Leadership and Staff

Amy Powell

Amy Powell was born and raised in Sheboygan County, WI.  She attended UW-Madison and graduated with a Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree.  For a number of years she worked in the Solid Organ Transplant Program at UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI.  She then accepted God’s call into vocational ministry.  While serving as the Associate Pastor for the Waupaca Area Regional Ministry she graduated from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH with a Master’s of Divinity degree.  She…
Stu Allen

Stu Allen

Stuart Allen was born in Seattle, Washington and lived in several states throughout his childhood. He attended and graduated from North Central College and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville, Illinois. He has served as Pastor of Senior Ministries at Cargill UMC since retiring from full time ministry in 2010. Stu has served churches throughout southern Wisconsin, including the church in Milton where he now resides. He believes strongly in the church as a community of believers coming together for worship,…

Valerie Schmoldt

Valerie Schmoldt has lived her whole life in Southern Wisconsin. After graduating from UW-Whitewater with a BBA in finance, she began her career at Valley Bank/M&I Bank. She then worked for Neumann Homes/Brookstone Homes, before leaving to raise her three children while volunteering for several local non-profits. Valerie and her husband, Brian, a mechanical engineer, have been long-time Janesville residents and Cargill UMC members. They credit Cargill’s Sunday school and smallgroup ministries for greatly enriching their lives through Bible study…

Jo Barrow

Jo Barrow came to Cargill United Methodist Church in December of 2013 after previously working at two churches and as a volunteer coordinator for a hospice in Jefferson. She grew up in Whitewater and Greenfield and attended two elementary schools, a middle school and two high schools, where her focus was on grades and being a drummer. She then attended UW-Whitewater and received a BA in Speech Communications with an English minor. She was blessed to be able to stay…
Krystal Burton

Krystal Burton

Krystal Burton was born and raised in Janesville. As a child she attended, what is now known as Faith United Methodist Church in Milton, WI. Later her family transferred to Mt. Zion United Methodist where she was confirmed. In 2001, they became members at Cargill UMC along with extended family. Her and her husband, Jeremey Burton were married at Cargill in 2007 and their son, Carter Burton was baptized here in 2011. They reside in Milton, WI and Carter attends…

Dianne Edson

Dianne started attending Sunday School at Cargill UMC in 1965, when her family moved to Janesville from Crystal Lake, IL. She has been connected to Cargill ever since, except for the 24 years spent in the US Navy, providing atmospheric and oceanographic analyses and predictions in support of naval operations. After retiring from the Navy, she returned to her hometown to be near family, and she has lived here ever since. Dianne has held several jobs since retiring from the…
Richard Severing

Richard Severing

Richard Severing has been Director of Music at Cargill United Methodist since 2002. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Milton College in 1966 and his Master of Music Degree from UW-Madison in 1969. Richard enjoys working musically with people of all ages and has directed several church choirs in his career. At Cargill UMC he conducts the Wesley Men, Alleluia Ringers and Janesville Choral Union, an outreach choral and orchestral organization connected to Cargill UMC that has…

Marie Severing

Marie Severing is a vocal music director at Cargill United Methodist Church and has been conducting choirs here since 2005. She loves teaching music and conducts Wesley Chorale, Wesley Women and has conducted children’s and youth choirs. Marie has taught vocal music in public schools for 40 years and remains active as a teacher and adjudicator for music festivals. Marie is married to Richard and has three grown daughters who grew up at Cargill UMC. Her spiritual gifts include: Music,…

Brittney Mansur

Brittney Mansur joined our staff in 2024 as our 10:30am Worship Leader. Having served in ministry at various churches for over ten years, pastoring people has been a calling throughout my adult life. I am a currently a Christian Counselor at Redeemed Christian Counseling. God has been generous to create opportunities to work in many different settings from both in and outside the church walls from worship ministry, children’s ministry, volunteer coordinating, and pastoral care. My husband and I are also active…
Brian Leeper

Brian Leeper

Brian Leeper was born and raised in Nebraska, where he began playing the organ for worship services in his home church (UCC) in the ninth grade. He is a graduate of Luther College and the University of Nebraska and did further graduate work at Florida State University. Trained as a classical singer, Brian also held church positions in 10 states as organist and director of music. Brian began serving as organist at Cargill in 2004, the same year that he…
Pam Graper

Pam Graper

Pam Graper grew up in Janesville and has attended Cargill my whole life. Music was always her favorite part; from the Little Blue Choir to seeing who could sing louder in church, her Dad or her! She attended UW-Eau Claire and taught elementary school and middle school French in Janesville and Edgerton for over forty years. When she was finishing her first choir accompanist job at another church in Janesville, Susan Blumer asked if she would accompany the Cargill choirs.…
  • 1
  • 2