Susan Antolik served Galena, Marengo, East Fairfield, Harmony Chapel and Williamsport UMCs during 19 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include overseeing the construction of a new church building at one appointment and the installation of a new LED sign at another.
In retirement, Susan and her husband Roger will live in Westerville where she plans to sew, travel, do photography, help anyway she can in the Mid-Ohio District, and spoil the grandchildren.
Bill Buckeye served Plainfield, Isletta, Garfield Heights, Boardman First, Wellington First, Pleasant Hills, Bay Village, West Lafayette and Hope UMCs during 36 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include getting to meet and minister with committed and dedicated people of God and earning his Doctor of Ministry.
In retirement, Bill and his wife Sheila will relate with Wellington First UMC and will enjoy the Florida sun, spend time with children and grandchildren and travel.
Bradley Call served Midvale, Newport, Barnhill, Cambridge Ninth Street, Coshocton Roscoe and Thoburn UMCs, and as superintendent of the Three Rivers District in the East Ohio Conference, and worked for the General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Foundation of New England during 41 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include three long-term pastorates, representing the wider connectional church, and serving as district superintendent.
In retirement, Bradley and his wife Susan will enjoy time with family and friends.
James George served South West Harpersfield, West Farmington and Southington UMCs during 18 years of ministry.
In retirement, James and his wife Verona will spend time with their grandchildren and family.
Dale Gharky served Burton City, Clinton, Manchester, and Lockwood UMCs during 15 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include his gratefulness for God’s call in his life and for the lives of people who were touched by the ministries of the congregations he served.
In retirement, Dale and his wife Patricia will live in Mogadore and spend several months of rest and travel, including visiting daughters in Toledo and Florida.
Thomas Gruver served Peoli West Union, Melmore, Senecaville, Mt. Ephraim, Thompson, and Woodlawn Bucyrus UMCs during 19 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include increasing average worship attendance at his first church, improving facilities, and participating in disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
In retirement, Thomas and his wife Gale will live in Newcomerstown in the house they built together, enjoying country living and evenings on the porch and the patio.
Glenn Hamilton served Sand Hill, Warren Grace, and Lexington Church of the Cross UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and Evangelical Covenant Church congregations in Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania during 37 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include building an addition at one church, developing a new vision at another, and immigration reform while serving on the Conference Board of Church and Society.
Howard Humphress served the office of Pastoral Care and Counseling in the East Ohio Conference and previously served churches and care centers in Kentucky during 47 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include facilitating pastors’ discovery, growth, and actualization and partnering with amazing staff and colleagues.
In retirement, Howard and his wife Patty will live in Vermilion where he will build a boat barn, tackle projects on his to-do list, read, and encourage the spiritual development of others.
Robert Ireland served the United Methodist Children’s Home in Berea and Bello Machre, Inc. in Maryland during 45 years in Extension Ministry. Highlights of his ministry include helping Bello Machre, which serves individuals with developmental disabilities grow from four homes to a multi-service organization serving more than 300 people.
In retirement, Robert and his wife Jo Beth will live in Maryland where he will continue serving as CEO of Bello Machre.
Jennifer Johnston-Baker (photo unavailable) served Duncan Falls, Sugar Grove, Trinity McConnelsville, Ebenezer, Pleasant Grove, Claysville and Hiramsburg UMCs as well as James Madison Even Start and Muskinghum County Child Protective Services in the East Ohio Conference and Grace and Zanesville UMCs in the West Ohio Conference during 38 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include planting Noisy Churches in schools and churches and offering Bridges Out of Poverty training.
In retirement, Jennifer and her husband Richard will live in Zanesville where she will run for City Council.
Dairel Kaiser served Red Haw, Polk, Warsaw, Sugarcreek, and Keene UMCs during 32 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include raising money for mission work and being involved with many local and national Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trips.
In retirement, Dairel and his wife Cindy will live in Coshocton where he plans to work with local pastors in the Three Rivers District as a mentor, golf, bowl, and spend time with family.
