John Wilbur was born in 1965 and grew up in San Antonio, TX and St Louis, MO. He is a pastor’s son and his Dad is currently in prison chaplain ministry in Wichita, KS. He went to Bible college at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, MO. Through traveling on a singing group representing the college, he met his future wife Janice Shuka in Douds, IA. Janice was also a pastor’s kid and grew up in Douds and worked in Fairfield in a nursing home and hospital. Her parents are Bill and Elizabeth Shuka who pastored the Zion Bible Church in Douds for many years. She is a graduate of Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji, MN. They were married in 1987. John graduated from Calvary with a BS in English Bible in 1989 then went into Bible camp ministry in Rhinelander, WI for 9 years.
There first son Josiah was born in Wisconsin. Then they were called into youth ministry in Cedar Rapids, IA for 9 yrs. Joseph, their second son was born in Cedar Rapids. For the past 5 years John and Janice have been active at River of Life Church in Cedar Rapids. John has volunteered in youth group working with the middle schoolers, in Sunday services as a camera operator, and on the prayer ministry teams. Janice has been involved with children’s ministry and a women’s prayer group.
John is a former life-guard instructor, CPR/First Aid instructor, personal trainer and group exercise instructor. For the last 8 years he has worked part-time and full-time in the fitness industry. The past year he worked as an activities coordinator at an assisted living facility in Cedar Rapids. Janice is a certified nurse’s assistant and currently works at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
John enjoys weightlifting, biking, swimming, racquetball, reading, music and movies. Janice enjoys being involved with ministry and with friends and music. Josiah is 16 and a junior. He is learning to play guitar and is a very good artist, specifically with drawing. He looks forward to the art emphasis in Fairfield. He also enjoys fitness and music of all kinds, and ran track in Cedar Rapids. Joseph is 13 and in 8th grade. He enjoys fitness and video games, and is a very good drummer. He also enjoyed playing football in Cedar Rapids.
Currently John serves as Associate Pastor at the church and he and his sons are living in the parsonage. Janice is staying in Cedar Rapids to work at the hospital and get the house ready to go on the market. Once the house is ready she will move to Fairfield. She might continue to work in Cedar Rapids for a time until she can find a job with similar pay and benefits in this area.