Dean of Student Life – Mr. Phil Adickes was born in Fort Atkinson, WI. His family moved to Arizona in the late 70s when his dad was Called to Arizona Lutheran Academy. Mr. Adickes attended Phoenix College and also worked with a professional photographer during those years until he decided it was time for a change. He enrolled in Martin Luther College in 1993.

In 1997, Mr. Adickes was assigned to California Lutheran HS as a dorm supervisor for one year. Then in 1998 he was assigned as grades 6-8 teacher, Athletic Director, and Principal to Faith LS in Tacoma, WA. They spent 16 years there until 2014 when he accepted a Call to Zion in Denver. Mr. Adickes accepted the call to serve as the Dean of Students at Illinois Lutheran in 2018.

Mr. Adickes and his wife, Anne, have three children: Leah, Levi, and Grace. In his free time, he loves listening to music, being outside, working in the yard, riding his bike, skateboarding, playing basketball, and working on his 1978 Convertible Volkswagen Super Beetle. His favorite pastime is cheering on the Packers.

Mr. Adickes teaches Religion, Health and Math
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 121 – Email: padickes@ilhs.org

Dean of Academics – Mrs. Katty Van Arnold grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2018 with a degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Mathematics Education. Before coming to ILHS, she taught math and was a dorm supervisor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. In summer of 2023 she got married to Mr. Noah Van Arnold, who is the 5th grade teacher at the elementary campus.

Mrs. Van Arnold enjoys most every activity outside including hiking, running, hammocking, camping, rollerblading, etc. She also likes playing board games, traveling to new places, and visiting friends and family.

Mrs. Van Arnold is a Math Teacher, Guidance Counselor, and Registrar
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 110 – Email: kvanarnold@ilhs.org

Dean of Spiritual Life – Mr. Tim Rimpel is a 1978 Graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. He holds a Masters of Social Sciences from Governor’s State University and a Masters of Arts in Religion from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. Mr. Rimpel has been teaching in Crete for over 35 years. He currently teaches Junior and Senior Religion. As Dean of Spiritual Life, Mr. Rimpel is responsible for all aspects of spiritual life and oversees all worship opportunities for our students.

Mr. Rimpel says, “Illinois Lutheran provides a Christ-centered education that promotes a Biblical mindset to live out what has been learned.”

Mr. Rimpel teaches Religion
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 107 – Email: trimpel@ilhs.org

Activities Director – Mr. Nathan Hinz is from Wisconsin and graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. Mr. Hinz has been teaching at ILS since 2001. Currently he teaches 8th grade Language Arts and physical education for grades 7-12. He serves as the schools’ Activities Director. He is the head coach of the boys varsity basketball program.

When asked what he enjoys the most about teaching, he said, “Bringing the Gospel to people who may be hearing it for the first time and watching them grow in their connection to Christ.”

When Mr. Hinz is not at school he enjoys camping with his family in the tri-state area and playing golf whenever possible. Mr. Hinz and his wife, Ginger, have two children, Mollie, and Hannah, both graduates of ILHS.

Mr. Hinz teaches 8th grade English/Language Arts and Physical Education
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 114 – Email: nhinz@ilhs.org

Mr. Josiah Cloute grew up attending a mission church in Missoula, MT until his father took a call to serve at St. Luke’s in Watertown, WI. He lives there now with his parents, Justin and Rachel, and his three siblings — Sophie, Ethan, and Caleb. In 2021, Josiah graduated from Luther Prep and went on to Martin Luther College to major in Secondary English. After his junior year, he received an emergency call to teach at Illinois Lutheran, where he will be teaching during the 2024-25 school year. He will then finish his studies at MLC, graduating in 2026.

Mr. Conor Kopp was born in Milwaukee, WI and has also lived in Laport, IN, Plainfield, IL, Grand Rapids, MI, Fort Myers, FL, Saginaw, MI, and Appleton, WI. He attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary for high school and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2023. His parents are Brian and Cheryl Kopp and he has three younger siblings – Liam, Elise, and Greta.

Mr. Kopp enjoys reading, writing, playing electric guitar, playing video games, and watching anime. His favorite part of teaching literature is teaching students how to think critically and analyze a text. He loves seeing them work through deep concepts and ideas as they apply them to their lives. 

