The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has named six new couples to preside over historic sites spanning the American Midwest and Mountain West, with service set to begin in February 2027, thechurchnews.com reported. The announcements, which also appear on the Church’s official newsroom, mark a coordinated leadership transition across locations that draw visitors tracing the faith’s 19th-century roots.
Each couple brings decades of combined service in local congregations, missions, and in several cases, prior assignments at other historic properties. The incoming leaders will succeed six outgoing couples whose tenures have overseen sites ranging from a restored pioneer fort in central Utah to the Kirtland Temple grounds in Ohio.
A Veterinarian and a Nurse Take Cove Fort
Kliff A. and Beverly Bramwell of Menan, Idaho, will lead the Cove Fort Historic Site, succeeding President Dee Williams and Sister Roxanne Williams. Brother Bramwell, a former bishop and missionary, holds a veterinary degree from Washington State University and is retired from practice. Sister Bramwell, a Brigham Young University graduate, worked at South Fork Animal Clinic and previously served at the Historic Nauvoo Sites. The couple, parents of six children, also served together at Nauvoo.
An Attorney and a Nurse Head to Ohio
Kent Hazen Collins and Kendra Sue Rees Collins of Morgan, Utah, will preside over the Ohio Historic Sites, replacing President David Frischknecht and Sister Nancy Frischknecht. Brother Collins, a former stake president and mission president in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission, earned degrees in political science and economics from Weber State University and a law degree from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School; he was working as an attorney when called. Sister Collins, a registered nurse who attended Weber State, has served as a stake Young Women president and ward Young Women president.
Mission Support Specialists Take Illinois
Rodney Lynn DeGiulio and Mary Jan Ellis DeGiulio of Salt Lake City will lead the Illinois Historic Sites, succeeding President Daniel Mehr and Sister Rebecca Mehr. Both are mission support specialists in the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission. Brother DeGiulio, who holds an electrical engineering degree from BYU and served in the California Los Angeles Mission, has also been a bishop, stake high councilor, and stake clerk. Sister DeGiulio previously served at the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites. The couple has three children and 12 grandchildren.
Returning Leaders Stay in Southwest Utah
Curtis R. and Ronda L. Johansen of Ivins, Utah, will continue at the Southwest Utah Historic Sites, succeeding President Gil Gardner and Sister Rhonda Gardner. The Johansens were already serving at the sites when called. Brother Johansen is a ward assistant clerk for finance and a former bishop. Sister Johansen has served as a Relief Society president and Primary president. They are parents of six children.
Schumers Assume Leadership Roles
Dee L. and Karen Sue Schumers of Plain City, Utah, will head the Nebraska and Iowa Historic Sites, following President Bill Lawler and Sister Robbie Lawler. Brother Schumers is a temple ordinance worker, music leader, and Sunday School teacher who previously served as a stake president and as a missionary at the Priesthood Restoration Site. Sister Schumers is a temple ordinance worker and counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency. The couple, parents of four, previously served together at the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites.
Wilkinsons Guide Missouri Site Operations
Neil Smith Wilkinson and Susan Larae Pitcher Wilkinson of Bountiful, Utah, will preside over the Missouri Historic Sites, succeeding President Bryson Cook and Sister Janice Cook. Brother Wilkinson, a former bishop and branch president who served in the England London South Mission, studied culinary arts at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Sister Wilkinson has served as a Primary president, Young Women president, and Relief Society teacher. The couple has seven children and served together as stake self-reliance facilitators.
What This Means for the Sites
The February 2027 start date gives the incoming couples roughly 15 months to prepare before assuming duties. The First Presidency has called new leaders for the Church’s historic sites at Cove Fort, Ohio, Illinois, Southwest Utah, Nebraska/Iowa, and Missouri, who will begin their service in February 2027.
The new leaders are couples called from stakes in Utah and Idaho, including the Johansens, who were already serving at the Southwest Utah Historic Sites at the time of their call.
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