Westminster Presbyterian Church

125 W Ontario St, Rogers City Michigan 49779
(989) 734-3929

   

 

   

 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.