St. John's Lutheran Church

Meet the Staff of St. Johns Lutheran Church

Pastor Harlan Kaden

(e-mail Pastor Harlan)

Pastor Harlan attended the University of Missouri, Columbia MO; St. Paul’s College, Concordia, MO; Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, IN; and Christ Siminary-Seminex, St. Louis, MO.
He has served as Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran, Bendena, KS; Faith Lutheran, Little Rock, AR; St. Paul’s Lutheran, Cole Camp, MO; as associate pastor at St. John Lutheran, Russell, KS; and as Senior Pastor at First Lutheran, Manchester, IA.

Pastor Ruth Kaden

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Pastor Ruth attended Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, MO before working as a Physical Therapy Assistant to put Harlan through seminary.  After giving birth to their two sons, Justin and Bryant, she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother.  After the boys entered pre-school, Ruth returned to school as well at Highland Community College, Highland, KS; And the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy.  She worked as a Registered Physical Therapist in both acute care in hospitals and in home health care for twelve years.  When health problems prevented her from continuing in that profession, she returned to graduate work at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA.

Associate Pastor Suzanne “Suzi” Orlopp

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Pastor Suzanne Michelle Orlopp was ordained July 7th in West Bend, WI She serves as a full time Associate Pastor with emphasis on youth and young adult ministry. Pastor Suzi grew up about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee. She was active in youth group and education programs. Some of her best memories come from National ELCA Youth Gatherings and camping trips with her youth group. After High School she worked at a Lutheran Camp in Wisconsin for five summers. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, earning a Bachelors of Science in Religious Studies and History. It was during this time that God began calling her through a passion for working amongst college students. Following her graduation from UWSP she entered Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Her internship year was in the “Wild, Wild West” of Laramie, Wyoming, where she worked with High School youth, and college students.