Dick Klapoetke

I was born and raised on a dairy farm near Harrisville Wisconsin.  I graduated from Westfield High School in 1970 and UWSP in 1974 with a degree in math and computer science.  I married my high school sweetheart, Irene, in August 1973. We have two adult children.  Our daughter Karen is married to Mark Poirier, and they have two daughters, Samara and Alyce.  They all attend Community Church.  Our son Kevin is married to Brianna, and they live and work in the Twin Cities area.  I am retired from Sentry Insurance after 40 years in computer programming.

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I was raised Catholic.  In 8th grade while studying for Confirmation, a nun shared the Gospel with me and I made a half-hearted acceptance of Christ.  The rest of my religious training was long on religion and short on relationship with the savior.  In college I became frustrated with church and fell away.  I felt a need for God and so I would return to the church I knew only to be frustrated and leave again.

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After marriage, Irene and I attended two Bible studies with friends.  One was Lutheran and the other at the Church of Christ.  Both encouraged the reading of the Bible, which we did.  The gospel made sense now and I whole-heartedly accepted Christ.  I was baptized as a believer in October 1976 at the Church of Christ here in Stevens Point. 

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Our family started attending Community Church in December 1986.  I have taught Bible studies, worked in the nursery, as a greeter and as a church cleaner, as well as serving past terms on the elder board.  I was on the property committee when we purchased our current building and remodeled it from an appliance store to a church.  I currently serve as an elder, overseeing the building and grounds maintenance and lead the early morning men's Bible study that meets at 7 a.m. on Thursday mornings at the church.  Come join us...