Mrs. Gretchen Buhrke

Mrs. Gretchen Buhrke

Position: 1st Grade Teacher

Gretchen graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, in 2002 with a degree in Elementary Education and received her Master's in Reading from Illinois State University in 2007. Mrs. Buhrke completed coursework at the University of San Diego in 2016 to become a Certified Dyslexia Specialist in the Orton-Gillingham Approach. She is blessed to have a loving husband, Brad, and son, Marshall. Gretchen wants to thank God for the gift of first graders because they are a joy to teach.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself, each day has enough trouble of its own.” God has a plan.

Contact Mrs. Buhrke:  
gretchenbuhrke@trinluth.org

Mrs. Christy Malinowski

Mrs. Christy Malinowski

Position: Confirmation Teacher

Christy has a real heart for youth and enjoys helping them use their God given gifts and talents in service to Him.  She serves the Jr. and Sr. High Youth at Trinity, along with their families.  Christy also loves to go on mission trips where she can use her gift of serving in a variety of ways.

Christy is married to her handsome husband, Jeff, and together they have three wonderful children; Kristin, Chad and Claire.

Christy enjoys being silly with youth, reading, scrapbooking and watching her daughter, Claire, compete at swim meets.

Favorite Bible Verse: 
Romans 8:37-39
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Contact Mrs. Malinowski: 
Christy@trinluth.org

Mr. Adam Richards

Mr. Adam Richards

Position: Junior High Social Studies, Science, Math

After serving in many other education settings, Mr. Richards joined Trinity Lutheran School with a lot of experience to share. He was born and raised in Iowa before moving to Bloomington in high school. He graduated from Illinois State University with a BS in Special Education in 2008. He and his wife, Brooke, have two children currently attending Trinity and one grown child who is a Trinity alum.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Psalm 25:1
"In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.”

Contact Mr. Richards:  
adamrichards@trinluth.org

Pastor Chuck Bahn

Pastor Chuck Bahn

Position: Associate Pastor and Discipleship Teacher

Pastor Bahn loves to teach and to be with people to talk about faith and God working in our lives, even in the times we struggle.

Pastor Bahn has been married to his wonderful wife, Kathy for 25 years.  They have three amazing children, Jeremy, who lives in Columbus, OH, Katie, who is studying to be a nurse, and Rachel, who is a senior high school student and plans to be a Director of Christian Education.

Pastor Bahn likes to read all kinds of different things.  He enjoys walking and riding bikes.  He also enjoys food of every size, shape, and background, as long as it's not "weird" food.

Favorite Bible Verse: 
Isaiah 43:1
"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;  I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

Contact Pastor Bahn
ChuckBahn@trinluth.org

Mrs. Linda Brockett

Mrs. Linda Brockett

Position:  3rd grade teacher

Mrs. Brockett has been at Trinity since 1989 serving as a teacher for 2nd and  5th grade, before moving to 3rd grade. She was born in Chicago, Il, and later moved to Danville, Il.  Mrs. Brockett graduated from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL in 1981 with a degree in Elementary Education.  Before coming to Trinity, Mrs. Brockett served for 2 years as a 2nd grade teacher at Peace Lutheran in Antigo, Wi, 2 years as a 2nd grade teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Pekin, IL, and 3 years as a 2nd grade teacher at Zion Lutheran in Belleville, IL.  She and her husband Ron have 2 daughters, Amber and Cheyenne, son-in-law Hayden, and 2 grandchildren.

Favorite Bible Verse:   
Romans 8:28  
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Contact Mrs. Brockett:
lindabroc@trinluth.org

Mrs. Becky Griffin

Becky Griffin

Position: Kindergarten

Mrs. Griffin is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran School as has worked at Trinity since August of 1995.  She has lived in Bloomington all her life and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1986 with a degree in Elementary Education.  She and husband Tony have been blessed with 3 daughters, Hannah, Linnea and Clare.  

Favorite Bible Verse:
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Contact Mrs. Griffin:  
beckygrif@trinluth.org

Mrs. Melissa Rock

Mrs. Melissa Rock

Position: 2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Rock is originally from Decatur.  She graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska in 1987 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.  She completed her M.S. in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1994.  She has taught at Christ Lutheran in Peoria, Illinois, Christ Lutheran in Norfolk, Nebraska, and St. John Lutheran in Champaign, Illinois before being called to serve Trinity in 2003.  She has taught 2nd and 3rd grade, plus 1 year of 5th grade during her years in education.  She is married to Steve, and they live in Le Roy with their four-legged children.  She enjoys serving the children and families at Trinity.  She enjoys exercising, reading, counted cross-stitch, and gardening; as well as watching the Cardinals, Illini, and NASCAR.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Philippians 4:13
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  

Contact Mrs. Rock: 
melissarock@trinluth.org

Pastor David McBurney

Pastor David McBurney

Position:  Associate Pastor and
Discipleship Teacher

Pastor David, a BLO-NO native, graduated from both Normal Community High School and Illinois State University (BS in Journalism and MS in Speech Communication.) After teaching communication courses at both Heartland Community College (92-93) and ISU (94-04), he and his family moved to St. Louis where David began his studies at Concordia Seminary to become a pastor. After being ordained in ‘08, David served at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in South St. Louis County as both associate pastor (08) and senior pastor (09-20). In 2020, he returned to BLO-NO to focus on two ministry passions: outreach and young adults. As a pastor, David attempts to preach God’s Word faithfully and passionately, to create tangible opportunities to share the love of Jesus with our community, to foster mentoring opportunities for mentoring, and to strengthen current and create new ministry partnerships. David and his wife Jennifer, who married in ‘93, are blessed with two sons: Keenan, a 2020 graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology who is working on his masters in structural engineering at the same school, and Lyle, a future graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin (23), who desires to be a Christian counselor.

Favorite Bible Verse:  
Matthew 11:28-30 
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Contact Pastor David:
pastordavid@trinluth.org

Mrs. Laura Busse

Mrs. Laura Busse

Position: Early Childhood Director and Key Team Coordinator

Mrs. Busse has been at Trinity since August 1995. She was raised in Waverly, IA, and graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska (twice!) with a BS in Education in 1984 and a Masters in Early Childhood Education and Administration in 2006. She and her husband, Kurt, have the joy of serving together at Trinity, and they have two grown children and two granddaughters.

Favorite Bible verse:
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Contact Mrs. Busse: 
laurabuss@trinluth.org
309-829-7513

Mrs. Gayle Dietsch

Gayle Dietsch

Position: Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Dietsch was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She was blessed to attend Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Wisconsin.  Mrs. Dietsch graduated from Concordia University Nebraska in December 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood Endorsement.   She was called to Trinity in August 2004 to teach Kindergarten.  Mrs. Dietsch and husband Dave have three children.  She enjoys being involved at church, reading, supporting her favorite Wisconsin sports teams, playing sports, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Philippians 3:14
"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Contact Mrs. Dietsch:  
gayledietsch@trinluth.org