Staff
The dedicated staff at Zion Lutheran Church exemplifies a compassionate commitment to fostering a welcoming and spiritually enriching the community for all.
Marsha Smith
Interim Senior Pastor / Head of Staff
Pastor Marsha Smith has been the Intentional Interim Pastor at Zion since August of 2022. Prior to that she has served a couple of other Intentional Interims, starting in Onawa & Soldier, IA, and then Adel, IA. Previously she served 8 years at Algona, IA, and 13 years in Crookston, MN. She started off in Iowa at Menlo & Jefferson for 3 years. Born in Sioux Falls, SD, after graduation she entered the Air Force, and eventually attended college at the University of Sioux Falls, while in the S.D. Air National Guard. She attended Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, graduating in 1990. Pastor Marsha has two beautiful daughters, Rachel and Celeste, both who live here in Iowa City, and one adorable granddaughter, Aoife. She recently purchased a home in West Branch, with her cute little Maltiepoo, Chloe. Whom you will most likely have a chance to meet if you stop by the office. She enjoys gardening, crafting, reading and spending days hanging out with Aoife.
Please contact the church office to schedule an appointment.
Email - msmith@zionlutheran-ic.org
Phone - 319.338.0944 ext. 3 (call only)
Kari Clark
Parish Administrator
Kari joined the Zion staff in October of 2022 after spending three decades in elementary special education. Kari enjoys getting to know everyone, and will gladly share a cup of coffee or tea with you in the office if her busy schedule allows. Have questions about Realm or any of the events happening at the church? Have a prayer request or an announcement for the bulletin? Send her an email or give her a call.
Email - kari@zionlutheran-ic.org
Phone - 319.338.0944 (call only)
Nick Schintler
Facilities Manager
Nick Schintler has worked at Zion since January of 2021 caring for and maintaining the church and Zion’s rental properties. He was born and raised on the east side of Iowa City and graduated from City High in 2018. Prior to working at Zion, Nick had spent years repairing old buildings and residences around Iowa City and surrounding communities. When he’s not at work Nick spends most of his free time on his 6-acre farm with a black lab mix named Xena and a barn cat named Marmalade. During the colder months in Iowa Nick enjoys working on cars, machinery, ATVs, and anything else with a motor in his shop. When it’s warmer out Nicks’s hobbies include camping, kayaking, paddle boarding, and biking.
Email - nick@zionlutheran-ic.org
Andrew Smith
Sunday School Coordinator
Andrew Smith is responsible for planning and organizing the Sunday school curriculum and activities. Andrew is originally from Dubuque but came to Iowa City along with his wife Hayley in 2008 where they were welcomed to Zion shortly after. Andrew and Hayley met at Luther College in Decorah and now have 4 children (Ingrid 10, Olive 8, Eddie 6, and Elouise 2). Andrew is also a 7th-grade science teacher in the Iowa City Community School district and coaches both girls cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring. In the rare occasion that Andrew is not coaching or attending one of his children's events or leading their elementary school PTA, he enjoys logging miles all over Iowa either on foot or on his bike!
Email - andrew@zionlutheran-ic.org
Marlys Boote
Senior Organist
Marlys Boote has been the Senior Organist at Zion for the past 25 years, with various other roles during that time, including director of the brass choir, co-interim director of music, and currently director of the bell choir. She grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa with many siblings, in a life oriented around church and music activities. Marlys earned her graduate degrees in organ and church music from The University of Iowa. She has a keen interest in hymnody, and enjoys participating in hymn selection for worship and then leading the congregation in singing those hymns.
Email - marlys@zionlutheran-ic.org
Melanie Sigafoose
Associate Organist / Youth Activities Director
Melanie Sigafoose serves as Associate Organist and Children's Choir Director at Zion Lutheran, where she plays the organ, works with Sunday School music, and helps lead sing-in-church opportunities for Zion's kids. In addition to her musical duties, she also currently assists in an interim capacity with coordinating youth ministry activities. Melanie holds music degrees from Indiana University, University of Kansas, and Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS), as well as certification from the Choristers Guild Institute. Alongside her work at Zion, she teaches organ and church music classes at the University of Iowa School of Music. Melanie and her husband Jay live in Iowa City with their high-school-age daughter, Abigail.
Email - melanie@zionlutheran-ic.org
Tyler Hagy
Choir Director, Senior and Youth
Tyler Hagy is an active performer, conductor, and educator, based in Iowa City, Iowa. He currently serves as the Director of Choral Activities and Head of the Music Department at City High School in Iowa City, Iowa. Choirs under his direction have been selected for many featured performances, including at the Luther College Dorian Choral Invitational, the Iowa Choral Showcase, and the Iowa Association of School Boards’ 78 th Annual Convention.
He holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; a Master of Music degree in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre/Dance Performance from Luther College. He has studied conducting with Dr. Allen Hightower, Dr. Andrew Last, Stephen Layton, Stephen Cleobury, Timothy Brown, Dr. Earl Rivers, and Weston Noble, among many others. He has conducted concerts and festivals in the United States of America, England, Wales, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
At City High, he conducts the select mixed SATB Concert Choir and the 9-12 Treble Choir, the varsity show choir 4 th Ave. Jazz Company, and the extra-curricular Select Treble Ensemble.
In addition to his work at City High, he also serves as the Choir Director at Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City, IA.
Email - tyler@zionlutheran-ic.org
Kevin Hoyland
AV Director
Kevin worked for the Iowa City Schools for 34 years as a classroom and desktop support technician. Broadcasting the school board meetings was also one of his duties. Kevin has been a member of Zion Lutheran for over 30 years. Kevin is involved in all things technology, from networking to computers to sound in the church and streaming services online. Outside on Zion, you might find him walking around the Eastside of Iowa City.
Email - kevin@zionlutheran-ic.org
Roger Hileman
Zion Brass Director
Roger earned a degree in Music Education from Wartburg College and moved to Iowa City with his wife lu in 1978. Soon after, Roger and his family became active in Zion’s musical activities, including choir, brass and polka band, summer musicals (both onstage and as orchestra director), as well as a variety of other activities. Roger completed his Master’s degree at the University of Iowa in 2010. Outside of Zion, he spent many years acting and directing pit orchestras for Iowa City Community Theatre. He currently performs with CR Jazz, a big band affiliated with Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Roger also writes historical fiction and fantasy, having published four novels with All Things That Matter Press and Penmore Press.
Email - roger@zionlutheran-ic.org
lu Hileman
Zion Flute Choir Director
A retired music therapist and educator, lu earned her degree in Music Education and Music Therapy from Wartburg College in 1978. She completed her Music Therapy internship at UI Hospital School, and made Iowa City her home shortly afterward. She spent her entire career in the Iowa City Community School District, loving and serving students of all abilities from ages 2-21. lu also co-founded Court Hill Winds over 30 years ago, and plays flute in that group. Lu has directed the Zion Flute Choir (aka the Zion Flute Flock) since its inception in 2016.
Bringing meaningful music into the church and places in the community has been the main goal of the Zion Flute Choir. lu also has performed volunteer work, primarily as a CASA representative and for Habitat for Humanity. She loves spending time with her husband Roger, their three daughters, and four grandchildren. She enjoys her friends, making music, traveling, and being involved in making her corner of the world a kinder and gentler place.
Email - lu@zionlutheran-ic.org