Cathedral staff
The Rev. Dr. John T. Allen, Priest
Fr. John earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Fullerton; a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
Fr. John was ordained a Deacon in 1968 and a Priest in 1971. He has served as a parish priest in Alabama, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin; as a missionary in Kenya; and ministered at Froedtert Hospital as a Board-Certified Chaplain. Father John started his ministry in Lutheran Church (ELCA). He was received as a priest in the Diocese of Milwaukee by Bishop Roger White in 2000. Father Allen is proficient in Spanish and served the Spanish-speaking congregation at St. John’s-Mineral Street, Milwaukee, until it closed. He also served at St. Mark’s-South Milwaukee, and St. James-Milwaukee.
Fr. John is married to Marilyn, has three adult children, six grandchildren, and one Irish wolfhound named Mollie.
Jenny Gettel, Director of Music
Jenny Gettel (she/her/hers) developed her love of Episcopal liturgy and music from an early age, while attending Christ Church in Whitefish Bay with her family and singing in the choirs.
Jenny returned to the Christ Church choir after completing her Bachelor of Music in Choral Education (Lawrence University) and Master of Music in Vocal Performance (University of Illinois), and within a few years was invited to become music director. Working with her mentor, organist Trudy Stillman, she led adult and children’s choirs in weekly anthems, Lessons and Carols, and other special choral events, and directed fun, multi-generational productions by the congregation, including Noye’s Fludde, Amahl and the Night Visitors, youth/children’s musicals, and Trial by Jury. Jenny became music director (choir director and contemporary band leader) at St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Mequon in 2002 and music director and pianist at St. Simon the Fisherman Episcopal Church in Port Washington in 2018.
Jenny teaches voice at The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Concordia University Wisconsin, and her home studio, and directs and sings with The Collegium Ladyes, including their recent CD, Knowing She Hath Wings. She has served as a soprano soloist with the Bach Babes, Washington Island Music Festival, Present Music, Skylight Opera Theatre, and other groups. She also directed the Jubilate Choir of Milwaukee Children’s Choir and taught and volunteered in Milwaukee Public Schools’ music programs.
Jenny and her husband, Jim, live in Grafton and have two adult daughters, Katie and Sarah.
Mr. Lee Erickson, Organist
Having studied at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music, Lee is well-known for his prowess as an organist and choral director. In his position as Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Lee was the holder of the Margaret Hawkins Chorus Director Chair. He was appointed the Associate Director of the chorus in 1978 and assumed the position of Director in 1994 after founder Margaret Hawkins’ death in 1993. He retired from the position at the end of the 2015–2016 season. He has served on the choral panel of the National Endowment of the Arts, is past Dean of the Milwaukee chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and served as Music Director at St. Anthony’s Church in Milwaukee for 35 years. In 2007, Lee was named Artist of the Year by the Milwaukee Arts Board and in January 2008, he was honored by the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music for his contribution to the Greater Milwaukee community. In 2011 he was named a Distinguished Citizen by the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee.
Lee has been the supply organist for All Saints’ on many occasions over the years before assuming the official position as cathedral organist. He has contributed significant amounts of time, expertise, and resources in maintaining and improving our cathedral organ and is overseeing upgrades starting in 2020.
Mr. John Semon, Sexton
John (he/him/his) is a believer in Christ who cleans and maintains All Saints’ Cathedral as well as Lakeshore Church. His skills include plumbing, electrical and steam work, carpentry, and masonry repairs. He enjoys reading, bicycling, swimming, hiking, and visiting up north.
Cindy Wilmeth,
Office Administrator
Cindy Wilmeth (she/her/hers) is so pleased to be part of the All Saints' team as your parish administrator! A native of Grafton, WI, Cindy studied music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and now lives in Shorewood. She has been at St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Mequon for the last 12 years, first serving as the organist/rehearsal accompanist and later as music director. She has also worked in an administrative capacity for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and most recently at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Cindy hopes you'll stop by the church office and say hello!
The Rev. Michael Parks, Canon Emeritus
Fr. Michael Theodore “Tad” Parks (he/him/his) was born and grew up in the small Dutch upstate community of Muitzeskill, New York, and was raised in the Old Dutch Reformed tradition. He graduated from the Ichabod Crane School District in 1963 and attended the University at Albany (SUNYA), earning a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and related fields.
He came out to Wisconsin in the fall of 1967 to attend Nashotah House Theological Seminary, in Delafield, WI. During his time there, took time off do to a year of clinical training in New York City in the MUSTF program. He returned to the Nashotah House and finished his Master of Divinity degree in May 1971. Fr. Michael spent four years as a lay-brother under vows at Blessed Sacrament Church in Green Bay, WI. He was ordained a deacon by the late Bishop Roger White in January 2003, and ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Keith Whitmore in July 2003, both taking place at the Cathedral.
Between seminary and ordination, his varied career included being a business manager for a small construction company in DePere and a high school substitute teacher. He eventually relocated to Milwaukee, taking several accounting positions. For the last 20 years of his career, he served as the Paymaster of Milwaukee County. During this time he earned a degree in accounting and became an accredited Certified Public Account (CPA).
Fr. Michael has served several parishes in the Diocese of Wisconsin, first as the Priest-in-Charge at Resurrection-Mukwonago; and then as the long-term supply priest as St. Peter’s- West Allis from 2011 – 2021.
Following his retirement from Milwaukee County, he worked for a few years with a small CPA firm startup. He now has limited his practice to a few existing clients. In his spare time, he is very active in genealogy, model railroading, and Amateur Radio (W9NOT), and tries to be a halfway decent gardener.
Fr. Parks has been in an almost 50-year long-term relationship with Jack Kallman, who is also a member of the Cathedral Parish. They reside in a spacious 1901 American Four-Square on the East Side.