Father Robert J.F. Ponec was acting Rector of St. Bartholomew’s, Woodinville, until his death in November, 2020. Although we still profoundly feel the pain of separation, let us remember that he now lives in our true, native land with our Lord and his saints. You can read his obituary here.
Father Ponec was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1952. He acquired his undergraduate degree in psychology from Creighton University in 1978 after serving in the Nebraska National Guard for six years. While in college he founded a medical courier service, providing Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri with transportation of medical related items from hospitals, from which he divested himself after 40 years. Ordained deacon in 2000 and priest in 2006, he founded two churches, one in Sioux City, Iowa (St. Stephen the Martyr) and St. John the Baptist in Omaha.
Fr. Ponec served on the Diocese of the Western States board of directors for many years, and as Recording Secretary beginning in 2009. He previously also served on the Ecclesiastical Court for the DWS. He began serving as a chaplain for the Omaha Police Department in 2015, and on the OPD Chaplaincy Executive board in 2019.
Married to his high school sweetheart, Debra Lynn Ponec for 42 years, they have no children. Debra has been in Education her entire adult life, (earning herself more degrees than a thermometer) serving at the Elementary, Secondary and College level. She retired from Creighton University in 2020, after serving there for 20+ years.