Carolyn Crowe
Carolyn was born in the tiny hamlet of Odell, Nebraska (about 70 miles south of Lincoln), and spent her childhood on the family's general farm in northern Kansas. She and her five younger siblings were expected to help with the usual farming chores and large garden, and the family was actively involved with the local 4-H club. Carolyn attended Valparaiso University, then Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing. Various nursing positions have included clinical instructor in labor and delivery, in-service coordinator, and pediatric nurse practitioner in the evaluation center for the Special School District of St. Louis County. While pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Webster University, Carolyn was introduced to the specialty of parish nursing, and has served Christ Lutheran in that position for many years.

Carolyn has been actively involved with the Common Sense Gun Solutions committee of Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice, and the Mitrata Foundation for Children in Nepal. She and husband Bob have two children, Emily and Andy, and three grandchildren: Ellie, Audrey and Atlas. They love opera, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and travel.

Lu Kimple

I am currently the Director of the Second-Degree Nursing Program for Fairfield University - Austin Campus . Prior to this I was an Iowa native who graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1980. I went on to attain an BS and MS in Health Sciences, a BSN and MSN degree and in 2010, my PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University. I have been with the ELPNA since about 2016. I started parish nursing at 2 ELCA churches in Des Moines, Iowa before moving to Texas in 2017. I then started a parish nurse program at Peace Lutheran Church here in Austin, after my move.

Barb Keil
Barb lives in Topeka, KS. She obtained her BSN and MSN from Ft. Hays State University in Hays KS.  She worked for Colmery-O’Neil Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center for 29 years. During her years at the VA she worked in Med-Surg, Ambulatory & Outpatient clinics, and Quality Management. 

Barb received a direct commission into the Army Reserves. She deployed with her hospital unit to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.  She also spent time in Germany, Egypt, and El Paso, TX.

She retired from the Army Reserves in 2015 and the VA in 2018. Barb lives with her husband, Mike, and their cats. She became a parish nurse in 2016 and she serves the congregation of Our Savior's Lutheran in Topeka.