Rev.s Karen and Greg Zurakowski
Rev. Karen was born and raised in Marysville, MI, a little town on the St. Clair River five miles below the entrance to Lake Huron. She attended Central Michigan University, earning degrees in art education and remedial reading; and later, language arts. Rev. Karen taught in the Dryden Community School District for 18 years, and in the Southgate Community Schools for eight years. Rev. Karen earned the Master of Divinity degree at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. Prior to accepting the call to WPC as co-pastor, Rev. Karen served at the Raisin Presbyterian Church of Holloway in Britton, MI, as a solo pastor for 4-1/2 years.
Dr.
Greg was born and raised in the Downriver Detroit area, on the island of
Grosse Isle at the Lake Erie end of the Detroit River. He earned
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the
University of Michigan, and played in the Michigan Marching Band as an
undergraduate. He worked in the automotive industry as an engineer and
engineering manager for 29 years, taking an early retirement from Ford
Motor Company, and concurrently served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
for 27 years, retiring with the rank of Commander. Dr. Greg also holds a
Master’s degree in Engineering Management (a combination of an MBA and a
Master’s degree in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering). Dr.
Greg earned the Master of Divinity degree at the Ecumenical Theological
Seminary in Detroit, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from the
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Before accepting the call as co-pastor
to WPC, Dr. Greg served the Belleville Presbyterian Church in
Belleville, MI for 5-1/2 years as a solo pastor, and as a volunteer
Chaplain with the Van Buren Township Public Safety Department.
Rev. Karen and Dr. Greg met on their first
day of classes at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, on
October 1st,
1999 at 6:00 p.m., and quickly came to realize that God had not only
gotten them started on the path to fulfilling the call he had placed on
their hearts many years before, he brought soul mates together. They
were married on June 16, 2001 and began to develop their dream of
serving together as a clergy couple. When they’re not busy with the work
of the church, Rev. Karen and Dr. Greg enjoy boating, camping, biking,
and exploring Northern Michigan (and taking an occasional Caribbean
cruise).
The rest of the Zurakowski household is made up of their 14-year-old daughter, Justice, Rev. Karen’s mother, Beth Fiedler, and Toby the Church Dog; a precocious, spoiled, and utterly adorable Cocker Spaniel.