Bernice and Arnold have been married just over a year and a half, but their friendship dates back to the 1960s. Bernice and her first husband were friends with Arnold and his first wife. Bernice says she and Arnold’s first wife used to spend weekend afternoons shopping while Arnold watched sports on TV.

Some time after the passing of her first husband and his first wife, Arnold visited Bernice in Seward, NB, where she had moved to be near her son. The reunion prompted Arnold to propose, and Bernice moved back to Wisconsin. Bernice and Arnold married and settled at Butler Square.

The couple is retired, though Arnold still works as an income tax consultant for his own business, Brown Tax Service.

Arnold loves football and baseball. He also likes to read, especially mysteries and books about foreign cultures.

Bernice attends the Butler Square Bible study led by Pastor Schneider. She also takes a Tai Chi class at Butler Square.

The couple likes to travel – recent trips include drives to the Black Hills of South Dakota and to Branson, Missouri.

Bernice’s close relations are involved in ministry through the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Her son, Tom Krenzke, is a former missionary and Bible translator to Monrovia, Liberia. He now works for Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. Her granddaughter, Krista Trump, and Krista’s husband, Pastor Shauen Trump, are participants in the LCMS World Mission in Uganda.  Krista works as a nurse in medical clinics in Uganda, while Pastor Trump is doing church planting there.

Please welcome this couple at the 9:30 service!

2. Maureen Erb, of Menomonee Falls, comes to Immanuel through Reaffirmation of Faith. (Growing up, Maureen attended St. Peter Immanuel.) Her parents, Marvin and Karen, are also Immanuel members. Maureen’s family also includes her brother Brian and his family, who live in Burlington, Wis., and her sister Roxanne and her family, who reside in Lampasas, Texas. Maureen also has a beloved family member in her four-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Emma. Maureen says Emma is thoroughly spoiled with attention, as Emma spends her days with Marvin, who is retired, and gets long walks with Maureen and Karen in the evening.

Maureen works for Waukesha County Health and Human Services as a clerk typist.

In her free time, Maureen loves reading, particularly mysteries by James Patterson, Emilie Richards, Terri Thayer, and Jennifer Chiaverini.

Maureen also has two hands-on hobbies: jewelry-making and quilting. She creates her own beaded bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. She also experiments with different quilting patterns, and enjoys giving the quilts as gifts to friends and family. Two of her most special quilts were made for her parents: a falling leaf-patterned one for her dad, and a flying geese-patterned one with leaves on the fabric for her mom. One tradition she began recently is creating quilts for the children of her high school girlfriends.

Please welcome this creative woman to our congregation at the 9:30 service!