Our Team

Cait grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. Graduated from Wahlert and then completed undergrad at St. Ambrose University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. She is currently employed by John Deere as a Quality Engineer.

Cait Dolehide comes from a very prolific family of 11.She is an aunt to 10 nieces and nephews. She is honored to be serving on the board of Dubuque County Right to Life. She grew up Pro-Life and try’s each day to live out the Pro-Life message. She can not wait to become more involved with helping reach a younger demographic such as middle school, high school, and college students. She looks forward to this next year of opportunities!

Art Gilloon is a senior partner in the Dubuque law firm of Gilloon, Wright & Hamel, P.C.

He is a 1975 honors graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a 1978 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law. Art is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts in Iowa, the state courts of Wisconsin, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a founding board member of DCRTL and a member of the organization’s Speakers Bureau. He addresses a wide variety of topics related to life issues including abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide, stem cells, and cloning. Art has also served on the boards of several Dubuque-area community organizations. He was the first chairman of the Dubuque County Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board, and served several years as treasurer of the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association Foundation Board. He is a past board member and president of Area Residential Care, Inc., which provides residential and vocational opportunities to the developmentally disabled. Art served as a member of The Finley Hospital Ethics Committee for 10 years. He currently serves as a legal advisor to Birthright of Dubuque, Inc., and assists Birthright and Clarity Clinic clients who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy with free legal services. He has also served as DCRTL president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. Art taught grade school and high school religious education classes for 17 years and also coached girls’ basketball at the YWCA for seven years. He has been married for 39 years and is blessed with a strong and supportive wife, three wonderful children, a great daughter-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters.

Kris Pregler was born and raised in Dubuque, IA and is the youngest of 4 children belonging to Robert and Shirley McLaughlin. Kris married her husband, Mark, in 1995 and they have one son and two grandchildren. She and her husband are self-employed and run their own Real Estate and Property Management Company.

Kris attended St. Joseph the Worker Catholic School from grades 1–8 then went on to graduate from Dubuque Senior High School. She moved to Minnesota after graduating high school where she was first introduced to the pro-life movement. She has been a passionate advocate ever since. Kris moved back to the Dubuque area in 2020. In 2023 she attended the Equipped for Life seminar at DCRTL and was part of the team that volunteered at the 2023 Dubuque County Fair to educate and create dialogue about every human’s right to life. She feels that God has placed her in the right place at the right time in order to allow her to step into the duties as Treasurer for DCRTL and to continue the mission to save lives.

Sara McDonald is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with a bachelor of arts degree in print journalism and a master of arts degree in catholic studies.

As a student she participated in pro-life activities, including prayerful protests outside Planned Parenthood, and she served as communications intern at Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). Her capstone journalisn project examined the nature and preesence of bias in the print media with respect to abortion. Sara has worked in the worlds of publishing, education and nonprofits. She is currently the owner of Yarn Soup and is priviledged to serve knitters and crocheters of all ages and walks of life. She is an active member of St. Mary’s Church in East Dubuque, Illinois, and has served on the board of Dubuque County Right to Life since 2016. She resided in Dubuque with her husband.

Cassie Schetgen was born and raised in Peosta, Iowa. She attended Loras College, where she obtained bachelor of arts degrees in religious studies and music. Cassie is married to Brandon, and they have four children. Cassie’s family instilled in her from a young age the importance of standing up for life. She has attended the March for Life numerous times, prayerfully protested outside of Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics, helped at retreats for persons with disabilities, written and given talks about the dignity of human life at all stages, and served on the DCRTL Board since 2015 in various roles including president and vice-president.

Laura Dolehide is a work at home wife to Jack, mother of 9, grandmother of 8 and small business owner.

As a past board member for 8 years she is honored to have the chance to actively serve on the DCRTL board again. She brings 36+ years of constant study and involvement in life issues. Laura is an active member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church and 1st co-recipient of the Mary’s Inn Women of Hope Award for housing pregnant women in need.

Judy Tigges is a graduate of Loras College with a B.A. in Accounting and currently serves as the bookkeeper of the Church of the Resurrection. She is married to Kevin and has three amazing daughters and one beautiful granddaughter. She has been an active volunteer with Dubuque County Right to Life for many years, most recently helping with the Memorial for the Unborn project. Judy also volunteers her time with Hospice of Dubuque, where she started the 11th Hour program. She looks forward to bringing her energy and sharing new ideas in her role as a board member.

My name is August Christensen. I am the proud daughter of Kurt and Bridget Christensen, and a college student here in Dubuque, Iowa, studying the Bible and majoring in elementary education. A fun fact about me is that I am the 2024 Dubuque County Dairy Princess! I have always been “pro-life,” however, it wasn’t until recently that I’ve become unapologetically pro-life. It was around November of last year that my eyes were opened to the horrors of the abortion industry and the lies of Planned Parenthood. My eyes were opened thanks to the work of Students for Life of America, an amazing pro-life organization. When my eyes were opened to the truth, I cried out to the Lord, and He revealed a calling I have from Him to use whatever strength or voice I have to fight for the most vulnerable among us. I will never stop speaking up against the horrors of the abortion industry until abortion is unthinkable and illegal. I want to change hearts, so I can change minds. As a board member of Dubuque County Right to Life, I will do all I can to spread awareness, change hearts, and ultimately change minds. I feel a calling to serve and to minister through the Dubuque County Right to Life, and I am excited to bring a young presence and uncompromised biblical perspective. I will work to empower women, create a culture of life, and protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us.

