Woody was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. As soon as he could (age 18), he moved to the Pacific Northwest and attended Whitworth College in Spokane. It turned out to be a good move. Not only was the weather better, but he met Dea at Whitworth and they were married in 1978.
After graduation, he attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa for one year and finished at Pacific Lutheran Theologian Seminary in Berkeley, CA. Woody's first call was to First Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He was one of four pastors at a very large congregation, and the services were broadcast on the radio every Sunday. He believes he was almost famous.

After four years, they moved back to Washington, and Woody worked as the youth pastor for several Lutheran congregations in Seattle. His next move was to Holy Trinity Lutheran on Mercer Island.  After that he served as the senior pastor of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO.  He returned to Washington and served as Interim Pastor at Shepherd of the Valley in Maple Valley.

They are glad to be back in Washington after living in the Seattle area from 1985—2000. Woody's wife Dea got her old job back teaching English at Cedarcrest High School in Duvall, and they live in the same neighborhood where they raised their kids. 

Their daughter, Megan, attends Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Their son, Bret, works and lives in Fort Collins, as well.

Woody came to Wooden Cross in 2007. The place hasn't been the same since. He brings excitment to Wooden Cross. The bible is brought to life in terms we all understand. Woody is excited and so are we to have him among this Christian family.