Galilee Lutheran Church - ELCA
N24W26430 Crestview Drive, Pewaukee, WI 53072 | 262.691.2380
Pastor Amanda Applehans
Patricia DeBlaey | Director of Music & Accompanist
Patricia DeBlaey | Director of Music & Accompanist
email: pastoramanda@galileeLC.org
I am excited that you have called me as your new pastor!
I was born and raised in Goose Lake, Iowa, a small town near the Mississippi River. My dad and three brothers still live in that area. I am married to Grant Applehans, and we celebrated our 10th anniversary last October. We have a son, Sam, who
email: pastoramanda@galileeLC.org
I am excited that you have called me as your new pastor!
I was born and raised in Goose Lake, Iowa, a small town near the Mississippi River. My dad and three brothers still live in that area. I am married to Grant Applehans, and we celebrated our 10th anniversary last October. We have a son, Sam, who is 6 years old and in kindergarten.
I went to college to be an English teacher, and after graduation started to feel a call to ordained ministry. I spent two years as a youth director at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa, after which I headed to seminary. I graduated and was ordained in 2009.
During my time in ministry, I have served in many different places. I have served calls to multi-point ministries and single site ministries. I served with the Global Mission Unit of the ELCA, though our call to be Young Adults in Global Mission Country Coordinators in Madagascar was cut short by the pandemic. My most recent call was to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp (FLBC), a Lutheran Outdoor Ministry in western Montana.
I have two great joys in my work life – creativity and teaching. Whether I am teaching a class, preaching at a worship service, or part of a meeting, my end goal is that we will all see things in a new way, and that we will always be learning and growing in our faith. I hope that you will see my creativity and heart for teaching shine through, and that you will hear in a new way the old, old story of Jesus and the love of God that is for each and every one of God’s beloved children.
Patricia DeBlaey | Director of Music & Accompanist
Patricia DeBlaey | Director of Music & Accompanist
Patricia DeBlaey | Director of Music & Accompanist
email: patricia@galileeLC.org
I have never NOT known a time when music was a part of my person. My grandfather
called me “squeaky” I think, for that reason.
Born in Pocahontas, Arkansas life was simple and yet hard. Those hardships did not keep my
Grandmother OR I from church. I believe that is what kept us through the hardships. I was the
fir
email: patricia@galileeLC.org
I have never NOT known a time when music was a part of my person. My grandfather
called me “squeaky” I think, for that reason.
Born in Pocahontas, Arkansas life was simple and yet hard. Those hardships did not keep my
Grandmother OR I from church. I believe that is what kept us through the hardships. I was the
first in my family to go to college and had the honor to sing the National Anthem at the original Busch stadium at a young age of 17. It was a moment I will never forget.
At around 19 I found myself in Milwaukee, married and was blessed with 3 daughters. They are all grown up now and have families and careers of their own.
I married my life partner Ron DeBlaey in 2015. What a gift he is to my family and to me. We
look forward to making more music and traveling together.
I have been a part of the ELCA since 1992 and was immediately welcomed to music at Mount
Carmel Lutheran Church where I am a choir member, accompanist and continue to hold them as an associate member.
While my career was primarily corporate in nature, I found myself at times teaching general
music at a private Lutheran school, accompanying vocal choirs in the Wauwatosa school district, and providing service accompaniments throughout the synod for the past 32 years.
Galilee was one of those congregations that I served as a “substitute” accompanist. Who knew
that I would be called to be a part of the ministry with you as your Music Director and primary
accompanist for worship.
God, the master weaver of all our fabrics has brought us together and I will never be the same. Hallelujah!
Karen Streit | Financial Administrative Assistant
Karen Streit | Financial Administrative Assistant
Karen Streit | Financial Administrative Assistant
email: finance@galileeLC.org
Karen has served Galilee as our financial administrator for more than two decades.
Claire Johnson | Office Coordinator
Karen Streit | Financial Administrative Assistant
Karen Streit | Financial Administrative Assistant
email: galileealileeLC.org
Claire is an active member at Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church in Hartland, WI. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees and is also the Chair for the service planning team. Her background includes office, veterinary clinics, food demonstration, and retail floor management. She recently purchased her
email: galileealileeLC.org
Claire is an active member at Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church in Hartland, WI. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees and is also the Chair for the service planning team. Her background includes office, veterinary clinics, food demonstration, and retail floor management. She recently purchased her first home in Hartland and is looking forward to sprucing it up when time and good weather allows. Her hobbies include lots of baking, traveling by train (Amtrak), cuddling with her two cats, and camping in the summer months with her significant other, Ric.