Ralph Krall served Nevada, Eden Chapel, Hathaway, LaGrange, and Navarre Otterbein UMCs during 29 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include mission trips, helping churches recognize the need for changing the way they did outreach and witness in the community, and assisting churches in moving from traditional to a blended style of worship.
In retirement, Ralph and his wife Liz will live in Mentor where he plans to garden, write a book on how to handle spiritual conflict in the church, and lead Bible discussions.
Robert Kuntz served Canton Church of the Savior, Sandyville, Asbury, Warren Grace, Shreve, Good Shepherd, Broadway, and Grafton UMCs during 40 years of ministry. He is thankful for the bishops, superintendents, fellow clergy, and churches that blessed his ministry and the ministry he and his wife Libby shared.
Kurt Landerholm served Newport, Beech Grove, Lincoln Avenue, Wadsworth, and Mentor UMCs and served as superintendent of the Tuscarawas District during 37 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include seeing people become alive in Christ and grow as disciples, and leading congregations in mission-driven ministry building disciples and equipping laity for ministry.
In retirement, Kurt and his wife Nancy will live in Mentor where he plans to spend more time with family and look for ways to serve in a local church and in the community.
Daniel Loomis served State Line/Monroe, Paradise Hill, Keene and Carrollton First UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and two churches outside of the Conference during 33 years of ministry. He gives thanks to God for each church, each community, and each person who God has entrusted him to lead.
He looks forward to spending retirement with his wife Barb.
Nancy Manner served Jewett, Ridgewood, East Sparta, Malvern, Lake Shore, and Aldersgate UMCs during 32 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include sacramental ministry, working with youth, officiating weddings, walking with families through the grief process, and introducing technology to the churches she served.
In retirement, Nancy will live in Richmond, Virginia with family where she plans to serve with a local funeral director in offering pastoral care to the unchurched.
David Martin served Pine Grove, Deersville, Brentwood, Newport-Beech Grove, Centenary, Willoughby, Utica, and Dalton UMCs during 26 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include serving as youth coordinator in multiple districts, being an adult representative on Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM), and leading multiple mission trips.
In retirement, David and his wife Paulette will live in Dalton where he will continue to serve Dalton UMC.
Kristin McKinley (photo unavailable) served Perrysville, Mansfield Main Street, Burbank Faith, and Burbank Trinity UMCs during 29 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include counseling and serving the under-served in the communities in which she was appointed.
In retirement, Kristin and her husband Russell will live in Arizona where she will continue her journey of being above doing, maintain their property as a wildlife sanctuary, and serving in whatever volunteer opportunities come her way.
Bruce McLaughlin served Vienna, Dover, and Mt. Zion UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and three churches in New York during 35 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include helping parishioners in each church he served to progress in their walk with Christ, and teaching Disciple, Navigator, and Alpha studies.
In retirement, Bruce and his wife Stephanie will live in Canton where they will visit more with family and explore doing service projects with the Nomads or the local camps.
Raymond “Drew” McPeek served Locust Grove, Mt. Olive, Braceville, Adena, Harrisville, Mt. Pleasant, Barton, and Pleasant Grove UMCs during 13 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include growing an existing children’s ministry, expanding church outreach, overseeing facility construction, and reminding the congregations that he served to keep reaching the lost.
Roger Morrow served Byesville Trinity, Pleasant City, Hope, Norwich, Salem, and Sonora UMCs during 18 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include opportunities to bring compassion and love to those in need, participation in Emergency Response Teams (ERT), and baptisms and weddings.
In retirement, Roger and his wife Linda will live in New Concord where they will spend time with family, travel, do short-term mission work, and maybe fill pulpits if needed.
Carolyn Nichols served Green Valley/Liberty Chapel, Lakefork, Dalton, Bucyrus Woodlawn, Lakeshore, and Champion Otterbein UMCs, and served in extension ministry at Hope Hospice in the Florida Conference. Highlights of ministry include being called by God to ordained ministry, and the joys of helping persons find and develop their call to ministry.
Jennifer Olin-Hitt served Ashley, New Franklin, Canton Church of the Savior, City Hope, Calvary Mission, and Green Valley UMCs, as well as Bellfaire JCB in Extension Ministry during 26 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include helping churches feel a part of the UMC connection, reaching out in mission, and much more, all while serving a God who redeems the world.
