Pastor Mark Jolivette

Born in St. Paul, MN, the oldest of six children of Rev. Norbert and Alice Jolivette, Pastor Jolivette spent most of his growing years in central Iowa. He graduated from South Hamilton High School (Jewell, IA) in 1968, and then graduated from Waldorf College (Forest City, IA) in 1970. After touring with Lutheran Youth Encounter and working in their regional office in Cleveland and national office in Minneapolis, he finished Augsburg College (Minneapolis, MN) in 1972 with a degree in sociology.

Youth work in Minneapolis followed, during which time he had the joy of marrying Sharon McClure of North Olmsted (Cleveland), OH, on Nov.4, 1972. After she finished her RN degree, he began Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and was ordained in 1977. His confirmation, wedding and ordination were all held at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, Iowa.

He has served parishes in Bridgeton (St. Louis), MO; Clear Lake and Estherville, IA; English Lutheran in La Crosse, WI and Mindoro & Lewis Valley Lutheran Churches in north La Crosse County. He began his current ministry as Senior Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in downtown La Crosse in February 2006.

In 1979 he began an additional ministry to God’s people as a Navy chaplain, and retired in August 2009 after 30 years of military service as the national Navy reserve chaplain. At his retirement he was the senior Captain chaplain in the Navy Reserve.

In 1990 he was awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation of Indiana (Notre Dame site), with a focus in Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic studies.

He and Sharon have 3 children and two grandchildren: Karin (and husband Ryan) Panzer with son Andrew of Iowa City, IA; Anne Jolivette Schularick of Iowa City, IA (and husband Nate) with granddaughter Karina; and Serina of Madison, WI. Sharon, a certified nurse midwife, is now working as a nurse practitioner with Options Clinic of La Crosse, including outreach weekly to Prairie du Chien.

His La Crosse community involvements have included YMCA and Sugar Creek Bible Camp board memberships and performing as a percussionist with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He recently completed nine years as a board member of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, serves on the board of World Services Inc., and is president of the La Crosse – Forde Friendship Association (La Crosse’s sister city in Norway). He is an active member of the Rotary Club of La Crosse.