We are always excited when new members become part of our community. They each add a new dimension to life at Memorial UCC.  Here are the people who have joined in 2009. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 January 11, 2009

Steve and Heather Sokasits transferred to Fitchburg two years ago from the Naperville, Ill. area for Steve's job. They started attending Memorial UCC last summer and enjoyed the warm and welcoming reception they received here. Steve graduated from Illinois State. He has worked for Great Lakes Higher Educationas a senior programming analyst for ovr 10 years, mostly at their Oakbrook, Ill. office. He enjoys running 10Ks, bicycling, home improvement and Will Ferrell movies. He was raised Lutheran.

Heather is completing her business management degree at Concordia University. She has worked in marketing and graphic design for over 10 years for a number of companies and most recently worked for Hyland Park Senior Living as an outreach specialist. She has attended Catholic, Lutheran and Unitarian churches in the past, but has never been baptized, so she and their new daughter Lea Claire were baptized on Jan. 11 and then Heather and Steve became members.

January 18, 2009

Ellen Reuter grew up on a farm in Avoca, just off the Wisconsin River near Spring Green.  In her professional life, she worked as a home trainer with very young handicapped children, then as a social work family therapist. More recently, she is a  polymer clay artist, a liturgical artist and works as a spiritual director. She is a news junkie (she gets her fix from CNN and MSNBC); a lover of good books, especially mysteries and enjoys good cups of coffee with friends.  She and Pastor Phil have two grown children and she is also grandma to four-year old Matt and two-year old Abby.   Ellen grew up Catholic and joined Lake Edge UCC in 2000. She is transferring her membership to Memorial.

Jan Dunaway grew up on a farm in Iowa, raised her two children in Illinois and for a dozen years, split her time between Illinois and Arizona. She moved to Fitchburg about a year and a half ago and found Memorial UCC at a time when she was looking for a new church home in her new community. Her daughter and her family live in northern Illinois. Her son and his family live just down the road in Oregon. Jan has seven grandchildren, raising in age from 4 to 12. She likes traveling, golfing, biking, walking and spending time with family and friends. She comes to us from the Methodist tradition.

Lisa Schoenwetter did not grow up on a farm. She is a Madison kid, a child of this congregation who went on to ordained ministry, serving much of her career as a pastor in Massachusetts.  She also works with liturgical art.  The last year and a half have been a time of personal and professional transition for Lisa, so she has settled back in Madison and plans to be here for some time to come. While she has been a member of Memorial since her confirmation, she is reaffirming her membership today as she settles in for the next phase of her life.

March 8, 2009

Jennifer Taylor works in the UW-Madison Graduate School’s Office of Professional Development and Engagement along with Joyce Crim. She grew up in Florida and has been a part of a number of different Christian churches as she has moved around the country. She likes keeping up with family and friends, traveling, reading and music.  She has been worshipping with us for the last several months and has quickly gotten to know a number of people here.

Mary Upshaw is no stranger to the people of this congregation. She led one of our book discussion groups last fall, she has helped provided wonderful desserts for our Evening of Music, she has provided some of the music as well.  Mary grew up in California, the daughter of a Presbyterian pastor.  She came to Wisconsin several years ago to take a job at Promega and bought a house that just happens to back up to our property. She has a daughter who is grown. Mary likes to travel, to read, she has a deep interest in things that will sustain our environment.

Ethel Orrill grew up in the Baptist and Presbyterian traditions. She began coming to Memorial several years ago after she and her husband moved to Fitchburg. As his health declined, they moved to New Glarus, where he lived in the New Glarus Home. After his death, she moved back to Fitchburg and has come back to Memorial. She has five children. Her major interests beyond her family and friends are reading and good music. She has become a regular at our Wednesday morning Scripture and Scones sessions.

