Two named to Priest Pension Board

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 4, 2004

Two new members have been welcomed to the Priest Pension Board for the Diocese of Sioux City.

Debra Puhl of Le Mars and Jeffrey Johnson of Pocahontas are the new members that will serve the board.

"Both of the board members have an extensive background in accounting and fiscal services," said Royce Ranninger, director of operations for the diocese and member of the Priest Pension Board. "One of the things that we want to try to maintain is to manage these funds so the priests' retirement is fully funded in perpetuity. They all act independent but collaboratively to make decisions that are in the best interest of the priests' retirement funds."

The Priest Pension Board is the governing body for the priest pension funds that are held in trust for the welfare and retirement of the priests of the Diocese of Sioux City.

Puhl graduated from Harlan High School in 1975 and attended Morningside College in Sioux City, receiving a bachelor's degree in business administration with an accounting emphasis in 1979.

She and her family live in Le Mars and are members of St. Joseph Church in Struble. All four of their children either attend or graduated from Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars.

She is a certified public accountant (CPA) with the firm Puhl and Associates, PC in Le Mars.

"I am honored that they asked me," said Puhl. "I think it is a big responsibility to look out for that money and make sure that it is there for the priests not only the ones now but the ones who will retire in future years - to make sure that the money is safeguarded and there for all of them."

Johnson graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1977 and attended American Institute of Business, obtaining an associate degree in accounting in 1979. He is a member of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Pocahontas.

He has an accounting and tax practice serving small businesses in Pocahontas. Johnson is the sole proprietor and has been in business since November of 1982. He is a licensed public accountant, certified financial planner and enrolled agent licensed to practice before the IRS.

"I am honored to have been chosen to be on the Priest Pension Board," said Johnson. "I look forward to giving some of my time towards ensuring that the priests in our diocese have adequate pension coverage. My exposure towards assisting my clients in meeting their retirement objectives will assist me in my decisions on the board."

The board solicited names from other board members and from people within the staff at the Central Catholic Offices, noted Ranninger.

"We also tried to get some additional participation and representation from outside Sioux City," said Ranninger. "If we can get people in the outlying areas of the diocese to participate as well, then they take an active interest and can be spokespeople for us when people ask questions about retirement funds for the priests."

Mike Moore and Robert Williams, both of Sioux City, are two members retiring from the pension board. Both men had been on the board for more than 10 years.