We have the best docent volunteer team in the area! It’s because of our volunteers that we can be open seven days a week from 10am-4pm. We do have two paid staffers that can be found on site most days.
Denise Hellwege
Denise serves as Director. She and her husband John moved to Perry County in June, 2023 when he took a call as Pastor of Salem, Farrar and Zion, Crosstown. They both grew up in St. Louis, but John has roots here through his paternal grandfather. The ministry has also taken them to Morton, IL; Platte Center and Humphrey, NE; back to St. Louis; and Edmonton, Alberta. They like being back where they can have a large garden and chickens! They have four adult children and four grandchildren.
Gerard Fiehler
Gerard serves as our Archivist/Historian. He grew up in Altenburg and has spent his entire life in Altenburg. Gerard enjoyed years of business with his father Robert Fiehler and his uncle as the owners of the Altenburg Garage. In retirement, Gerard became a staff person for the Museum and enjoys area history and area family history. Gerard enjoys his two sons and their families that include four granddaughters. Gerard can be found many days after work at “The River,” enjoying East Perry County nature!
Our Executive Board
Jim Lichtenegger
Lynn Degenhardt
Carolyn Schmidt
Carol Wunderlich
Jim and his wife, Gail, live on a small farm in Cape Girardeau County. Both of his parents have roots in East Perry County. After his retirement from the banking and insurance fields he enjoys spending time with their children, farm and garden.
Lynn wears many hats on the Lutheran Heritage Team which include Research Library team, creator of “German Family Tree” family research database, building committee, and collections manager. Lynn is a retired Electrical Engineer. In the 1970’s he worked on the Skylab space program in St Louis MO & Huntsville AL. The rest of his career he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge TN designing research experiments & facilities.
Carolyn is a retired elementary school teacher and is a charter member of the Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum Advisory Council. She helped design the new museum concept, exhibits, and was vital in restoring the cases and Wittenberg church pieces. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, gardening, and traveling with her husband, Ray.
Carol works at the local Gas-A-Mat station and Café in Altenburg, which she formerly owned with her husband, Duane. Carol also serves a leadership role in our City Council. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Our Advisory Board
Kathy Berkbigler, Tucson, AZ
Pat Borgman, Oconomowoc, WI
Dr. Stephanie Clemons, Loveland, CO
Carl Eisman, Jackson, MO
David Fiedler, St. Louis, MO
Lori Boettcher Roth, Oak Ridge, MO
Wayne Schuessler, St. Louis, MO
Rev. Chris Singer, Spring, TX
Gene Weber, Maryland Heights, MO