Rev. Martha Nack
Pastor Martha Nack was born Mar. 29, 1956, in Milwaukee, WI. Martha graduated from the UW-Madison with a B.S. in Anthropology in 1980, and a Master’s of Science in Social Work in 1982. She attended Chicago Theological Seminary and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1988.
Pastor Nack was ordained on Aug 7, 1988 at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, WI. Her first call was to Wisconsin Heights Lutheran Parish, which was a group of 3 churches that were close to each other. Vermont Lutheran, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Black Earth, WI, and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazomanie, WI, each kept their separate congregations and Pastor Nack and the other pastor needed to “fly” on Sunday to make sure each church had a service. She was there from 1988-1992. After that she served as an interim pastor for several Lutheran churches in South Central Synod of Wisconsin before coming to West Koshkonong. From 1995-2000 she was here at West Koshkonong. Pastor Nack was the first woman pastor at West. Weekly adult bible study was started when she came and the position of a Youth Director was established.
In 2001 and 2002 she worked at UW Hospitals and Clinics as a social worker for adolescents struggling with alcohol and drug issues. For the next 10 years she worked at Lutheran Social Services in Madison and served as an adoption worker and a church relations specialist. Since 2012, she has served as a chaplain at Oakwood Village Lutheran Retirement Community-Oakwood Village’s University Woods (west) campus in Madison. She says she enjoys working with seniors and supporting them in the later stages of their life’s journey with God’s message of love and grace.
She married Peter Bakken on Dec. 28, 1985 at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, WI. While at West Koshkonong, they traveled to China and adopted their daughter, Mara Nack Bakken. Mara was baptized in April of 1996 at West. Mara was just a little girl (5 years old) when they left here, and it is hard to believe that she was turned 24 years old in May. Mara graduated from St. Olaf College in 2017 with a double major in French and Psychology. She taught English for a year in France following her graduation. She is now living at home and working as a server at Red Sushi in Madison as she determines the next phase of her life’s journey.
When Pastor Nack is not working, she enjoys walking, reading, and curling up in front of a warm fire with their cats.
Pastor Nack says that she, Peter, and Mara have fond memories of their time at West Koshkonong and all the wonderful folks serving Jesus with all their hearts.
Pastor Nack was ordained on Aug 7, 1988 at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, WI. Her first call was to Wisconsin Heights Lutheran Parish, which was a group of 3 churches that were close to each other. Vermont Lutheran, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Black Earth, WI, and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazomanie, WI, each kept their separate congregations and Pastor Nack and the other pastor needed to “fly” on Sunday to make sure each church had a service. She was there from 1988-1992. After that she served as an interim pastor for several Lutheran churches in South Central Synod of Wisconsin before coming to West Koshkonong. From 1995-2000 she was here at West Koshkonong. Pastor Nack was the first woman pastor at West. Weekly adult bible study was started when she came and the position of a Youth Director was established.
In 2001 and 2002 she worked at UW Hospitals and Clinics as a social worker for adolescents struggling with alcohol and drug issues. For the next 10 years she worked at Lutheran Social Services in Madison and served as an adoption worker and a church relations specialist. Since 2012, she has served as a chaplain at Oakwood Village Lutheran Retirement Community-Oakwood Village’s University Woods (west) campus in Madison. She says she enjoys working with seniors and supporting them in the later stages of their life’s journey with God’s message of love and grace.
She married Peter Bakken on Dec. 28, 1985 at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, WI. While at West Koshkonong, they traveled to China and adopted their daughter, Mara Nack Bakken. Mara was baptized in April of 1996 at West. Mara was just a little girl (5 years old) when they left here, and it is hard to believe that she was turned 24 years old in May. Mara graduated from St. Olaf College in 2017 with a double major in French and Psychology. She taught English for a year in France following her graduation. She is now living at home and working as a server at Red Sushi in Madison as she determines the next phase of her life’s journey.
When Pastor Nack is not working, she enjoys walking, reading, and curling up in front of a warm fire with their cats.
Pastor Nack says that she, Peter, and Mara have fond memories of their time at West Koshkonong and all the wonderful folks serving Jesus with all their hearts.