The team at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo is led by Pastor Laura Kamprath, who has served the congregation since 2016.
Pastor Laura was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church, and received her call to ordained ministry while she was a student at Augustana College. She has shared her pastoral journey with her husband Pastor Matt Kamprath, whom she met when they were both students at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. They graduated seminary in May 2010 and were ordained in January 2011. They served as Co-Pastors of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL until 2012. At that time Pastor Laura accepted a call to serve the congregations of the Wartburg Parish. Pastor Matt remained at St. Luke Church until November 2016, when they were both called as Co-Pastors for First Lutheran Church, Geneseo. In 2021, Pastor Matt began ministry at Cambridge Lutheran Church, in addition to his ministry at First Lutheran, and Pastor Laura began full-time ministry as the Lead Pastor at First Lutheran. In 2025, Pastor Matt concluded his call at First Lutheran and began serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Moline.
The Kampraths live in Geneseo with their children, Anna and Noah, and their dog, Silas. When she’s not working or ringing handbells, Pastor Laura enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Madelyn Knutson will be our vicar (pastoral intern) from August 2025 to July 2026. She grew up in the Baptist church and felt a call to pastoral ministry in high school. She attended Wartburg College and discovered the ELCA through the interventions of a beloved professor.
At Wartburg, she also fell in love with her husband, Nathaniel, who is also a pastor-in-training! Madelyn is currently a student at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, where she has completed two academic years.
She is with us for her internship year to develop her pastoral skills and learn about life in a congregation before returning for her fourth and final academic year.
Madelyn and Nathaniel live in Knoxville with many plant babies. They love biking, reading, playing board games, and making/eating cookies.
Inger Oswald is our new Director of Worship & Music. Until now, she has been a life-long Michigander (with allegiance neither to Michigan State nor the U of M) and has relatives on both sides of her family who live or have lived in Opheim, Alpha, Moline, Peoria, Galva, Rockford and yes, Geneseo!
She is a lifelong Lutheran in the ELCA. She received her undergrad degree in Vocal Music Education from Western Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Church Music from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
She has been serving in church music ministry for over 30 years and loves to serve as a supporter and catalyst for spiritual growth through music.
Please pray for Inger (whose name rhymes with “Singer,” but not “Finger”) as she begins her ministry with us.
Members serving on our Church Council are listed and pictured below. Please feel free to contact any council member with questions about First Lutheran or its many ministries. The Council meets the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.
President: Jeff Boyer
Vice President: Sam Marshall
Secretary: Julie Kunkel
Treasurer: Matt Simosky
Cabinet: Jeff Boyer, Sam Marshall, Julie Kunkel, Matt Simosky, Cindy Groene, and Pastor Laura Kamprath.
Members: Chris Ahlstrand, Chase Anselmi, Jeff Boyer, Cindy Groene, Jamian Haser, Kathy Heller, Julie Kunkel, Lorrie Lord, Eli Palmer, Sam Marshall, Linda Sheley, Matt Simosky, and Pastor Laura.
Below are the members who lead and serve the ministries of First Lutheran Church. Ministry meetings are held the second Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome to be involved in a ministry. Please contact a ministry lead or Pastors if you are interested or would like more information.
BUILDING & PROPERTY: Jeff Boyer, Chase Anselmi
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION/YOUTH: Eli Palmer
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE: Chris Ahlstrand, Cindy Groene
EVANGELISM/OUTREACH: None
FINANCE: Matt Simosky
SOCIAL MINISTRY: Kathy Heller, Linda Sheley
SPIRITUALITY/WELLNESS: None
STEWARDSHIP: Sam Marshall, Jamian Haser
WORSHIP & MUSIC: Julie Kunkel, Lorrie Lord
CHURCH COUNCIL PHOTO
Pictured back row left to right: Matt Simosky, Chase Anselmi, Jeff Boyer, Sam Marshall
Pictured front row left to right: Linda Sheley, Cindy Groene, Jamian Haser, Chris Ahlstrand, Eli Palmer, Pastor Laura Kamprath, Julie Kunkel, Lorrie Lord
Not pictured: Kathy Heller