Church Staff
Pastor David Robert Aber
Interim Pastor
I’m excited to continue to fulfill my calling in Christ as your next Interim Minister. I come to you most recently from serving as the Temporary Pastor of Firelands Presbyterian Church in Port Clinton. My career includes many years of service at every level of the denomination – General Assembly, Synod, Presbytery, parishes from large to small, from city to small town, and even a two stint at a mission-related preparatory school in New Mexico. I’m a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Additionally, I have an M.B.A. from the University of Findlay, certification as an Interim Minister, and have pursued professional development in the areas of preaching, evangelism and church growth, and technology and social media in the church. I’m married to Gwen who recently retired from a career of teaching in public education. We have two grown and married children.
Dr. Abigail Haake
Music Director/Organist
Abby holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from The University of Michigan, a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from The University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organ Performance from West Virginia Wesleyan College, and a Zertifikat Deutsch from the Goethe Institut, Mannheim, Germany. She is also a Licensed Kindermusik Educator, running a “Top Program” studio for many years. Prior to moving to Ohio, Dr. Haake held positions at large Presbyterian and United Methodist churches in West Virginia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Tennessee. She has also served on music faculties at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Murray State University. Dr. Haake is married to John, a Colonel in the US Army, and they have two sons and a sassy Weimaraner. In her spare time, she loves reading, knitting, baking, and being outdoors!
Valerie Stewart
Children's Choir Director
Valerie graduated from The University of Akron with a bachelor of music (education) in 2007. She has been teaching elementary through middle school students general/vocal/instrumental music ever since! Along with this, she has experience with leading children’s choirs in church and community settings. Vocal music is her focus and she is currently a member of Singer’s Companye, an Akron-based chamber choir and has enjoyed serving at Westminster as a Choral Scholar along with her husband Paul. They live in Cuyahoga Falls with their son Desi.
Dave Bodnar
Custodian
Dave was born in Steubenville, Ohio and grew up in Toronto, Ohio, where he graduated from Toronto High School. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for nine years. Following his discharge from the service, he has lived and worked in Ohio. He has over twenty years of experience in building maintenance at Retiree Housing MGMT, and an additional two years of experience with the Central Stark County YMCA.
Bruce Klucharich
Audio/Visual Technician
I have been in the audio/visual industry for over 40 years. Starting out as a concert tour technician as a teenager in the late 70’s, then an A/V equipment installer and in recent years as a design engineer. During the week, I work for iVideo Technologies in Cleveland as an integrated systems engineer, designing, engineering and programming audio and video systems for corporate, government, higher education,healthcare & house of worship clients including The Cleveland Clinic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Akron Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University and others.
I joined the Westminster Presbyterian staff in 2021 to put my live production skills to use improving the audio quality for the in person attendees and the production quality of the live broadcast.
On a personal note. I’m a widower of five years and the proud pet parent of 3 gorgeous and loving Siberian Huskies. We participate in many fund raising walks throughout the year that raise money for local shelters and rescues.