First Presbyterian Church Staff
Rev. Jim McCrea is a graduate of West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction degree in English in 1976. After holding a series of full-time and freelance writing positions, he felt called to attend the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he studied between September 1989 and December 1991. During that time, he served as the solo Student Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Hazleton, Iowa. After receiving his Masters of Divinity degree, Rev. McCrea was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Galena in April 1992. As a professional freelance writer, his work has been published in such national magazines as Better Homes & Gardens, Northwest Airlines WorldTraveler, Mature Outlook and Currents. He's currently at work on an original commentary on the Old Testament book, Song of Solomon. He is also a magician with a membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians, as well as having written two books on magic performance.
Rev. Jim McCrea is a graduate of West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction degree in English in 1976. After holding a series of full-time and freelance writing positions, he felt called to attend the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he studied between September 1989 and December 1991. During that time, he served as the solo Student Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Hazleton, Iowa. After receiving his Masters of Divinity degree, Rev. McCrea was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Galena in April 1992. As a professional freelance writer, his work has been published in such national magazines as Better Homes & Gardens, Northwest Airlines WorldTraveler, Mature Outlook and Currents. He's currently at work on an original commentary on the Old Testament book, Song of Solomon. He is also a magician with a membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians, as well as having written two books on magic performance.
Gwen Benson was born and raised in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She moved to Galena after marrying her husband in 2007. Her passion in life is teaching, and fulfills this passion as a 5th grade teacher. In her spare time, she loves spending time at the ball field watching her son play baseball, playing board games with her youngest, chatting over the phone with her older children, and going on walks with her husband. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to expand her knowledge in another field as the Secretary and Financial Secretary at First Presbyterian Church.
Financial Secretary
and Secretary
Gwen Benson
Mel was born and raised in Galena. Served in U.S. Army from 1964-1967 with basic training at Fort Knox and Fort Riley and 21 months in Germany. Member of First Presbyterian and American Legion Post 193 of Galena, IL. He is a jack of all trades! Married with 2 stepchildren. Enjoys spending time with grandchildren and now great grandkids! Also, enjoys old movies and westerns as well as being an ever-hopeful fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears.
Custodian
Mel Halstead
` Carolyn was born and raised in Bushnell, Illinois. She attended Western Illinois University in nearby Macomb. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, she taught first and second grade in Bushnell until retiring in 2017.
Carolyn was also organist and pianist at the First Presbyterian Church in Bushnell from 1977-2020. In the summer of 2020 she moved to Galena to be closer to three of her four children, as well as her grandchildren. That same summer Carolyn accepted the job as pianist at First Presbyterian Church in Galena.
Pianist
Carolyn Simmons
Alice Lundh was born and raised in Galena and has been a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a teaching degree and has spent her entire career teaching high school history and English. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Dubuque.
In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, walking, and being with friends and family. Alice and her husband, Matt, have an amazing mini-Bernedoodle named Bergen.
IT Specialist
Alice Lundh
Current Church Session
Nan Colin
Pat Halstead
Alice Lundh
Carol Northcraft
Marty Rosenthal
Ron Pearson
Current Church Trustees
Eric Einsweiler
Jeff Finley
Mel Halstead
Cathy Harms
Lara Rosenthal-Levens
Carol Wrabl