Our Staff & Leadership

Our Pastor, Rev. Russell Graef

Russell Graef grew up in Poynette Wisconsin. Following graduation from Poynette High School in 1975 he attended St. Olaf College in Northfield MN. There he graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Classical Studies in 1979. He then attended Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul MN where he received the Master of Divinity degree in 1983. During his time at seminary he served as an intern pastor in Milwaukee WI and married Dennice Bakke from Bloomington MN. The Rev. Graef served as an associate pastor at Atonement Lutheran Church in Racine WI from 1983-1986. In 1986 he accepted a call to serve as the pastor of Zion and Grace Lutheran Parish in rural Frederic WI until 1992. During this time, Russell and Dennice enjoyed the birth of their children, Erik and Britta. He also earned the Master of Theology degree from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary in 1990 with a concentration in church history. In 1992 he accepted a call to Oakland and Moscow Lutheran Parish in rural Albert Lea and Austin ,MN where he served until 1995. After 12 years of service as a civilian pastor in Lutheran congregations, the U. S. Navy recruited him to serve in the Navy Chaplain Corps on active duty. Chaplain Graef attended the Basic Chaplain Course in Newport, RI. For his first tour, he and his family moved to Yokosuka, Japan where he ministered to the Sailors on U.S. Navy ships. Future assignments included tours in Camp Lejeune NC, Cherry Point NC, Bahrain, Norfolk VA and Great Lakes IL. His deployments included assignments in Afghanistan, Fifth Fleet and Sixth Fleet. Serving five tours with the Navy and five tours with the Marine Corps, Chaplain Graef retired at the rank of Captain in 2019 after 24 years of honorable service. Following his retirement, he and Dennice began attending Prince of Peace, as it had become clear to them that the theological direction of the ELCA was taking was not in accordance with Scripture and Lutheran Doctrine. Leaving the ELCE and following the process laid out by the LCMS Colloquy Committee, Russ is now a fully rostered pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He, Dennice and daughter Britta are members of Prince of Peace. Since his retirement, he and Dennice have moved back into their home in Chesapeake VA. His interests include spending time with family, running, cycling, reading, playing violin and guitar.

Preschool Director, Alicia Mangels

Alicia Mangels has been the Preschool Director at Prince of Peace since 2012. Prior to becoming the director, she taught at Prince of Peace in both the Younger Twos and the Older Twos classrooms. Alicia earned her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and became certified as a Reading Specialist. She has taught at the preschool, elementary, and college levels but her heart is with the youngest learners.

Director of Music & Organist, Oksana Lutsyshyn

Oksana Lutsyshyn was born in the city of Lviv, Ukraine. She began studying music at the age of eight and at twelve she entered the Special Music School in Lviv. Upon graduating from this school, she moved to Moscow, Russia, where she entered the Moscow State Conservatory, completing both her graduate and post-graduate degrees. After moving to the United States, she was Visiting Scholar at the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. She is presently on the music faculty at Old Dominion University, where she teaches Piano and Music Theory. She also serves as Artistic Co-Director of the Norfolk Chamber Consort.
She has appeared in concerts as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe, the United States, and South America. Locally, she has performed with the Virginia International Arts Festival, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Ludwig F. Diehn Concert Series, as well as numerous other concert presenters. Lutsyshyn won Second Prize at the Vienna Modern Masters Third International Performers’ Recording Awards Competition. She was also a prizewinner at the William Kapell International Piano Competition in College Park, Maryland.
In addition to her performing and recording schedules, Ms. Lutsyshyn has taught master classes at many American universities, including Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. Currently, she teaches piano at the Governor’s School for the Arts and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She also serves as Director of Music at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach