Thank You

for Your Years of Ministry

After graduating from Dr. Martin Luther College in spring of 1986, Miss Detjen stayed in New Ulm and served as an assistant volleyball coach for the DMLC team. In November of that year, she received an emergency call to teach PE and coach at Martin Luther Prep School in Prairie du Chien, WI.

Over her career as an educator, Miss Detjen taught a variety of levels including 4 years with 4th and 5th graders (Trinity Lutheran School, Minocqua), 3 years of college coaching (WLC), and another 32 years at high schools (23 years at FVL across two separate calls and 9 years at Minnesota Valley Lutheran in New Ulm, MN).

Outside of school, Miss Detjen serves as a photographer for Irish Fest of the Fox Cities, is a Bike Ambassador for the City of Appleton, and enjoys hurling (Irish sport).

Mr. David Kolander graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1986 and was assigned to Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan. While there, he taught mathematics and phy ed, coached multiple sports, and served as Athletic Director.

In 1994, he accepted a call to Fox Valley Lutheran High School, where he has faithfully served ever since. In addition to teaching math, he started the school’s baseball program and has coached a variety of sports over the years, including baseball, basketball, girls golf, and boys tennis.

Highlights of his coaching career include leading the baseball team to five state tournament appearances and guiding the girls golf team to nine state tournament appearances.

Now celebrating 40 years in education, his dedication to students, athletics, and Christian education has left a lasting impact on countless young people and the schools he has served.

Phil Stern

Upon graduating from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1986, Mr. Phil Stern served on the WELS Travel/Canvas/Witness Team for one year. During the course of that year, he traveled between and served various WELS congregations throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast.

In 1987, he was assigned to Trinity Lutheran School in Waco, NE to teach K-8 and serve as principal. This is where he would spend the next 30 years of his ministry. After five years, the school grew to two classrooms, with Mr. Stern teaching upper grades and continuing as principal.

While in Nebraska, Mr. Stern also served as a school counselor and the District School Coordinator. He assisted the athletics program at Nebraska Lutheran High School, particularly in track & field and wrestling.

Mr. Stern and his wife, Kathy, were blessed with four children while living in Nebraska. In 2018, both husband and wife received calls to FVL, where Mr. Stern teaches religion and woodworking, and assists with coaching wrestling and track & field.

Pastor David Wenzel

Pastor David Wenzel grew up in Menasha, WI, attended Bethel Lutheran Church and School, and graduated from Fox Valley Lutheran High School in 1978. Through the encouragement of his parents, pastor, and teachers at FVL, he attended Northwestern College in Watertown and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon. Upon his graduation in 1986, he was assigned as a tutor at Martin Luther Preparatory School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he taught world history and supervised the boys dormitory. He also served as a pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in St. James, MN, and has served at FVL since 1991.

Pastor Wenzel has taught Old Testament, New Testament, Life of Christ, Romans, and Ephesians, and he coaches girls basketball. In 1992, he married Debbie Bode. God has richly blessed them with four children: Megan (husband Gabe, children Elijah and Abby) Wildeman, Pastor Collin Wenzel (wife Stephanie), Erin (husband Corey, children Cade and Cooper) Paske, and Eric Wenzel. 

Pastor Wenzel is humbled that God has allowed him the uncommon privilege of gospel ministry and is deeply grateful for 40 years of serving Jesus’ sheep.