It was a long journey. For St. John’s Lutheran church, rural Goodhue, the road to a new minister meant extending the job offer 13 times over 16 months. For Robbin Robbert (Roe-bert), accepting that call meant traveling 3200 miles through three Provinces and four States over five and a half days. It meant relocating from Wasilla, Alaska to head St. John’s congregation and their Christian day school. It was hard to leave friends but the move to Goodhue meant he and his wife of 27 years, Jessica, would be closer to their family.
Pastor Robbert grew up in the LaCrosse, WI area where his parents were Lutheran grade school teachers. He had his mother for his kindergarten teacher and his father as his eighth grade teacher. He went to Luther High School in Onalaska, WI for two years before transferring to Martin Luther Preparatory School in Prairie du Chien, WI, graduating in 1987. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern College, Watertown, WI and then earned his Master Degree in Divinity from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI.
Jessica is a country girl, having grown up in a rural area near the village of Somers, WI, 40 minutes South of Milwaukee. Her first job was on a produce farm and later worked in the food stands at Six Flags amusement park. Most recently, she was a licensed public school counselor in Alaska, having studied psychology and theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College and earning her Master’s degree from Concordia, Mequon, WI.
Robbert became the associate pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Weyauwega, WI and served in their K-8 Campus School program. During the 15 years in this farming community, Pastor's other service opportunities included the Weyauwega Historical Society and the Weyauwega Trails Committee.
Looking at it as an adventure, Pastor Robbert accepted the Divine Call to serve King of Kings Lutheran Church in Wasilla, a city in South central Alaska with a population near 11,000. Robb and Jessi found it difficult to leave their two oldest children, already attending Lutheran high school in Wisconsin, but headed North and enrolled the three youngest in Christian day school an hour away from their new home. Jessi became a teacher’s aide and says, “Our commitment is Christian Education”.
60 % of people in Alaska don’t stay longer than five years but the Robbert’s had served King of Kings Lutheran Church in Wasilla for over nine years. Robb was involved in the community as president of the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society and as the Bocce Ball head coach for the Mat Su Special Olympics. He explained how they learned “chicken math” on their small acreage. It starts with taking in one chicken that doesn’t get along with the rest of the flock. Next, you add two chicks to keep the first one company. Soon, you see a dozen hatchlings walking across the yard and before you know it, you have a total of 55 birds.
Traveling in a U-Haul towing their van on a trailer, Robbin, Jessi, their four dogs and a cat set out on their journey from Alaska to Minnesota in early October. Singing silly songs to entertain themselves, they made stops at Destruction Bay in the Yukon Territory in Canada; Muncho Lake, British Columbia; Grand Prairie, Alberta; Shelby Montana; and Bismarck, North Dakota.
Pulling up to the rented house they will be living in North of Zumbrota, it felt like home. The landscape is similar to where they grew up, Robb’s father having worked on farms during the Summer months while school was out. They will enjoy these last, nice Fall days, knowing Minnesota Winters can be even more brutal than in Alaska--although not quite as long.
One thing they most look forward to is seeing more of their five children, all living in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Deirdre is 26 and lives in Wisconsin Rapids with her husband, Tyler and their 3 children which includes 2-year-old twins. Joel is 25 and married to Jacki. They have a 4-month old daughter and live in Lake Mills, WI. Christopher is 23 and attends Martin Luther College in New Ulm and is a member of the MN National Guard. Chloe, 21, is student teaching at St. Croix Lutheran High School to earn her degree from Martin Luther College and Emma, 16 attends Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI. Jessi enjoys the chaos of having kids and grandkids around but also likes to relax with a good book and taught herself how to crochet during the pandemic. Robb likes hiking and is looking forward to exploring the local trails.
A new journey begins as Pastor Robbert officially started his ministry duties after an installation service on October 31st. Jessi will be substitute teaching at the school and play piano (and trombone) as needed.
Photo caption:
Pastor Robbert was welcomed with a dinner and installation service at St. John’s on Sunday, October 31st. Nine pastors from the Red Wing Conference of the Minnesota District of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod offered their blessings on his ministry. L-R: Daniel Reich, Lake City; Martin Weigand, Goodhue; Roger Riedel, Oronoco; Nathan Cordes, Lake City; Alan Horn, Frontenac; new pastor Robbin Robbert; Wayne Schoch, Zumbrota; Edward Frey, counselor for Christian Family Solutions; Peter Sternberg, Red Wing; Todd Engel, Red Wing.
Pastor Robbin Robbert and his wife, Jessica were joined by three of their five children at the installation service at St. John’s Lutheran Church rural Goodhue. L-R is Chloe, Robbin, Jessica, Emma and Joel.
