Pastor’s Bio

Rev. Jon Rathjen has been serving as pastor of Peace Lutheran since July of 2021.  The Peace congregation recognized his 30th year as a pastor in 2025.  He came to the Northwoods after serving a congregation in Nebraska for a little over 20 years.  Before that, he served as an assistant pastor of a congregation in Minnesota for about 5 ½ years.

Pastor Rathjen’s first career was in the oilfield.  He has a petroleum engineering degree from the University of Tulsa and worked in Wyoming as an engineer and a production operator.  After leaving the oilfield, Jon studied at Concordia University in Seward, NE in order to prepare for his seminary studies.  He is a graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Jon is married to Lisa.  She is a hospice nurse.  They have three adult children.

Jon’s hobbies include bicycling, grilling/smoking meat, and doing projects around the house.