Biography

Pastor Tom Unrath was born in West Palm Beach, FL. He grew up all over the world as his father was an Air Force Logistics Officer. He lived in FL, the Azores, GA, MD, IL, KY, and NC.  He graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Ankara, Turkey.  In May 1977, he graduated from Valparaiso University, IN, with a music and theology major.  He attended Christ Seminary-Seminex in St. Louis, graduating in May 1981. He was ordained on Jan 30, 1982. He was an Air Force Chaplain with 22 years active duty military service around the U.S. and overseas in Spain and Okinawa, Japan.  He retired from the USAF at Patrick AFB on April 1, 2007, as a LtCol.  He has served as interim pastor at several Lutheran congregations in Brevard County since his Air Force retirement and has been pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Cocoa since 2010.  

He married Anita Pennekamp in the Valparaiso University Chapel on May 20, 1977.  Anita taught French and Spanish in schools at every place they lived. They have two children. Nicole was born in 1981 and John in 1983. They both attended Valparaiso University. John went on to gain a PhD in Psychology. Nicole died in a car accident in 2005.

Shortly after Nicole’s death Tom and Anita joined “The Compassionate Friends,” a support group for families that have experienced the death of a child.  They have been leaders in the local chapter.

 As a person who lives with MS he has been part of in the Central Brevard MS Support Group since 2004. He is also active as an advocate for MS with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and regularly meets with legislators in FL and DC.