History
IN THE LATE 1950s, the need for a church in the growing community of Brook Park Village, Ohio, was expressed by many people in answer to a telephone survey. To offer this new community Christian life and fellowship, an application was sent to the Regional Home Missions Committee of the National Lutheran Council to start a mission church. On August 31, 1957, 5.67 acres of land, on Smith Road at Sylvia Drive, was purchased by The American Lutheran Church (ALC), Ohio District Mission Board, for $21,000 for the future site of a Lutheran Church. A sign was erected on the vacant field. For over a year, people traveling Smith Road wondered if a church would ever become a reality. Meanwhile, the evangelism committees of neighboring ALC congregations, St. Paul – Berea, Puritas – Cleveland, and Divinity – Parma Heights, were busy making calls to people in Brook Park Village. (The American Lutheran Church was a predecessor denomination of RLC’s current denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.)
RLC Anniversary Event
50th Anniversary of RLC Land Purchase
08/31/2007
40th Anniversary of RLC Dedication of Worship Center
05/26/2008
50th Anniversary of RLC First Meeting
08/23/2008
50th Anniversary of RLC Charter Meeting
11/30/2008
50th Anniversary of RLC Dedication of First Building
09/06/2009
Staff
“Vicar” Mark Knauss
Welcome to Redeemer Lutheran Church! I am your intern, Mark Knauss. I have been a student at Luther Seminary through their distributed learning program since the Fall of 2015, where I have completed all of the classes toward a Masters of Divinity. My two-year internship started in February 2021.
I am not a traditional seminary student. I am in my mid 50’s and am a health-care worker in Cleveland. I have been married to Sharon (also working in health-care) for nearly 30 years, and we have three wonderful daughters who are in their 20’s.
Please come and worship with us on Sunday mornings. I look forward to meeting you and extend a warm welcome to all visitors. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Peace to you!
In Christ,
Vicar Mark Knauss.
Office Phone # 216-676-5173
Kathy Walker, Church Secretary
Kathy has been the church secretary since 1999. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for over 40 years. They are proud of their son and daughter-in-law and two grandsons.
Although not a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, she is very active in their community.
Ron Palka-Roman, Organist and Chior Director
Ron is an active and versatile musician and teacher. A native of Ohio, Ron studied in Cleveland with British pianist, Clive Lythgoe, and in New York City with Phillip Kawin of the Manhattan School of Music. In addition to his MM in performance from Manhattan School, Ron is also a degreed librarian from Kent State University.
Ron’s performances have taken him as far afield as Brazil, where he was invited to teach and perform for the Music Foundation of Capão da Canoa. He is a faculty member at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and at the Oberlin Community Music School.
With pianist Coren Estrin Mino, he performs regularly in the Cleveland and Akron area as a member of the Double Digit Piano Duo. The Duo’s performance at the Bop Stop was featured on WCLV in their program “Cleveland Ovations.” As the official accompanist for the Coast liners, he had the great pleasure of opening for Joan Rivers at the Palace Theater in October 2013 and at the State Theater for the Big Cleveland Sing in 2014. Accompanying also provided him the opportunity of performing at Carnegie Hall in 2013, but his best gig is marrying Samuel Roman, his partner of over 20 years!
Council Members
President Scott Kreidler
My family joined Redeemer Lutheran Church after we moved to Brook Park in November of 1959. I was there until I graduated high school and then I took a hiatus. I came back in 2001 and have been here since.
I enjoy doing massage and reiki therapy. I love getting out in nature and walking and hiking. Traveling is important, whether it be just around northeast Ohio or the rest of the United States or overseas. I love spending time with my family and friends. Family is number one.
I’ve been council president since 2014 and before that I was vice president for 8 years. I enjoy working with the other Church council members and our congregation and staff. Each person brings their unique gifts from God to the table.
Vice President Aaron Ozanich
Council Secretary Rose Kreidler
Rose currently serves has been serving as Council Secretary since 2010. She loves the close worship family at RLC. This may be the only recent photo of me in existence. I hope to see you soon!
Treasurer Diann Long
Diann is an “almost” lifetime member of Redeemer Church. I have held various positions on the church council since 1990, and currently serve as treasurer. I am also active in the Altar Guild. I enjoy reading a good mystery, working in my garden plot in the community garden here at Redeemer, and playing a spirited game of 5 Crowns with friends on Saturday nights.
Marilyn Biggins
I was born February 12, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois. I was christened Marilyn Eleanor Selke at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Chicago, on November 25, 1948. I attended Sunday School and was confirmed in 1960. I was active in Luther League, junior and senior choir and served on, and co-chaired, several committees. I was married in 1968 and divorced in 1978. I served as Scouting Coordinator for both Cub and Boy Scouts. I was Chairman for the Kiwanis Kids’ Day Peanut Sales several years in a row. I moved to Brook Park, Ohio, in July, 1990, with two of my three sons, William and Christopher Bolwin. I married James H. Biggins in November 1992. I attended Redeemer Lutheran for several years and joined the choir. I became a member of Redeemer with my husband on June 16, 1996. My husband passed away February 10, 1998. I co-chaired and then took over as chairperson of the worship committee. I still live in Brook Park with my oldest son Steven, his girlfriend, Mary, and her brother, Rob.
Dan Hoffman
Mark Clark
I’m a recently retired optician, married, father of two sons, three step-daughters, and grandfather of six.
I’ve been a member of the RLC congregation since about 1994.
My service to the congregation began when I was moved to become one of the assisting ministers.
Subsequently, as the need arose, I was recruited to be Sunday School superintendent, then Education Committee chairman, and then Sunday School teacher. I have served in these roles, simultaneously, since the late ‘90s, and, by the grace of God and support of the Redeemer congregation, will continue to do so.
Megan Hoffman
