Staff | Peace Lutheran

The Reverand Mary E. Zupansic

Pastor

I have the honor of being Peace Lutheran's first Called pastor. I am mom to an African Grey parrot (Eliot) and two Greyhounds (Gospel and Mercy). I previously served Calvary Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin and First American Lutheran Church in Oconto, Wisconsin. Needless to say - I am a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers! I enjoy running, kayaking, reading, taking walks with Gospel & Mercy and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ! Peace is a family sized church with a big heart for the community. I am pleased and excited to be here. I hope you will come worship with us!

Yvonne Nass

Office Manager/Financial Secretary

I was born and raised here in Springfield. I received my Bachelors Degree from Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Illinois, and returned to Springfield to work and raise my family. I am an active member at Lakeside Christian Church. My husband, Paul, and I will be married 35 years this year and have raised two sons. Austin lives in Northern California, and Philip lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We have three cats, Becca, Lil Bit and Coco. I enjoy movies, reading, being outdoors and traveling. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Jan Ambrose

Worship Coordinator

Choir Director

I grew up in the Chicago Area. I earned a B.A. degree in Music Education at Western Illinois University and have attended various graduate classes. In 1972 I moved to Springfield to begin a career teaching music in Springfield School District #186. After 39 years of teaching, I retired in 2011.

I began my music ministry in 1995. Over the years I've served as: Adult Choir Director, Saturday and Sunday Music Coordinator, Hand Bell Director, Teen and Youth Choir Director, and Fine Arts Music Camp Director.

All of my personal interests revolve around my family. My family includes my husband (Allen), two grown children (their spouses), three grandchildren and three grand- dogs. We spend a lot of quality time together doing every day things, watching sports activities for kids and traveling together.

Since my retirement, I have found a new passion for traveling and cooking new recipes, even as I continue to serve as the Worship Coordinator and Choir Director at Peace Lutheran Church.

Brenda Peck

Musician

Brenda started playing piano for church at age twelve, and organ at age fourteen. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with an applied major in piano performance, and has taught music in the public schools in Indiana and Illinois. Additional graduate studies include classes at the University of Illinois/Champaign & Springfield, Aurora University, and Southern Illinois University. Brenda served as organist, director of music and choir director at Atonement Lutheran Church from 1991 to 2015. She has served as organist at Peace Lutheran Church since 2015. Brenda has maintained a home studio in Chatham for over forty years, and enjoys being a collaborator/accompanist. She and her husband Don have three sons.