Our School Teachers

Fourth Grade - Eighth Grade

Mr. Don Gurgel was born in Davenport, Iowa on July 6, 1946. His family soon moved to Milwaukee, which became his hometown through high school.

Mr. Gurgel has been in the teaching ministry since 1968. In his first five years he taught grades five and six at Jordan Lutheran in West Allis, WI. He spent the next three years at St. Johns in Montello, WI. He has been teaching at Mount Olive in Appleton, WI since 1977.

“I believe that our Lutheran elementary schools (LES) are a very important arm of the church. Our Lord has commanded the church to feed His lambs, and through the LES we have an opportunity to teach daily lessons in his Word and to apply his Word in all subjects. I believe the LES is a blessing to all the members and consider it a privilege to be in the teaching ministry.”

Don Gurgel and his wife, Judy, have five grown children and three grand-daughters. The Gurgels’ four daughters reside in the Fox cities area and their son lives near St. Paul, MN. The Gurgel family likes the north woods, fishing and playing games.

Mrs. Amy Schmidt is originally from Saginaw, MI and attended St. Paul Elementary School from kindergarten through 8th grade. She continued on to Michigan Lutheran Seminary, graduating in 1996; and then attended Martin Luther College, graduating in May 2000. Mrs. Schmidt has a special gift for Spanish, having had 7 years of language training throughout her high school and college training. In her free time she enjoys playing basketball, stamping, outdoor activities, shopping, and coin collecting. Mrs. Schmidt's husband, Joshua, teaches 3rd and 4th grade at St. Peter Lutheran School in Weyauwega, WI. The Schmidt's have made their home in Appleton.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to offer Spanish to God's children in the 5th-8th grades."

Mr. Douglas Enter has been in the teaching ministry since 1971. While all these years have been given to Mount Olive, he has served in several capacities during this time. Mr. Enter has taught in grades four through eight. In the past he has coached several sports, directed the Children's Choir and headed the school's computer program. At the present time, he is Mt. Olive's principal and teaches 7th grade.

"I believe that Mount Olive Lutheran School offers children that which is most needed in this life, namely, daily instruction in God's Word. It is faith in Jesus, our Savior, which serves as the motivating factor for everything our children do. To be an instructor working with colleagues of the same faith, teaching children the love of Christ in all facets of education is the joy of every day."

Mr. Enter's wife, Diane, is administrator for St. Paul Lutheran Child Care Center. They have six children. Caleb works in the field of journalism. Rachel, a college graduate, is married to Bill Hanmann and they have a son, Gabriel. Joshua is married to Jessica, and is a machinist. Peter is a student at UW Madison. Paul attends Fox Valley Lutheran High School. Elizabeth is a student at Mount Olive. The Enter family enjoys gardening, camping, fishing and spending time outdoors, especially at their country home.