Bill Obenauf is the newest member of First Lutheran Church. He grew up in Chatham on a dairy farm. Careerwise, he ran heavy equipment, was an over-the-road truck driver, and worked in soil blending for years before finally retiring from working in water treatment in Wisconsin. Bill is a bachelor who moved back to Gladstone to care for his aging parents, who have both since passed. He currently has four feline roommates. Three are absolute troublemakers, and one is an elderly cat companion. Bill enjoys chopping and turning wood. He is an outdoorsman and likes books and computer time, too.
Bill's path to First Lutheran Church has been a journey of faith and family. He first joined his mother, Irene, in worship here during his visits home from work all over the country. After moving back to the Upper Peninsula to provide full-time caregiving for his parents and the eventual loss of his father in 2015 and his mother in 2021, Bill felt a deep longing for a faith family connection, which he found in our church.
At First Lutheran Church, he finds family in the men's group, at Tried N True, and when he has the opportunity to join the FLC crew at the Dew Drop for breakfast after 8:00 a.m. church. Bill has not hesitated to get involved with church activities. He has also ushered and participated in church clean-up days. Bill already has his usual spot in the back piano side pews. It feels as though he has always been there, and for a long time, in and out, he has.
We are overjoyed to welcome Bill officially into our church family. His kind nature, sense of humor, and easy-going personality make him a perfect fit for First Lutheran Church. We are grateful to God for bringing him into our fold and look forward to the many blessings his membership will bring.
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