Pastor Phil Rittner comes to us after having retired from the ministry, but in this type of work - it's hard to say no to keep on preaching!  The Ministry is a Second Profession for him, as he was retired with disability from over 20 years in the US Navy.  He grew up in Toledo, Ohio, not too far from us!  The Seminary experience was perhaps the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life.  Albeit he participated in the VietNam and Persian Gulf wars while in the Navy.  Pastor Phil is married to Deaconess Katherine (Katie) Rittner; they have 7 children and 16 grandchildren.  They enjoy traveling - having been to Ireland and Israel a couple times and many places throughout the United States.  Pastor Phil enjoys a hobby with firearms and gunsmithing; as well as playing with toy trains.  Katie is employed at Concordia Theological Seminary for over 18 years, where she's the Director of the Food and Clothing Coops.  She loves the ministry helping form men and women into LCMS pastors and deaconesses.  Pastor Phil strongly enjoys meeting new people!