The Reverend John Spruhan, 55, was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Zoology. During his college years he came to a personal faith in Christ. Although raised Presbyterian, John joined the American Baptist Church when he married Judy, his high school sweetheart, following college.
He discerned a call to the ministry, enrolled in North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, and graduated in 1978 with a M.Div. He and Judy were confirmed in the Episcopal Church in1977. John was ordained a Deacon and a Priest in 1980 at St.James Cathedral in Chicago. He served Church of the Advent/Nuestro Senora de las Americas for 1 year, then St. Cyprian's for 16 years. During that call, a food pantry and a seniors' lunch program were begun, plus outreach to the increasingly Hispanic presence in the community. Judy, a registered nurse with a master's degree, was ordained a Deacon in 1989. John and Judy had a life long dream of being missionaries, and South Dakota presented an opportunity to be part of cross cultural ministry among the Sicangu Lakota on the Rosebud Reservation. They moved to Rosebud in December, 1997, first assuming responsibility for 4 churches, then 6-8 depending on the presence of other clergy. Judy was asked to consider becoming a Priest, and was ordained at the Niobrara Convocation hosted by Rosebud in 2000. She works full time as a Public Health Nurse, but pastors part-time; primarily the three churches on the western side of Rosebud. In 2001, John added supervising the Bishop Hare Center (site of Rosebud Episcopal Mission) to his duties. In that role he schedules and oversees the activities of church groups from around the country that come to work and experience Lakota Culture. The very active and committed local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, building four houses in 2005, is also located at the Bishop Hare Center. As youth are becoming a priority, John is a one of the local adult leaders developing a youth program for the whole Rosebud Deanery, which goes across five counties and includes the Yankton Reservation besides Rosebud. For the Diocese of South Dakota, John now serves as Ecumenical Officer, Standing Committee member, and alternate delegate to General Convention in 2006.
John and Judy have two grown children and a grandson.