Dianna and Jay Johnson are residents of Fitchburg who have been married for about a year and a half. They are expecting their first child – a boy – at the end of April. Dianna was baptized and confirmed at the Browntown Peace United Church of Christ, which is a little bit southwest of Monroe. Her aunt was Pastor Bonnie’s roommate in college at UW-Platteville. She works in customer service for Rayovac and her hobbies include music and stamping. Jay is from Oregon and grew up in St. John’s Lutheran Church there – our partner congregation for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. He is an engineer and machinist who likes camping, bike riding and home projects. He got the prize for coming the greatest distance to our Inquirer’s Class on Feb. 7 – he had just come back from two-and-a-half months in Antarctica, where is he a regular visitor as part of a UW project. They look to Memorial to provide a community for their family and a place for their son to grow spiritually.

May 10, 2009

Mona Dudley bought her first place here in Fitchburg two years ago along with her first weed-eater ever... and was very happy to find Memorial right around the corner.  She has been coming here when she can over the last two years and says she appreciate the warm welcome she and her daughter Angela have received here. Mona graduated from Oregon High School. She says it was "just last year". She earned her BS from UW-Madison. Now she works in sales at Bruker AXS right here in Fitchburg. They make analytical x-ray systems for commercial use. Her daughter, Angela Nelson, is 12 and in sixth grace. She loves music and doing art. She was baptized on the same day her mom became a member.

July 12, 2009

Pam and Tony Wood are residents of the Swan Creek area down Lacy Road to the east.  Their son, Camden, was born last Nov. 25.  Pam is a real estate agent for Stark Homes. She grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and more recently was part of the Methodist church. She likes running, yoga, gardening and reading.  Tony had no formal faith background, although he does have a deep belief in the Green Bay Packers. He also has a lively interest in history.  He works as a program manager for a firm that deals with drug insurance.

Jenni and Paul Gordon moved to Oregon recently and began their search for a new church home. They had been part of Advent Lutheran Church, which is paired with Community of Hope UCC on the far west side of  Madison. Jenni grew up Lutheran. She works as an associate web producer for a firm based in Belleville.  Paul, who grew up in the UCC, does customer technical support for Johnson Health Tech North America, a firm that sells exercise equipment. They both like the Milwaukee Brewers and hunting.

Doug Scheller and Mary Kay Scheller-Suitor also live in Oregon.  Doug moved to Madison as a young boy and was part of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church as a youth. He is a detective with the University of Wisconsin Police, specializing in computer forensics. Mary Kay grew up Catholic. She is the education coordinator for MetaStar, a quality improvement organization that works with health care providers. They have been married for 17 years and are the parents of Kirsten and Cam. You might find Doug at a Mallards game or riding a bike during the summer. Mary Kay was part of the adult group on the trip to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi last month and has a particular weakness for Chick-fil-A restaurants. 

Dolores Van Kirk has been worshiping with us for the past few years and has decided now is a good time to become a member. She works as a sales person for Hancock Fabrics at the Westgate Mall. She likes sewing, knitting, cake decorating, and fishing. She has four grown daughters. And when Dolores was a teen herself, she had a memorable pastor by the name of Sam Robbins – Shirley’s husband – who many of you remember from his retirement years as a member here.

October 18, 2009

Steve and Nancy Arnold are deeply involved in the life of Fitchburg and we are glad to welcome them into the life of this community at Memorial UCC. Steve works in information technology for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. You may know him better in his role as a member of the Fitchburg Common Council since 2005. Nancy is a nurse at HospiceCare. You may have had a chance to see some of the wonderful things they have done to their yard over on Targhee Street during Fitchburg’s Better Lawns and Gutters tour a few months ago. Steve and Nancy share a passion for politics, biking, kayaking and gardening, and Nancy adds knitting to her list of interests. They have been involved with the Interfaith Hospitality Network and many other community activities. They have two grown daughters – Kimberly and Amy – who both live in Wisconsin. They have a long history of active involvement in the church communities they have been part of in the past and we look forward to them now being part of our community.