Board of Directors
James Thelen
Pastor Jim Thelen is honored to serve as the pastor of Marco Lutheran Church, where he is committed to sharing the Gospel and shepherding God’s people. With over 35 years of ministry experience, he takes great joy in proclaiming the love of Jesus and guiding others in their faith journey.
Pastor Jim has been blessed with a wonderful family. He and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 42 years and have seven children and 11 grandchildren. Their family has been a source of joy and a testament to God’s faithfulness.
As Marco Lutheran celebrates 50 years of sharing the Gospel, Pastor Jim is excited about what God has in store for the future. He looks forward to continuing the church’s mission of worship, service, and outreach—helping people grow in their relationship with Christ and one another. With a heart for ministry and a deep love for the Lord, he is eager to see how God will work through Marco Lutheran in the years to come as we participate, share and serve our Lord together!
Paul Gremel
Paul received a BS in Hospitality Management from Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapids Michigan in 1993. He later added several accounting courses at Florida Gulf Coast University upon re-locating to SW Florida. Paul has worked for Marriott International and now Marriott Vacations Worldwide since graduation in many finance capacities in 8 locations in Georgia and Florida. Previous Marriott locations include Miami (twice), Ft Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, and Atlanta. Currently, he oversees operational finance for Marco Island and Caribbean locations for Marriott Vacations.
Paul lives full time on Marco Island with his wife and son since returning to the area with Marriott in 2009. They enjoy boating, fishing, volunteering at Marco Lutheran and spending time with close friends. Paul previously served as financial secretary for Marco Lutheran. Paul's son is a proud member of the Lely High School marching band, and Paul and his wife volunteer during football games, other concerts, and participate on the board of the Lely Band Boosters.
Karen Kuhnly
Karen retired from her Vice President role after a 30-year career in banking. Karen and her husband Mark of over 40 years, spend winters in Fiddlers Creek and summers in Maple Grove, MN. In her retirement Karen operates a Mary Kay business and enjoys time with their six grandchildren.
She also volunteers for a second-grade class in the inner city at Trinity First Lutheran School when back in MN and at St Matthew's House when in FL. Missions is an important piece to her faith and she is looking forward to serving in her new role on the Foundation.
Lu Ann Schieferdecker
Lu Ann was raised in the small farm town of Cambridge, Illinois. She earned a BA in English and Education from Augustana College in 1983. Worked in the medical equipment industry as a District Manager. Became a stay-at-home mom for several years while working from home writing technical material. Returned to education, earning a Masters of Education from North Central College, Naperville, IL where she worked in the local schools.
She relocated with her family to Marco Island permanently in 2017. She is a substitute teacher for Collier County Public Schools, takes classes at the YMCA, is a member of the Marco Island Art League and Clay Guild, Vice Regent of the Marco Island Chapter of the DAR, and member of the Marco Island Lutheran Church. She became a Grandmother in 2020.
Lili Surber
Lili was born in Lima, Peru and immigrated to California with her family in 1960. She was raised in the small southern California community of San Gabriel. She earned a BA in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and spent 35 years in Law Enforcement, retiring as Police Chief of the City of Baldwin Park in 2013. She then started a second career in civilian oversight working for the County of Los Angeles in the Office of Inspector General in 2015.
In 2017, she and her husband, Dale bought a vacation home in Goodland. They closed on their new home two weeks before Hurricane Irma; what an introduction to Florida living!
After finally retiring in 2020, She and Dale moved full time to Goodland and started attending Marco Lutheran Church. Lili serves on the Calusa Island Homeowner’s Association; she and Dale are actively involved in the Goodland Civic Association and she is current Chair of the Outreach Board
Kathleen Berner
Kathy received her Associate in Science in 1978 from the University Wisconsin Center – Marathon County. With encouragement of her friends and family she received a BS in Science from National-Louis University College of Management and Business in 1997. Kathy had worked in accounting and statistics, but truly loved being an executive assistant at various organizations during her career. In February of 2022 she retired from IDEX Corporation where she spent almost 20 years.
Kathy and her husband Scott relocated to Naples in September of 2021 and live year round in Naples. They had been coming to SW Florida to visit family and friends for the last 20 years and love the warm weather. Coming from the Chicago area, Kathy likes to remind her northern friends it can be warm and humid in the summer, but at least you don’t have to shovel humidity. Previously they attended Living Christ Lutheran Church in Buffalo Grove, IL for 37 years and served in various positions. Kathy is currently serving as the president of Women of Marco which is a women’s group at Marco Lutheran.
Scott Loula
Scott has lived most of child and adult years in MN and WI. Scott and his wife, Jan, spend winters at their home in Artesia, Naples and summers at their lake home in Balsam Lake, WI.
Scott earned a BA in Business Management from University of St. Thomas St at St. Paul, MN. Scott retired from Siemens Energy in 2016 after 38 years in the power, paper, oil, gas industries managing all clients activities in a multi-state territory.
Scott served as an HOA President in Woodbury, MN. He currently serves as an active member of Architectural Review Committee for Artesia HOA, Naples. After joining Marco Lutheran in 2019, Scott serves on MLC administrative and Finance Committee and is current Chairman of MLC Foundation Investment Committee.
Annette Bertelson
Annette grew up in rural Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Upon graduating in 1978 with her BS in Nursing. She met her husband, Jeff. They married in 1979. Traveling with his firm/firms to various states for business, their final location before retiring in 2018 was Okaukee, WI.
Annette’s career focused on Critical Care, Administrative leadership for Trauma, Healthcare Quality, and teaching. She has served on state and national Trauma Boards. One of the greatest highlights of her career was lobbying in Washington, DC to increase awareness and funding for the healthcare system of care for the injured.
She served as Chair of the Board of Human Care at Marco Lutheran Church 2022-2025.