Our Teachers

Meet Mrs. Tessa Koeppe (Head Teacher and Upper-Grade Teacher)

    Mrs. Koeppe was born in Norfolk, NE. She grew up in Stuart, NE. She attended Stuart Public School K-12, graduating in 2016. She attended Northeast Community College receiving her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2018. She then began taking online classes through the University of Nebraska at Kearney, receiving her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education inclusive in 2020. She taught preschool at King's Kids in 2020-2021, was a substitute teacher 2021-2022 school year. She was then called to teach here at Immanuel Lutheran School. She has been coaching basketball at St. Paul's for the last 5 years and was their Aftercare leader. 

     She was recently married to her husband, Matthew Koeppe. They got married on April 29, 2023. They look forward to building a life together here in Hadar. 

      Apart from teaching, Mrs. Koeppe can often be found traveling and supporting her nieces and nephews, reading a good book, or spending time with family. 

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Meet Mrs. Nancy Aaberg (Lower Grade Teacher)

    Mrs. Aaberg is the lower grade teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Grade School. She graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1979. She was called to teach at St. John's Lutheran School in Jacksonville, FL grades K-4. She served there until 1981. She then was called to St. Johns Lutheran School in Stanton, NE. She has taught a variety of grades ranging everywhere from Preschool to grade 8. She taught at St. Johns in Stanton, NE for 27 years. She was then called to teach here at Immanuel Lutheran. 

    She has been married for 33 years to Kurt Aaberg. They have 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 6 grandchildren. 

    She has played the church organ for 43 years. She also directs the choir at St. Johns in Stanton. Besides teaching God's little lambs and visiting family, she enjoys sewing, knitting, crocheting, and gardening.

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Meet Mrs. Karen Pufahl (Pre-K Teacher)

    Mrs. Karen Pufahl is the Preschool director and teacher at Jesus’ Kids Preschool. She was born and raised in Kiel, WI. Her family later moved to Green Bay, WI, and she has never stopped being a huge Green Bay Packer fan! She graduated from Doctor Martin Luther College in 1983 with a degree in Elementary Education. 

    She taught Kindergarten at St. Paul’s in Norfolk for 7 years. During that time she married Daniel Pufahl, who works at Veyance in Norfolk, and celebrated the birth of her firstborn child in 1990 and her second child in 1992. She began work at Immanuel in 2001, where she has continued until the present day.  

     Mrs. Pufahl loves playing piano and organ, reading, and she loves taking care of her family! She loves young children and sharing the love of Jesus with them! She continues to learn more about Early Childhood as she takes classes every summer to stay current on Early Childhood practices and techniques. She is so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the ministry at Jesus’ Kids Preschool and Immanuel Lutheran in Hadar. To God be the Glory!