portland, Oregon area.

Ann Gile, Choir Director

Phone: (563) 542-3602

Email: 

Ann Gile is originally from Andrew, Iowa and grew up as a member of Salem Lutheran Church. She studied music education at Wartburg College and Clarke College. She began her role as choir director for St Peter in the fall of 2007. She and her husband Joe were married in December 1998 and live in Epworth. They have two daughters, Emma and Isabel. Ann also works at Prudential Retirement as a training consultant.