Leadership Ministry Team

George Clawson

Vice President

Personal information: My birthplace was Miami, Florida, but moved to Lakewood, Ohio in the second grade and became an avid Cleveland Indian and Cleveland Brown fan.  I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BS in speech pathology before being commissioned in the Air Force.  I received my masters in counseling and personal services at the Far East Division of the University of Maryland in between flying combat missions over Vietnam. 

My 20 year career in the Air Force was followed by 20 more years working for Honeywell Space and Defense in Washington DC, Clearwater FL, Phoenix AZ, and Los Angeles, CA.  I met my lovely wife Deborah in Bluffton in 2014 and Pastor Larry Eckart married us in 2015 at ILC.  Together we have five children, 10 (soon 12) grandchildren, and one great grandchild.  The blessings just keep coming!  I also work part time with my wife at Gardenias/Circle of Life Floral Designs as their HR Director.

My Favorite Leisure Activities: Aging has had a major role in the transition of my leisure activities from golf, tennis, and snow skiing to more sedentary activities such as cooking, reading stories to my grandchildren, and travel.  

My Favorite Bible Verse: John 15: 12-14: “ This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one that this, that someone lay down his life for your friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Jesus the Christ

David Grandt

Head Elder

Personal Information: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois raised in the surrounding Chicago suburbs and married Laura in 1971. We have been blessed with two children (boy and girl) and three grandchildren. We moved to Hilton Head in 2004 from The Hague, Netherlands, when I retired from Unilever N.V. as Global VP Supply Chain and Technology of the Foods Division. I then worked as an independent contractor/consultant for Unilever, Bayer Pharmaceutical, and Glaxo Smith Kline for six more years. I graduated from Carthage College, Kenosha, WI with a BA in Biology and received my MBA from Kellogg Business School, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

My favorite leisure activities: I enjoy boating, fishing, reading, ballroom dancing, walking on the beach with my dog Pippa, volunteering for various local organizations and spending quality time with my family and friends.

My favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Cathy Beste

Secretary

Personal Information: I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri with my older brother Steve and younger sister Karen. I was blessed to attend Lutheran elementary and Lutheran high school. It was at Lutheran High School South in St. Louis that I met my husband, Greg. Greg and I both attended Kansas University and we were married in 1981. I went on to graduate from Kansas University with a degree in pharmacy and

I have been practicing pharmacy for 39 years. Greg and I moved to Hilton Head in 1986 to be near his parents. We were among a handful of charter members at the very beginning of Island Lutheran Church. The Lord has blessed us with 3 children Kristin, Kyle and Joshua and the best part is we now have 6 grandchildren! We loved raising our family in the Low Country and we continue to love Low Country living.

My favorite leisure activities: I love cooking as well as entertaining family & friends, walking the beach, pickleball, bike riding, hiking (especially in the NC mountains), traveling, following Green Bay Packers and Clemson football, and my most favorite is just enjoying life with our children and grandchildren.

My favorite Bible verses: Romans 8:38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dean Cochenour

Treasurer

Jeff Dorth

Lead Pastor (non-voting)

Personal Information: My childhood was blessed with experiences that galvanized my love for my brother, Greg, and my sister, Heidi. Our parents, both now with the Lord, moved us often; I attended eight schools through twelve grades. We experienced many churches and godly pastors, teachers, and servants; I have wanted to be a pastor since I was eight years old and have treasured relationships with many mentors. While in college, I fell in love with Mary. We married in 1984 and are blessed with four children: Molly, Kenzie, Sam and Shelby. Mary and I have been privileged to serve the Lord in ministries from coast to coast: 16 years in California, 16 years in Wisconsin, and now in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We look forward to many years, the Lord willing, of “island life” in the LowCountry. 

My favorite leisure activities: I enjoy water- playing with our family in the pool, walking on the beach along the ocean, boating, kayaking or wave-running, watching the rain fall from my reading chair in my study, and even biking through puddles on the path. Yes, I love water for many reasons, including water reminds me of my baptism and new birth into God’s family. 

My favorite Bible verse:  Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation unto all who believe.”