Rev. Dr. Kevin J. Kohnke from Wellsville was installed as the pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jonesburg on Jan. 19.

Pastor Kohnke was born in Westfield, Wis. and graduated from Concordia University in Mequon, Wis., in 1987. He then graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1991 with a Masters of Divinity degree. Accepting a call to Grace Lutheran Church in Wellsville, Pastor Kohnke was ordained and installed as pastor on August 4, 1991.

On September 23, 1995, Pastor Kohnke married Candace Holdt at Campus Lutheran Church in Columbia. Pastor Kohnke and Candace then moved to Wisconsin where he was installed on January 24, 1999 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Almond and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Wild Rose. He then worked as the associate pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Reedsburg, Wis., before becoming the Senior Pastor on October 8, 2000. During this time, he obtained a Master of Science degree in human development and family studies. Six years later, he accepted the call to serve as the pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, Wis.

Pastor Kohnke next served as a professor at Concordia University Nebraska from August 2007 through June 2015 while simultaneously completing a Ph.D. in Human Science with a Specialization in Gerontology. After eight years, Pastor Kohnke left his position at Concordia University Nebraska to become the director at We Must Carry On, Inc., a non-profit that helps congregations begin grief support groups. During this time, the pastor position at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nebraska, became vacant. He was asked to fill the position and was installed on September 11, 2017. He served as the pastor for five years before retiring from full-time pastoral ministry in 2022.

Pastor Kohnke and Candace then moved back to Missouri where he began working as a full-time mental health counselor with LifeStance. He also spent a brief period counseling at the women’s prison in Vandalia.

In January of 2024, Pastor Kohnke began serving as the vacancy pastor at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jonesburg. The congregation soon extended a call to him to be installed as the full-time pastor.

At the installation of Pastor Kohnke at St. Paul’s, Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan, Missouri District President, Rev. Bill Geis, Director of Mission Services, Rev. Morris Meseke and Rev. Denis Witenberger attended to help facilitate the occasion. After the service, members and guests enjoyed a carry-in lunch followed by a special bingo game prepared by Pastor Kohnke and Candace.

“We are blessed to have Pastor Kohnke as our new pastor,” said John Slovensky, an elder at the church. “His experience, enthusiasm and fun-loving attitude has brought such a joyous atmosphere to our church community.”

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jonesburg welcomes all to join them for their church services, Bible class and Children’s Sunday School every Sunday starting at 9 a.m.