In retirement, Jennifer and her husband Michael will live in Akron where she will continue to serve as a Spiritual director for the Conference.
Keith Peachey served Martins Ferry, Rock Creek, Dorset, Wildare, Smithville, Cambridge Faith, and Coshocton Grace UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and four churches in Kansas and Oklahoma during 41 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include watching nine individuals enter ministry while serving as their pastor and building the family life center at Wildare.
In retirement, Keith and his wife Betty will live in Orwell where they will enjoy family, and he will hunt and garden.
Stephen Sparling served Stafford, Graysville, Sutherland, Bellaire First, Newcomerstown Christ, Youngstown Trinity, and Ravenna First UMCs during 31 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include lay empowerment, churches growing in worship attendance, outreach and community involvement, many years of facilitating licensing school, eight parishioners entering pastoral ministry, and the building project at Newcomerstown Christ UMC.
In retirement, Stephen and his wife Terri will live in Bidwell where he will spend time with family and serve as a part-time/pulpit supply pastor.
Mark Steiger served Church of the Saviour and North Olmsted UMCs during 15 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include helping youth grow in their faith through retreats, studies, and mission trips, leading many Bible studies and developing a long-range plan at North Olmsted UMC.
In retirement, Mark and his wife Virginia will live in Olmsted Falls where he will become more involved as a church musician, travel more, and lead Educational Opportunity trips.
Everett Stoddard served Living Hope, Prairie Chapel, Collins, West Hartland, and Cambridge Faith UMCs during 14 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include “working alongside and being encouraged by some of the greatest servants of the most Holy God” during lay his experiences in lay ministry, and then as a part-time and full-time local pastor.
In retirement, Everett will move to North Carolina where he will spend quality time with grandchildren and their parents and beginning work on the book God has placed on his heart.
Robert Stull served Mt. Pleasant, Maynard, Plainfield, Isleta, Moreland, and Mansfield Trinity UMCs during 41 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include being blessed to work with some of the finest people in the local churches, districts and the Conference of The United Methodist Church.
In retirement, Robert and his wife Ardyth Ann will live in Mount Vernon, the city where they grew up, where he will volunteer and the grade school he attended and offer to help at his home church.
David Tennant served Mansfield Main Street, Magnolia, Doylestown, and Medina UMCs during 42 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include helping people through preaching, teaching, and praying to see God’s best for the church, and breaking ground for the new Medina UMC after 12 years of planning.
In retirement, David and his wife Christine will live in Medina where they will spend more time with grandchildren and extended family and do some traveling.
Thomas Thomas (photo unavailable) served Mingo First, Yorkville, and Rayland UMCs during 29 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include having been able to serve Jesus and his children.
In retirement, Thomas and his wife Rosana will live in Tiltonsville where he will continue to serve the Yorkville and Rayland churches, continue traveling with a goal of visiting all 50 states.
Peg Welch (photo unavailable) served Conneaut First, Boardman, and Ontario UMCs during 23 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include seeing people awaken to Scripture, the privilege of cooperating with God’s grace daily in human lives, and the creation of a ministry of grandparents raising grandchildren.
In retirement, Peg and her husband Ashwin will live in Galion where she will have a very long list of things to accomplish while listening for God’s plan for the next chapter of her life.
Joseph Wright served Belle Valley, Jewett, Hopedale, Brewster, Wilmot and Fairhope UMCs during 30 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include being blessed to serve with so many wonderful people who touched his life and the lives of his family.
In retirement, Joseph and his wife Susan will live in Streetsboro where he plans to pursue hobbies, hunt, and spend time with family and friends.
Lu Ann Youngman served Greater Asbury Parish, Deersville, and Winfield UMCs during 30 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include being truly blessed to serve with the people of the congregations she has served and the leadership, mentoring, and friendship of the district superintendents with whom she served
In retirement, Lu Ann will prayerfully seek God’s direction as she moves forward in the next chapter of her life.