St. John's Sauers Lutheran Church

Rev. Craig Muhlbach has served at St. John’s Sauers since August 1999. He is a 1987 graduate of Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. Pastor completed his Master of Divinity at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1992.

He has served both in the United States Coast Guard and recently as a minister in the Indiana National Guard where he was deployed to Iraq.

Pastor Muhlbach was previously called to churches in Nebraska and Wyoming before serving at St. John’s Sauers. He and his wife, Erika, have three sons (Brandon, Justin, and Spencer) and two grandchildren.

Kasee Lambring is our principal and administrator. She is also a part-time mathematics teacher at St. John's Sauers. She received her bachelors degree from Indiana University Bloomington and then completed her masters degree through Ball State University. Kasee previously taught high school and middle school mathematics in Brownstown.

Her husband, Dr. Chris Lambring, owns Conner Smith Eye Center in Seymour where he is an optometrist. Kasee and Chris have three sons (Noah, Elliot, and Miles) and members of St. Johns Lutheran Church Sauers.

Julie Rueger is our Preschool Teacher/Director and 3rd Grade Math/Reading Teacher.  She and her husband Andy have 4 children (Grace, Bryce, Brock, Emma) who keep them very busy with sports. 

Julie taught preschool at Kids Karousel in Seymour for 2 Summers while obtaining her BA in Elementary Education from Indiana University Bloomington.  Since then, she taught Kindergarten for 21 years in Kentucky, North Carolina and Seymour and is so happy to continue her teaching career at St John's where she can share her faith with the students.  She has coached gymnastics and cheerleading and is an assistant coach for the Raiders Cheer Squad. 

She is a member of St. John's Sauers Lutheran Church and her confirmation verse is John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Clara Nebel is the kindergarten teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School. This is her first year of teaching. She graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska in 2021 with her B.S. in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. She also received her Lutheran Teaching Diploma.

She was born and raised in southern Illinois with her parents and four older siblings. She has one cat named Samson. One of her favorite Bible verses is Psalm 46:10, “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”

Susan Hessong was raised within a short distance of St. John's and is a Sauers' graduate. She is now teaches 1st and 2nd grade here at St. John's.  

She graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan with a B.A. in education.  She has also taken graduate courses through Niagara University, IUPUI, and at Indiana Wesleyan.  In her years of educational ministry, she has experience teaching at all grade levels from K-8.  Susan has taught in Lutheran schools in Cleveland, OH, North Tonawanda, NY, Lafayette, IN, and most recently here at St. John's.  

Susan and her husband, Brian, have three children.

Lisa Kloeker is the third and fourth grade teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School. She previously taught at North Vernon Elementary. Mrs. Kloeker graduated from Ball State University in 1995 with a B.A. in elementary education. She went onto to receive her master’s degree from Olivet University.

She was born and raised in Seymour, attending Immanuel Lutheran Church. Her husband, Douglas Kloeker, is from Seymour and is the owner of Kloeker Inspections. They have two cats named Olivia and Simba.

Brooke Garcia is the 5th and 6th Grade homeroom teacher. She was born and raised in Seymour attending Immanuel and Trinity. Brooke then graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in Elementary Education with a Lutheran Teaching Diploma. Since graduating, she has taught grades 3rd through 5th in San Francisco, Houston, and Austin. She and her husband Randy have one son (Zarick) and dog (Charlie). They love spending time together exploring outside and trying new restaurants.

Shelby Stuckwisch is the seventh and eighth grade homeroom teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School. Miss Stuckwisch also teaches 5th-8th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies. After attending Sauers and Brownstown Central High School, Miss Stuckwisch graduated from Indiana University- Bloomington in the Fall of 2021 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a concentration in Mathematics.

Miss Stuckwisch is a life-long member of St. John's Lutheran Church. Shelby has the distinction of being the first child that Pastor Muhlbach baptized during his tenure here at Sauers; and Brenda Klosterman and Susan Hessong were two of her elementary school teachers. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, exercising, and going on vacation.

One of her favorite bible verses is Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Ross Rieckers is the Music Director/Organist at St. John Sauers, serving since 2005. He teaches music at St. John's He attended Concordia University Ann Arbor and Indiana University graduating with a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music. In addition to teaching, Mr. Rieckers is also a farmer, drives a school bus, and does farm mechanic work.

Ross has been playing the organ in churches since he was 14 years old, serving at Good Shepherd, Medora IN; Immanuel Lutheran, Howell MI; and Divine Shepherd, Ann Arbor MI; and St. John Sauers. He frequently plays the organ at other Lutheran churches in our community, as well.

His confirmation verse is John 10: 27-28 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Hayle is an aide for preschool through second grade.  Hayle was born and raised in Seymour.  In her free time, Hayle loves to bake, spend time with friends and family, and travel.  Hayle says it is such a joy to help a child with a skill and watch them not only grasp the skill but also succeed at it.  Hayle loves working at Sauers and spending time with so many sweet kids!  

Holly Sawyer is the Administrative Assistant for St. John's Lutheran School and Church.  She has served at St. John's since 2001. She and her husband, Mark, have two children, Cassidy and Chase.