MILWAUKEE — Seven men will be ordained deacons for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saturday, Sept. 6. The deacons will serve in a variety of ministries at their parishes and in their communities. The following biographies were compiled based on answers the men provided in a written questionnaire.

The men being ordained are:

Robert Derks, 56, a member of St. Peter Parish, Slinger, is married to Jody and they have three children, Nathan, Erika and Jessica. Robert Derks

Derks, who has been the owner and president of the Investment Center of Wisconsin LLC, Pewaukee, since 2008, graduated from Premontre High School (now Notre Dame Academy) Green Bay, in 1977. He earned his Financial Planning Certificate from Kaplan University in 2007, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, in 1981, and master’s degree from Brandeis University, Massachusetts, in 1986.

His diaconal ministry will involve marriage preparation, Marriage on Tap, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, preaching and assisting at Mass. 

His Mass of Thanksgiving is Sunday, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter, Slinger. 

John J. Fritsch, 60, a member of St. Rita Parish, West Allis, is married to Joan and they have two children, Jessica and Julie. John J. Fritsch

Fritch, pastoral associate of care for St. Monica Parish, Whitefish Bay, and St. Eugene Parish, Fox Point, for a year and a half, graduated from De Sales Preparatory High School, Milwaukee, 1968, and attended some college at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary College, Milwaukee, 1973. He also earned a certificate of lay ministry from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, 2009.

His diaconal ministry will include ministry to the sick, work with social ministry, funeral vigils and sacramental roles in the parish. 

His Mass of Thanksgiving will be Sunday, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m., at St. Rita Parish, West Allis.

Dr. David Grambow, a member of Lumen Christi Parish, Mequon, is married to Ann and they have four children Matthew, Daniel, Jonathan and Stephen.Dr. David Grambow

Grambow, a cardiologist at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospitals, graduated from Cudahy High School, Cudahy, in 1978, and earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1982. He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Tennessee, 1986, and did his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, 1986-1990, and Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Michigan Hospital and Health Centers, Michigan, 1990-1993.

His diaconal ministry will include hospice, faith community health ministry, liturgy, baptismal and marriage prep, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)/catechesis.

Masses of Thanksgiving will be Saturday, Sept. 6, 4:30 p.m., at Lumen Christi Parish, Thiensville; and Sunday, Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m., at Lumen Christi Parish, Mequon. 

Patrick J. LaPointe, 56, a member of St. Veronica Parish, Milwaukee, is married to Catherine “Cat” and they have four children, Caitlin, Zachary, Clare and Rhonda.Patrick J. LaPointe

LaPointe, who worked in information technology, mostly as a project manager, for 36 years, became a Knights of Columbus field agent in June to make his work life more compatible with his diaconal ministry. He graduated with a degree in computer science (U.S. Air Force), from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1978, and studied computer science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1982.

His diaconal ministry will focus on RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) and adult confirmation at his parish.

LaPointe’s Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 6, 4:30 p.m., at St. Veronica Parish, Milwaukee.

John C. Mezydlo, 56, a member of St. Bruno Parish, Dousman, and St. Paul Parish, Genesee Depot, is married to Rita and they have a son, John R. Mezydlo (Heather).John C. Mezydlo

Mezydlo, general manager of Lakeland Auto Group in Oconomowoc/Lake Mills for 25 years, is a 1976 graduate of St. Thomas More High School, St. Francis. He also attended UW-Milwaukee, 1977-1978, and Milwaukee Area Technical College, 1980-1981, with an emphasis on general business courses.

His diaconal ministry will focus on social ministry, outreach programs and liturgical ministry at his parishes, S.E.T. Ministries in Milwaukee, and various senior center community complexes in the Waukesha area.

Mezydlo’s Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m., at St. Bruno Parish, Dousman.

Gary Nosacek, 59, a member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Milwaukee, is married to Dr. Cynthia Jones-Nosacek and they have five children, Angela Landerman, Elizabeth Neuman, Jonathon Nosacek, Theresa Nosacek and Dominic Nosacek.Gary Nosacek

Nosacek, a stay-at-home dad, is a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel community columnist, children’s radio host of “Secret Clubhouse” on WYMS-FM, and commercial writer for WKLH-FM.

He graduated from De Sales Preparatory High School, Milwaukee, 1973, and earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications/radio and TV from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1978.

His diaconal ministry will focus on baptisms, weddings, funerals, visiting the homebound and hospitalized, and working with the SPRED program and Riverwest Food Pantry.

Nosacek’s Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Milwaukee.

Charles G. Schneider, 67, a member of St. Martin of Tours Parish, Franklin, is married to Cynthia and they have three children, Nicolle, Eric and Scott.Charles G. Schneider

Schneider is a senior application engineer at Walter USA LLC, where he has worked for 20 years. Schneider graduated from St. Augustine Grade School, Milwaukee, 1961, and Don Bosco High School, Milwaukee, 1965. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and management from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, 2009.

His diaconal ministry will focus on visitation of the sick and homebound, baptisms, funeral vigils and commitments, marriage preparation and witnessing, and assistance in the celebration of the Eucharist at St. Martin of Tours and in the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

Schneider’s Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m., at St. Martin of Tours Parish, Franklin.