Church and School Staff

Rev. Robert Dargatz
Pastor

Pastor Robert Dargatz was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 31, 1950 to Arthur and Corky Dargatz. He has one younger brother, Ken, who lives in Michigan. After Robert graduated from public high school he attended Concordia Junior College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree. He picked up a few summer classes at Wayne State University in Detroit. He went to senior college in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and graduated with a B.A. concentrating in Speech in 1972. He decided to attend Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield where he majored in New Testament and minored in Systematic Theology. He worked as a work study student for Professor Dale Hartmann who had a big influence on him and trained him in congregational evangelism. He spent his vicarage year in San Diego. He graduated from the seminary with a MDiv. degree in 1976 but started work on a Master of Sacred Theology degree and so delayed being assigned to a parish. Concordia College, Ann Arbor, decided to call Robert to serve as a resident counselor and instructor in Religion. After one year of service in Ann Arbor, Robert was led to accept a Divine Call to Christ College, Irvine, where he served under President Charles Manske and was reunited with Professor Hartmann, now his colleague.  He has done graduate work at UCLA and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. In 1982 he met his life's mate on an evangelism call. Their marriage has been blessed with three children. Robert has had the privilege of serving on the Pacific Southwest District's Mission Board, as a District counselor for the LWML, on Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and on the Commission on Doctrinal Review of the LC-MS. He was installed as Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, August 9, 1998.

Favorite Bible Passage: Ephesians 2 :8-10

Mrs. Julie Chapel
Administrative Assistant – Church Ministry

Mrs. Chapel has served at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School since 2000.  She started out as a teacher’s aide for the preschool classes and after 4 years became a teacher in the Early Childhood program.  Julie accepted the position of Administrative Assistant for the congregation in August, 2008.  Julie is a life-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and is an alumni of ILS attending PreK through 8th grade.  Julie is married to Steve Chapel, who is also an alumni of ILS.   Julie enjoys sewing, reading, country music, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Bible Passage: 2 Samuel 22:33

Mr. Mark Howard
Director of Music Ministries

Mr. Howard has been serving Immanuel since 2003—overseeing the music ministry, directing the Chancel Choir and planning worship services. He is a graduate of Concordia University, Nebraska and served as a Lutheran schoolteacher in North Hollywood, California and Lutheran High School of Orange County. He has studied choral music with B. Wayne Bisbee, Michael Burkhardt and Herbert Geisler, among others. Mr. Howard and his wife Nancy, a Lutheran schoolteacher at St. Paul’s in Orange, have three adult children. Mr. Howard has been a copywriter and marketing communications specialist for over 30 years. In his spare time (which there is precious little of) he enjoys writing text and composing music for use in worship. He has been published by MorningStar Music Publishers and Augsburg Fortress.

Favorite Bible Passage:   Matthew 5:48

Mrs. Mirta Leiss
Organist and Choir Accompanist

Mrs. Leiss has been serving Immanuel since 2006 as organist and choir accompanist. She began music lessons at age five, dedicating her life to serve the Lord with her music. From childhood, she participated in many of her home church activities such as choirs, instrumental groups and as organist, pianist, flutist and vocal soloist. She graduated from River Plate University, Argentina in 1982 and 1984 with vocal and piano performance degrees. Her academic career has included positions of music teacher at K-12 Christian schools, choir director and music minister in California as well as in her native country. She was a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for 8 seasons and organist and choir director for Hispanic Ministries at the Crystal Cathedral for six years before coming to Immanuel. Mrs. Leiss has been a church organist for more than 20 years and enjoys playing the keyboard, composing and arranging music.

