Pastor James comes to Immanuel after serving for six years in central Nebraska at the Tri-Point Lutheran Parish of Geneva, Ohiowa, and McCool Junction and more recently, six years serving at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Gretna, NE. He earned a Master of Divinity at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa where he met his wife Pastor Becky Sells who also serves in Omaha at Lord of Love Lutheran Church.

Together they have two boys, John, and Daniel.

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Linda Ashley was born and raised in the Immanuel family. She joined the Handbell choir sometime in the early-mid 1980's. When the current director retired from our program in 1990, she took over as temporary director and still serves in that position. She is active in Handbells locally and at a national level in both the Handbell organization and attending advanced ringing events. She is currently active on the boards for both the Nebraska and the Area 8 organizations and Intergenerational Handbell Camp. She has also been a member of River City Ringers, Omaha's community handbell choir, since 2007. Our handbell program encourages all who want to learn to ring. Preferably from ages 2nd grade and older. Ability to read music is not required, only a dedication to participate is needed.

I am Diana Gottsch, the new office manager for Immanuel Lutheran Church.  I started working on March 1, 2023 and I am settling into the routine of daily work that needs to be completed.  I can’t wait to meet you.  If you need anything from me don’t hesitate to give me a call.

I was born and raised in Omaha.  I graduated from Northwest High School.  I also graduated from NCE School of Commerce.  My career was in the insurance industry.  I worked for several  Insurance Agencies in town  as an Account Manager.  I worked on the commercial side of the business and helped  businesses with their property and casualty  insurance.  I loved working with these people and helping them with their insurance needs.  It was fun and interesting.   In 2020 I was laid off because of COVID so I retired.  I had a lot of time on my hands so I was happy to start working for Immanuel.   

I was married to Randy Gottsch for 46 years until he passed away in January of 2022.  We have three children  Richard, Katrina, and Bonnie.  We also have six grandchildren, Isaac, Grace, Kieran, Izabella, Olivia and Cyrus.

Katrina and her three children live with me.  They keep me really busy.  There is never a dull moment at our house. 

Jeff has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Technology in Education. Mr. Ingraham taught instrumental music in the Omaha Public Schools at the elementary and secondary level for six years then became the Instructional Technology Coordinator of the Bellevue Public Schools in 1991.  He was employed at Educational Service Unit #3 for 24 years, conducting music and technology training for the 18 school districts that ESU#3 served. Jeff began working for Prairie STEM in 2019. Jeff is  Music Director at Immanuel Lutheran Church where he has led the music program and a staff of four since 1984. He plays bass trombone in Orchestra Omaha which he has done since the orchestra’s inception in 1999. He has been a member of Santa Lucia Italian Heritage Band for many years, and is a member of the 1st Nebraska Civil War Reenactors Band, and plays professionally throughout the area in various quintets, and other ensembles. In 2006, Jeff was inducted into the Omaha Benson High School Hall of Fame, the Ingraham family was honored by Heartland Family Services in Omaha as the “Community Service Family of the Year in 2010” and in 2014 Jeff was inducted into the University of Nebraska’s Band Hall of Fame.