Our Staff

Pastor

Pastor Rey Diez(Fennimore, Stitzer)
Office Hours: 10am-2pm (although, they may vary with appointments, worship services, etc.)

Rev. Dr. Rey Diaz was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up attending church with his parents. Since childhood, he has developed a keen interest in reading and writing. In December of 1973, Rey decided to move to New York where he lived in Corona Queens, and started attending church in Queens, New York. During one of the services, he invited Jesus into his heart and began his Christian journey in 1976. His first pastor there, Pastor Roberto, connected Rey with Rev. Pedro Pablo Pirón, an ordained clergy in the New York Annual Conference. Rey was then sent to a recruiting training in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1978 he was hired to serve in Gloucester, New Jersey to work with migrant workers for two consecutive years.

     After serving the workers in Gloucester, Rev. Pirón sent Rey to start a new Hispanic Congregation in Hempstead, Long Island. After three and half years of hard work in building a congregation there, he presented that Hispanic congregation fully organized to the New York Annual Conference. During his years in New York City, he served 4 different congregations: Hempstead, Long Island; Sun Set Park, Brooklyn; Jamaica, Queens; and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In 1998, he decided to transfer his membership to the Wisconsin Annual Conference and has served congregations in Madison, Port Edwards, Wausau, Lake Geneva and Delavan Spanish, Sparta, and Richland Center, prior to his current appointment at the Fennimore UMC and Stitzer.

     Rev. Diaz has a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the College of New Rochelle, in New York; the Course of Study from Garrett Evangelical Seminary, in Evanston, Illinois; a Master of Divinity, from New York Theological Seminary; a Diploma of 3 years from The Academy of Preaching in Nashville, Tennessee; and a Doctor in Ministry from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.   Rev. Dr. Rey Diaz is an ordained Clergy from the New York Annual Conference and has been serving in the Wisconsin Annual Conference since 1998. 

     Rey has three children (Joselyn, Raquel, and Oscar) and eight grandchildren.  He also has three stepchildren (Randy, Laura, and Melvin) and wife, Santa Tineo.

Pastor Associate

Vacant

Administrative Assistant

Chelsea Wanek-Bedward (Fennimore and Stitzer)
Office Hours (Fennimore): 9:00-1:00 Monday – Thursday (but can vary)

Chelsea was born and raised on a dairy farm outside of Blue River, Wisconsin along with her three older brothers. Chelsea is married to her husband, Cory.  They reside in rural Blue River close to her home farm.

Chelsea greatly enjoys being with her family, whether it is attending her nephew and niece’s sporting events, or just gathering together at her parent’s farm. She has an immense love for animals (especially her dogs and goats).

Chelsea graduated from Riverdale High School in 2006 and continued her education at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. There she obtained a degree in both Marketing and Business Management. Chelsea has worked various jobs before finding her home here at FUMC (2016).  Helping people is where Chelsea’s heart is at. She is very grateful to be working at FUMC with an awesome group of people and being part of the “church family” from the beginning.

Her faith journey began as a child. Her family attended a non-denominational church for many years before finding their way to BMZ in Boscobel. This is where she really started to “grow”. She also traveled to Jamaica and spent time working at West Haven Orphanage which houses developmentally and physically disabled individuals (most of them being adult aged). This experience opened her eyes immensely! God is not finished with her yet, and continues to guide her on new adventures!

Administrative Council Chairperson

Max Edge (Stitzer)

Max Edge is the Chairperson of the Administrative Council of the Stitzer United Methodist Church. He has been a member of the Stitzer church for sixty five years. His position is to lead the council meetings which are held once a month.  The Council manages the operations and business of the Stitzer Church. The Council members are a group of wonderful people who serve our Lord through our church.

Multimedia & Technical Director

Derek Freymiller (Fennimore)

Derek was born and raised right here in Fennimore, WI. His journey in faith started with his Grandma Bea, as she would take him to the old Methodist Church on Jackson street. Derek was involved with the church as a child all the way up through his college years.  Certain things Derek has been involved with over the years have been Vacation Bible School, Youth Trips, Fish Fusion and Christian Education. The Methodist Church has been a very important part in creating and influencing who he is today. He is incredibly happy to put forth his skills and strengths and contribute to the Church that helped him grow up.

Derek went to School at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville where he received a BS in Communications with a Major in Broadcast Production and a Minor in Public Relations.

Derek and his wife Haylee have three children: Reece, Ryder and Nova. He works for Pagel Services as a Media Specialist. In his spare time he enjoys coaching his kids, playing guitar and is an aspiring Voice Over recording artist.

Treasurer

Pam Kruel (Fennimore)

Pam and her husband, Chris live on their home farm in rural Fennimore. Pam began her faith journey as a young child growing up with her family. She transferred her membership to FUMC after she and Chris were married. She enjoys being involved on several teams at FUMC along with currently being the treasurer. Pam recently retired from working in banking for many years. Pam and Chris have two adult daughters. Lisa lives in Madison and Jamie lives in Belleville. They have three wonderful granddaughters who keep them both very busy. Pam and Chris enjoy traveling, gardening, antiquing, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Janitorial

Rosemary Collins (Fennimore)

Rosemary farmed with her husband for 31 years on a dairy farm. After retiring from milking, she went to work for Ray-o-Vac(20 years) and was a CNA at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Nursing Home(16 years). She retired from being a CNA to care for her parents. After her dad’s passing she moved her mom in with her and her husband, retired from Ray-o-Vac, and now works part-time at the Fennimore Livestock Exchange, cleans an elderly man’s apartment, and helps her daughter clean a clinic twice a week. Rosemary volunteers at church whenever necessary. She has helped out in many ways from cooking for various events, to helping with vacation bible school, and helping out at funerals to name a few. She has been attending FUMC for 13 years.

Rosemary, you could say, was nominated by her friends helping with a funeral meal one day. They were discussing who would fill Julie’s position as the Janitor due to her retiring. One of the ladies helping at the funeral said to Rosemary,” You would be a good fit for the Janitorial position.” and before she knew it, Pastor Bud came into the kitchen and the ladies said, “We found someone to clean the church!” And he replied, “Who?”. The ladies replied, “ROSEMARY, that’s who!

Harmony Choir

Tonia Schildgen (Fennimore)

Tonia’s maiden name was Henkel.  She has been attending the Fennimore United Methodist Church since the day she was born. She was confirmed in the spring of her 8th Grade year by Steve Polster.

Her mom has been an organist and accompanist for FUMC for decades. She was in the choraliers from 3rd-12th grade in school (a children’s choir directed by Sue Lewison and accompanied by Lenice Lomas). After she graduated from high school she attended college at UW-Madison and then transferred to UW-Platteville where she received a teaching degree in Choral and General Music for grades K-12.

Eventually, She joined the Senior Choir at church, which was directed by Trudie Freymiller at the time. When Trudie resigned from the position, she was asked to take over. This choir is now called the Harmony Choir and sings in church several times throughout the school year, with summers off.

She is currently beginning her 23rd year at Fennimore High/Middle School teaching vocal music Grades 6-12 and General Music in Grade 6. She also directs the musical at the high school in the fall. In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends and family, play cards, go to Broadway shows, and travel.

She lives in Fennimore with her husband, Terry, and her daughter, Tatum, who is a junior at FHS, and their cats, Peanut and Charmin along with a new addition to the family, a Golden Retriever named Cooper. She also has two step daughters, Katie and Rebecca. Katie is a firefighter in Ohio and Rebecca attends college in Milwaukee.