Mr. Kopp teaches English
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 118 – Email: ckopp@ilhs.org

Mr. Jacob Lash was born and lived his whole life in Racine, WI. He is the oldest of three children of Brian and Kim Lash, who have both lived in the Racine/Kenosha area since childhood as well.

Mr. Lash graduated from Shoreland Lutheran High School in 2013 and immediately went to Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN the following fall. After spending five years there, he graduated from Martin Luther College in the spring of 2018 with a double major in Secondary Mathematics Education and Elementary Education. Just a few hours after graduation, Mr. Lash received an assignment from the WELS assignment committee to teach high school and junior high math at ILS.

Mr. Lash began talking to and met his future wife Kelly in May of 2019. In October of 2020 he proposed and she said yes! They were married on July 17 of 2021.  Mrs. Lash is now working as the office manager of Zion Lutheran Church, just across from the high school that Mr. Lash teaches at. Mr. and Mrs. Lash love playing Cribbage and Sequence together as well as going for nice walks in the evenings.

Mr. Lash teaches Math
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 103 – Email: jlash@ilhs.org

Mr. Jeff Rick grew up in La Valle, WI, and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Social Studies Education. Mr. Rick teaches different levels of social studies, math, and religion in the junior high and high school and is the 7th-grade homeroom teacher. He also coaches the varsity boys’ basketball team and assists with junior high baseball.

When asked what he enjoys most about teaching, Mr. Rick said, “I love seeing the ‘aha’ moments when students understand difficult topics and questions.”

Mr. Rick was married to his wife, Lisa, in July 2017. She taught preschool at Illinois Lutheran Elementary School but is now staying home with their first child, Hudson. Mr. Rick enjoys playing and watching sports (mostly football and basketball). He also enjoys hiking and traveling with his family.

Mr. Rick teaches Social Studies, Computers and 7th Grade Homeroom
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 113 – Email: jrick@illinoislutheran.org

Miss Chloe Robbert grew up in Weyauwega, WI until June 2012 when her father took a call to serve as the pastor for King of Kings Lutheran Church in Wasilla, AK. In October of 2021, her family then returned to the Midwest when her father took a call to serve at St. John’s Lutheran in Goodhue, MN. She attended Luther Preparatory School for high school and graduated in 2018. She graduated from Martin Luther College in 2022 with a degree in Secondary Science Education.

Teaching at Illinois Lutheran is her first call out of Martin Luther College. She is very excited to be sharing her love for Christ and his creation with all her students. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)

Miss Robbert teaches Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, 7th Grade Life Science and Junior High Art
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 127 – Email: crobbert@ilhs.org

Miss Beth Schuppe is from Memphis, TN and graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1983. She has been teaching at Illinois Lutheran since the doors opened in 1987. Miss Schuppe teaches American History to 8th graders, World History to freshmen and World Geography for sophomores-seniors. Juniors and Seniors are able to choose from several electives She also coaches the ILHS Scholastic bowl team.

When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she said, “Being with the students. They bring such joy to my life. They are my family here in Crete. I love sharing with them how God directed history to further His plan of salvation because nobody explained that to me when I was younger.”

When away from school, she enjoys playing her guitar for fun, in school devotions and also in church services. She leads a ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church called Paws with a Purpose whose members visit residents at nursing homes with their dogs.

Miss Schuppe teaches History and Government
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 106 – Email: bschuppe@ilhs.org

Mr. Peter Shi was born and raised in China and is an only child. His Chinese name is Ziwen Shi. When he was 15 years old, God gave him the opportunity to come to the United States to study. He went to Michigan Lutheran Seminary in 2014 and started as a Sophomore, graduating in 2017. He attended Martin Luther College as a staff minister, but later decided that he wanted to be a teacher because he has always loved science and he wanted to help students to be successful. He graduated from MLC in 2022 and is looking forward to his first teaching Call and first classroom.

Mr. Shi teaches Chemistry & Physics
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 126 – Email: pshi@ilhs.org

Pastor Kendall Cook
Trinity Lutheran Church
Phone: 708.672.8125 – Email: kcook@trintycrete.org