Church Staff

Staff

Reverend Ron Johnson email >

Reverend Ron Johnson is the Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Rev. Ron is originally from Ida Grove, Iowa. He graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1969. Rev. Ron graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa in 1974 with a B.A. in History. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 1977 from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

Rev. Ron was appointed to the United Methodist Churches in Seymour and Promise City, Iowa in 1977. He was appointed to the Pioneer United Methodist Church in Rock Valley, Iowa in 1983. In 1997 he was appointed the serve the United Methodist Church in Canton, South Dakota having transferred from the Iowa Annual Conference to the Dakotas Annual Conference. Rev. Ron has been appointed as of July 1, 2010 to be the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Yankton, SD.

Rev. Ron is married to Marsha (Rogers) Johnson. They have three children. Aaron, who is married to Michelle and they have one daughter, Madeline. They live in Inwood, IA. Sarah, who is married to Jonathan Meerbeek and they have two sons, Owen and Emmitt. They live in the Okoboji/Spirit Lake, IA area. Joshua who is married to Laura and they have one daughter Eleanor. They live in Brookings, SD.

In his spare time, Rev. Ron loves to play golf, watch the Chicago Cubs, and the Andy Griffith Show, and above all spend time with his grandchildren.

Gena Brandt email >

Gena Brandt is co-coordinator of Sr. High Youth Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Gena is originally from Marion, Kansas. She graduated from Marion High School. She graduated from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, as well as the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota with a Master's Degree in Learning Disabilities.

In the past, Gena has taught Special Education at the Elementary level for ten years.

Gena has been married to Merle, a beekeeper, for almost 25 years. Together they have three sons: Garrett, 21, Gavin, 18, and Garner, 12. Garrett graduated from Yankton High School in 2007 and is currently attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota. Gavin is still in school and remains active in the church youth group. Garner is also still in school and likes all sports.

Gena enjoys baking, gardening, reading, and her dogs.

Bob Cappel email >

Bob Cappel is the Pastoral Assistant at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Bob, originally from McCook, NE, joined the staff of the church after twenty years as the director of Chambers of Commerce in Lexington, NE and Yankton, SD. Prior to his work with the Chambers, Bob served as Vice-President and Director of Human Resources for Longview (Texas) Savings & Loan/American Family Bank, FSB and Henderson (Texas) Memorial Hospital. His first career after college was as a professional director with the Young Men’s Christian Association starting in 1969 in Lincoln, NE followed by stops in St. Louis, MO; Longview, TX; Orange, TX and Big Spring, TX. He pursued his education at McCook (NE) Junior College, Peru (NE) State College and University of Nebraska-Lincoln in physical education. Bob is awarded a Senior Director Certification from the National Young Men’s Christian Association and is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management, U.S. Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He and his wife Carolyn have a blended family of six children and two grandchildren.

Bonnie Gusso/Kids Hope email >

Diane Kisch email >

Diane Kisch is co-coordinator of Sr. High Youth Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Diane grew up on a farm southeast of Tyndall, SD. She graduated from Tyndall-Tabor High School in 1977. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota in 1980 with an Associate of Arts degree in Dental Hygiene.

Diane works part time (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) at Dr. R.C. Grossenburg’s dental office as a hygienist. She was hired in February 2007 as one of the part time co-coordinators of Senior High Youth Ministry. Before coming on staff Diane was a youth volunteer for many years working mainly with Sr. High but also with Jr. High. She has chaperoned youth at many rallies, on mission trips to Chicago, to Life Light, to Youth '03 and Youth '07. She has taught Sr. High Sunday School, counseled at Leadership Training Camp at Lake Poinsett, organized and worked fundraisers, and can usually be found helping if there is a lock-in of any kind.

Diane is married to Dennis and they have 3 grown children, Michael, Nicholas, and Jennifer, all of whom are married. Michael is married to Kay (Daszkiewicz). They live in Golden Valley, MN. He is an architect in Minneapolis. Nicholas is married to Tracy (Enfield). They live in Yankton, SD. He works for his dad in construction. Nick and Tracy have 3 sons, Caleb, Parker & Beckett. Jennifer is married to Blair Anderson they live in Durham, NC where Jennifer will be attending seminary at Duke.

In her spare time, Diane enjoys reading, singing, scrap booking, and spoiling the grandkids.

Sue May email >

Sue May is the Bell Choir Director at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Sue grew up in Ames, Iowa, Kitale, Kenya, and Bloomington, Illinois. She graduated from High School in Normal, Illinois in 1982. Sue graduated from the University of Iowa in 1986 with a degree in Elementary Education. She received her Masters Degree in Elementary Education in 2003.

Sue teaches Kindergarten at Beadle Elementary in Yankton. She began playing hand bells in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in 1994. From there, Sue and her family moved to Altoona, Iowa and played hand bells at the Altoona United Methodist Church. In 1996 Sue's family moved to Yankton where she has remained the Bell Choir director since 1997.

Sue is married to Jeff. Together they have three children: Brittney, Dillon, and Kirsten.

Sue enjoys playing hand bells, quilting, reading, and baking.

Melissa Rempfer email >

Melissa (Unruh) Rempfer is the organist at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. Melissa is originally from Freeman, South Dakota. She graduated from Freeman High School in 1998. She graduated from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota in 2002 with a BA in Music Education.

Melissa was the organist at Hope Lutheran Church in Freeman, SD from 1994 until 1999. She was also organist for the Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman, SD from 1995 until 1999. In 2000, Melissa began as the Senior Choir accompanist at First United Methodist Church in Yankton. In addition to her being the organist at First UMC, Melissa also teaches Elementary Music in the Bon Homme School District.

Melissa is married to Brian Rempfer, a youth counselor at the Human Services Center in Yankton. Melissa and Brian have a sons, Ethan & Garrett.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys performing and listening to music, reading, and walking.