Favorite Bible Passage:   Psalm 91: 1-2

Mr. Mark J. Grewe
Principal & ECE Supervisor

Mr. Grewe began his LCMS ministry during the 1981-82 school year, and has been at Immanuel since the summer of 2007.  Mr. Grewe is a 1981 graduate of Concordia, River Forest, with a concentration in Youth Ministry and in Early Childhood.   Mr. Grewe received his Masters in Education from Indiana University and his Administrative certificate by taking post-graduate work at Concordia, River Forest.   Mr. Grewe and his wife Jean, have three children: Nathan, Sarah, and Rachel.  Nathan is married to Mindy and are blessed with three children: Makenzie, Ashley and Alexander. Sarah is married to Travis Jansen and resides in Quincy, Illinois.  Rachel still lives at home and is a college student.   Mark enjoys working on computers in his spare time.

Favorite Bible Passage:   Psalm 118:24

Mrs. Terri Krause
Administrative Assistant – School Ministry.

Mrs. Krause was born and raised in Orange. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church and attended St. John Lutheran for Kindergarten and St. Paul Lutheran for 1^st – 5^th grades. She attended ILS beginning in the 6^th grade and has been a member of Immanuel ever since. Terri is a graduate of Orange Lutheran High School.  Mrs. Krause has worked in the school office since December, 1997. Terri and her husband, Mark, have 2 children, Kaitlin and Joseph. In her spare time Terri enjoys quilting, playing ILS softball, and camping.

Favorite Bible Passage: Matthew 6:33

Mrs. Joann Chapel
Educational Assistant

Mrs. Chapel is currently a Teacher’s Aide at Immanuel.  She and her family have been members of Immanuel Lutheran Church for over 17 years and she has worked at the school in different capacities for over 15 years. She is married to J.C. and has 2 grown children who are alumni of Immanuel Lutheran School. She loves spending time with her family and thoroughly enjoys her job at Immanuel.

Favorite Bible Passage: Psalms 18:1

Mrs. Beverly Newcom
ECE Teacher & Director

Mrs. Newcom has been employed at Immanuel since 1986.  She has been a teacher’s aide, teacher, and director, but she prefers the role of teacher.  Mrs. Newcom is also the assistant coach for the school’s volleyball team and directs the school talent show.  Mrs. Newcom and her husband, Dale, are active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church where Bev is the church’s youth director, sings in the choir and plays in the adult handbell choir.  Mrs. Newcom and Dale became 1st time grandparents in June, 2008, to a baby boy named Seth.  In her spare time Bev enjoys photography and traveling

Favorite Bible Passage: Psalm 95: 1-2

Mrs. Janette Aguirre
ECE Teacher

Mrs. Aguirre enjoys working with children. Before coming to Immanuel in 2002, she served as an aide in Special Education and spent 15 years at West Orange Elementary. Mrs. Aguirre worked four years as a teacher’s aide and the past two years as a teacher in our PreK program. Mrs. Aguirre has six children. Janette is currently attending Cal State Fullerton working on her Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescents Studies. Janette enjoys sewing, working in her garden, and spending time with her family.

Favorite Bible Passage: Luke 2:40

Mrs. Jean Grewe
ECE Teacher (morning)
Music & First/Second Grade Teacher (afternoon)

Mrs. Grewe started as a teacher at Immanuel during the 2007-2008 school year.  Prior to coming to Immanuel, Jean taught in Lutheran schools for 17 years.  During her years in ministry Jean’s passion has been in the area of music.  Her musical gifts have been beneficial in directing various choirs and musical groups throughout the years.  The Grewe family are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church where Jean is active in Adult Choir and handbells.

Favorite Bible Passage: Philippians 4:13

Ms. Caitlin Aguirre
ECE Teacher’s Aide

Ms. Aguirre has been at Immanuel Lutheran since the 2004-2005 school year.  She worked for the first four years in the school-aged Daycare program (SAC).  During the 2008-2009 school year she began working as an ECE teacher’s aide.  Caitlin is a graduate from the Orange County High School of Arts and is currently attending beauty school at Fullerton College.  Caitlin enjoys hanging out with friends and working with hair and make-up.

