First Lutheran Church
Gladstone, Michigan
1212 Minneapolis Ave.
Gladstone, MI-49837
Phone: 906-428-4565
Staff
Senior Pastor Elisabeth Daniels
Senior Pastor Elisabeth (Zant) Daniels was ordained in the ELCA on January 15, 2011. She has served in two other ministry settings. For seven years, she was a Staff Chaplain at St. John’s United in Billings, MT, and her First Call was at Eden Lutheran Church in Munising, MI. Pastor Elisabeth and Wesley have been married since 2014 and have two children who attend school in Gladstone and enjoy living so close to the beach!
Pastor Elisabeth has a pastoral care/clinical background and has completed four units of CPE. She also loves parish work and serving people in the community. Wesley is a proud-born and raised Yooper. He works for the government at the Delta County Airport and is a veteran of the Navy.
Pastor Elisabeth graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA, in 2006 and from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2011. She was ordained by Bishop Emeritus Tom Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod at her home congregation, Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy, Wisconsin.
Pastor Elisabeth loves spending time with her family, reading, and exploring the woods. Now that they are back in Michigan, she and her family dabble in cross-country skiing. Pastor Elisabeth enjoys baking and growing things, which is something the whole family enjoys. She used to enjoy walking with Hufflepuff, the Goldendoodle, but Hufflepuff is so old now that she prefers the sunny spot on the couch.
First Lutheran Church is a wonderful place to serve, and Gladstone is a great community to raise a family in. Pastor fully embraces the opportunities she has to invite, involve, equip, and empower one another as we serve Jesus Christ in this place.
Director of Music, Stacie Carter; Musician, Paul Rajala
Christian Education Coordinators
Pam Brown and Suzanne Dahlke
Community Engagement Coordinator
Pastor Melissa Salminen
Melissa Salminen is our new Community Engagement Coordinator. As a newly ordained minister serving in a part-time call to Bethany, Perkins and Trinity, Stonington, she returns to explore the possibilities of this new position. As First’s former Vicar/Intern, she is a familiar face to many and is excited to return to work toward equipping, empowering the members of First into service both in the building and going out into the community. Engaging those who cannot be with us in person, but join online, is another way Pastor Melissa will use her technology knowledge to invite those who worship from home into our community.
After graduation from Wartburg in May 2023, Melissa spent her time as local pulpit supply, Girl Scout co-leader for a Brownie/Daisy troop, and played chauffeur to her little one all summer. As she transitions into work-life, she will enjoy many podcasts, Audible books, and quiet time enjoying God’s beautiful wilderness of the UP.
Melissa and her family continue to reside in the Marquette area. They are kept busy with dance, Girl Scouts, school activities, gymnastics, and theater. They also enjoy quiet time at home around the campfire or in the pool, traveling, and just being together as a family.
I am excited to (re)start this journey with the family of First Lutheran Church in a different role. I look forward to seeing you at the weekday events and online!
Office Administrator, Rhonda Husbye
Rhonda was born and raised in Escanaba. She and her husband, Eric, have four children. Rhonda studied psychology and early childhood education & development. She worked at Flinn’s Flowers & Garden Center, managing the main Escanaba location for 28 years working in all aspects of the company, ending as their Floral Manager and Lead Designer. After retiring, and she took a six month health break and later found work at Lakestate Industries as a Job Coach until First Lutheran called.
Custodian, Hope (Kleiman) Thompson
Hello! My name is Hope (Kleiman) Thompson. I was born and raised in Gladstone as was my husband, Joe. We’ve been married for nearly 34 years.
After Joe’s tour of duty in the Air Force, and other civilian job assignments, we moved back to the area in 2000. After being away for 12 years, we thought, what a better place to raise our children than back here in the UP, where our Parents were still living.
We now reside in Gladstone with our dog Maggie, who we adopted 2 years ago.
Our kids are, Kyle (Paige) and JJ, Appleton WI, Natalie (Erik) Gammon, Marquette, and Jillian (Bailey) and Barry (our Grand dog) Lamb, Escanaba. We are thrilled and blessed to be new Grandparents!
I am very happy to be a part of the team at First Lutheran.