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Meet A. Lee Unger, United Methodists' New Pastor

The United Methodist Churches of Durham, La Harpe, and Terre Haute have a new pastor taking over the position held the last six years by Pastor Jim Clayton of La Harpe.

Pastor Jim is now serving the Colchester and Hills Grove United Methodist Churches.

A. Lee Unger has filled the position and will be delivering the message on Sundays to Terre Haute at 8:30 a.m.; Durham at 9:45 a.m., and La Harpe at 11:00 a.m.

Lee was born on December 7, 1944 in Blandinsville and was raised on a farm west of Rushville.

He attended Ross School, one of the last one room schools in Schuyler County for all eight years of his grammar school education.

Lee has an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate, plus a K-9 teaching certificate from Western Illinois University. He studied Theology at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Kentucky Christian College.

On October 23, 1965 Lee married Glenda Sue Fosdyck in Macomb. Glenda is a telephone operator at McDonough District Hospital, where she has worked for 30 years.

The couple have three children, daughter, Toni Lee, graduated from Western Illinois University and passed away ten years ago due to a hyperactive auto immune system.

Son, Dustin lives at home and works on the floor maintenance crew at Wal-Mart in Macomb.

The youngest daughter, Bridget Munson is married to Rick and they live in Elvaston. She graduated from Eureka College and is a stay-at-home mom. Rick does computer work for Catepillar. They are the parents of four children, Olivia, Laurel, Clair and Elliott.

Lee's father, Edwin, was a dairy farmer and his mother, Lorraine, a special education teacher. They are both deceased.

Lee's paternal grandparents were Finus and Susan (Owen) Unger from Camden and maternal grandparents were Freed and Marie (deWitt) Bunfill from Brown County Illinois.

Lee in his earlier years delivered bread for Galloway Bakery in Macomb. Kreamy Trust Bread. He delivered bread to Disco, Basco, Pontoosuc and such big towns such as that.

He also worked in two factories, done janitorial work for a bank and a school, and pastured five churches.

He hold the record for the longest pastorate of the First Christian Church in Blandinsville.

Lee and his wife enjoy collecting antiques.

This past summer they spent a week in the Branson area enjoying shows and spending time at Silver Dollar City. They joined the Wednesday noon gathering at Henson's Gas and Grocery in Champion, MO, at a little settlement with only one store, one church, a nd hone house! Then they were honored guests at the Thursday night Blue Grass Jam at the Vanzant Community Center, another very tiny town near Champion.

On Saturday night they attended the Oldfield Opera at Oldfield, MO. Lee said, "There is nothing like being part of the local lore of the Ozarks!"

Lee still drives a school bus for Illini West High School as well as substituting for them occasionally, which does not leave him much time for extracurricular activities since he is preaching at three United Methodist Churches.

Lee said, "Preaching is the love of my life, and I do love these three UM Churches. My goal is to do my best to serve them and still be involved with young people. Children are our most precious commodity!"