Favorite Bible Passage: Psalm 100:5

Ms. Heather Newcom
Kindergarten Teacher

Miss Newcom attended Immanuel Lutheran School for Third – Sixth Grade.  She has been on staff in various capacities since her high school graduation in 1994.  She began as a teacher’s assistant in Kindergarten and First Grade.  She has since worked with the 2 year old program through the Eighth Grade and School Aged Care.  She truly enjoys her job.  She also enjoys playing softball on Immanuel’s softball team, reading and camping.

Favorite Bible Passage: Matthew 28: 19-20

Mrs. Sue Guebert
First and Second Grade Teacher

Mrs. Susan Guebert has been teaching first graders at Immanuel since 1997. She and her husband, Tim, have 3 children; Alexander, Christian, and Hannah, all alumni of ILS. Mrs. Guebert received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton, and is continuing her education on-line from Concordia University. She loves books and movies and watching her children perform.

Favorite Bible Passage: Luke 2: 10-11

Mrs. Amanda Fernandez
ECE, 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher's Aide

Mrs. Fernandez began working at Immanuel during the 2008-2009 school year.   Amanda and her husband, David, are the proud parents of two children; Isaiah and Gabriella.  The Fernandez family are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Amanda is currently working on her early childhood certification at Santiago Community College.  In her spare time Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and attending her children’s extra-curricular events.

Favorite Bible Passage: Proverbs 22:6

Mr. Wayne Waterman
Third and Fourth Grade Teacher

Mr. Waterman graduated from Concordia University, Irvine, with a B.A. in Liberal Studies.  Wayne then completed the Teacher Credential Program the following year at Concordia.  Mr. Waterman began his teaching ministry in 1997 and began teaching at Immanuel Lutheran School in 1999.  Wayne and his wife, Catherine, have two children, Kevin and Sarah. 

Favorite Bible Passage: Psalm 18:2

Miss LeAnna Christopher
Fifth and Sixth Grade Teacher

Miss Christopher is thrilled to have received a call to teach at Immanuel Lutheran School!  She began her teaching ministry during the 2009-2010 school year.   Miss Christopher graduated from Concordia University, Irvine in 2008, and was then blessed to complete the student teaching portion of her credential program here at ILS. During the hours that she is not in the classroom, Miss Christopher enjoys running, yoga, reading, quilting and spending time at the beach.

Favorite Bible Passage: Ephesians 3:17-19

Mrs. Kat Benne
Seventh & Eighth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Benne is a 1986 graduate of Concordia, Irvine.   Prior to coming to Immanuel, Kat taught in two other Lutheran schools.  Immanuel has been blessed to have Mrs. Benne teach our 7th-8th graders since 1994.   During her tenure at Immanuel, Mrs. Benne has served in many various capacities  including coaching sports, serving as our NLSA and WASC accreditation captain, and directing our Junior High Choir and Bells.   Kat, and her husband, Bruce, are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church where Kat is a member of the Choir and rings handbells.

Favorite Bible Passage: Romans 1:16

Mrs. Nikki Panetta
Director of School-Age Care

Mrs. Panetta and her husband, Ron, are natives of Southern California.  Nikki is a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Congregation. She has worked in the ‘Daycare Biz” for many years, but has served as Immanuel’s School Age Care director since 2006. Nikki also coordinates the Summer Camp program. She is the proud mother of an Immanuel student, Mallory.  In her spare time, she enjoys road trips, the Arizona Cardinals, reading, and art.

Favorite Bible Passage: Proverbs 22:6

Mrs. Carol Beem
School-Age Care

Mrs. Beem has worked in the Lutheran School system for 12 years. She joined the Immanuel Lutheran School staff during the summer of 2008. Mrs. Beem has two children, both graduates of the Lutheran School system. She loves children of all ages. In her spare time Carol enjoys reading and cooking.

Favorite Bible Passage: John 1-3
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