Robert Dargatz - Pastor

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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 Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and graduated with a B.A. concentrating in Speech and Communications in 1972. He decided to attend Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield where he majored in New Testament and minored in Systematic Theology. He served as a vicar 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 as a faculty member.  He has done graduate work at UCLA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in Theological Studies. 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 currently serves on the Board of Regents of Concordia Universtiy of Irvine and the Board of Directors of Pacific Lutheran High School in Torrance. He has served as Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church since 1998.

Favorite Bible Passage: Ephesians 2:8-10

Lee Kuhns - Vicar

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Vicar Lee Kuhns was born in San Diego, CA.  He lived in Weymouth, MA until he was 4; Welshfield, OH (Amish country) until he was 13; and returned to his native San Diego, CA to finish his teen years.  Upon graduation from Hoover High School he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and ultimately obtained the rank of Sergeant.  He attended and graduated with a BA in Religion from Christ College, Irvine (now Concordia University, Irvine) where he met his 1st wife, Donna Bourne (perfected saint in 2008).  Vicar Lee spent a year of seminary training at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma, WA.  After leaving the seminary he worked at various jobs from vending machines to furniture delivery.  His most recent employment prior to working full-time at Immanuel was with North County Transit District (Oceanside, CA) as their Right-of-Way Coordinator.  He met and fell in love with his wife Pam Waack at Redeemer by the Sea Lutheran Church (Carlsbad, CA).  Having spent the 2010-11 academic year in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program at Concordia Theological Seminary - Ft. Wayne; he has returned to Faith Seminary to pursue a Master of Arts in Theological Studies via distance learning.  Vicar Lee began working part-time at Immanuel in February 2010 and was hired full-time in January 2011. 

Favorite Bible Passage:  Romans 8:18-19

Julie Chapel - Church Administative Assistant

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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

Terri Krause - Administative Assistant - Pre-school

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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. 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

Beverly Newcom - ECE Teacher & Director

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Mrs. Newcom has been with our school since 1986.  She has filled many roles here: as a teacher’s aide, teacher, and director of our Early Childhood Education program. But her favorite role is as a teacher, working directly with our pre-schoolers. Bev is also the assistant coach for the school’s volleyball team and directs the school talent show.  She 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. Incidentally, Dale is also our first chair trumpet in our Brass Apostles brass ensemble. She 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. 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

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