Pastor Dan was born in Muskegon, Michigan, where he lived until his father left for the
seminary when he was five years old. Most of his childhood years were spent in
Central Illinois. He graduated from Lapeer West High School and received his
Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Concordia University, Ann Arbor in
1983. He received his Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling from Eastern
Michigan University in 1995. Pastor Dan spent seven years teaching in Lutheran grade
schools before spending twenty-one years in the Lutheran High School Association in
various teaching/administrative/coaching roles at Lutheran West, Lutheran South,
Lutheran Westland and Lutheran Northwest.
Pastor Dan has been happily married to his college sweetheart, Linda, since 1983 and
they have been blessed with three children, Kelsey, Kyle, and Katey. Andrea joined the
family as she married Kyle in 2012. Derek Rafferty, along with his children, Emma,
Nick, and Mya, joined our family when he and Kelsey were married in 2019 Josef Stark
joined our family when he and Katey were married in 2020. Pastor Dan and Linda are
blessed with 6 grandchildren (Adelaide, William, Emmeline, Emma, Nick, Mya). He
loves to spend time with his family and enjoys the blessings of faith and family each and
every day. He enjoys following the Detroit sports teams, golfing, and reading in his
spare time. Pastor Dan was ordained in November of 2011. He filled in at Christ
Lutheran Church for many years while he was doing his seminary studies. He served
as pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Detroit from 2006 until 2016. On March 1,
2016 Pastor Dan joined the Guardian team as full time pastor. He enjoys the ministry
opportunities at Guardian where God has blessed the Guardian family in so many ways
for so many years!!
Favorite bible verse: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)