Elizabeth (Liz) Cushman is a longtime supporter of DCRTL with her husband, Dave. She and Dave have been married for almost 50 years and were blessed with 7 children and 20 grandchildren. Liz is a past president and board member of DCRTL working with Marian Bourek when she was Executive Director. Serving and supporting an organization like DCRTL that informs and courageously promotes life issues is a privilege and an honor.

Marian Bourek graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s degree in secondary education.

She has spent her entire life in the prolife movement. Marian is a founding board member of DCRTL, served four years as its executive director and continues to serve on several of the organization’s committees. She is also a founding member of Mary’s Inn Maternity Home. She is vice president of Life Decisions International and serves on the advisory board of Iowans for L.I.F.E., where she spent several years as president. Marian is active in her parish, St. Joseph’s in Farley. She spent six years on the Iowa Board of Medicine serving the state as a lay member. She is married to Virgil, a veterinarian who practices out of his clinic in Dyersville. They have 5 adult children and 10 grandchildren. Out of all her involvements, Marian’s favorite role is that of a doting grandmother.

Jessica Pennington grew up in Cedar Rapids. She is a graduate of Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia, with a B.A. in History.

After graduating, she returned to Iowa to marry her high school sweetheart, Michael. Michael’s job was in Dubuque, so the couple made their home here in 2012. Currently, she stays home with their rambunctious 5 kids: 6, 5, 3, 2, and 3 months. This year, she is trying her luck at homeschooling their daughter who is a 1st grader. They are active members of St. Columbkille Church.

She loves spending time outside with her family. In her very limited free time she likes to read, crochet, bake, cook, and have adult conversations with friends. When her children are grown, Mike and her hope to see all 50 states and travel abroad.

Standing up for life has been a vital part of Jessica’s life. Her parents taught her the need to respect life in all its stages by their example and hard work. She hopes to instill the same upon her children with her dedication at DCRTL.

Michelle Brus was born and raised on the family farm outside of Walcott, IA. She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She moved to Dubuque in 2015 and has been working at John Deere ever since. Michelle enjoys playing volleyball, gardening, puzzling, and organizing social events. She serves on the parish council at the Church of the Nativity, and she is working to become a Master Gardener. She has been involved with DCRTL for a few years, taking the Equipped for Life Class and volunteering at various outreach events. Michelle is excited to become more involved in the Pro-Life movement and to continue to spread the truth about the dignity of all human life.

Augustine Payne is one of thirteen kids (two in Heaven) and grew up in a suburb of Chicago. The whole family was involved in the pro-life movement from a young age.

After being a leader in the local pro-life group in high school, Augustine attended the local community college where he started a pro-life group on a campus of over 25,000 students. He then transferred from the community college to Ave Maria University where he met his wife Molly Beth, obtained a degree in Economics, and started the university debate team. Augustine and Molly Beth are proud parents of their son, Maximilian Karol.

Besides being actively pro-life, Augustine loves the great outdoors and being challenged. He was able to merge those passions by doing Biking for Babies, which he, along with two of his brothers, were on the team that biked from Dallas, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois.

I look forward to meeting you and learning more about you as we work together to build a culture of life in Dubuque County and the surrounding areas. May God bless and reward you for your commitment to the pro-life movement.

Hello! My name is Naomi Weiss, and I am the Communications Associate for Dubuque County Right to Life. I am originally from Joliet, IL, where I grew up as the second oldest of six children. My parents homeschooled my siblings and me, which I value and appreciate not only for the fond memories I made with them, but also for the strong education and family values it instilled within me. I graduated in 2023 from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, where I studied English and Theology. I consider myself pro-life because I believe that every pre-born baby is, at the moment of conception, a human being, created by God and possessing inherent dignity that no person should be allowed to violate. My family background influenced my pro-life views; as a young girl, I almost always had little siblings around. As a family, we celebrated new life, and I remember the excitement and anticipation leading up to my siblings’ births. Since being a young girl, it seemed unfathomable to me to willingly end the life of an innocent baby. I firmly believe that the right to life is our most fundamental right. I am honored to work for DCRTL, and I hope to promote a culture that seeks to protect life rather than end it by creating content that seeks to educate on abortion and its harmful effects on society. I am passionate about fighting for every human life, from conception to natural death!

My name is Molly Strohmeyer, and I am a 2025 graduate of Loras College. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish. I was a part of the Loras swim team all 4 years of my college career. During my senior year at Loras, I was the Social Media and Events Chair for the Duhawks for Life club. This position allowed me to coordinate events and manage social media, spread more awareness about the Pro-Life movement, and make our campus a more inclusive space for pregnant and parenting students. I have always been Pro-Life, and this largely has to do with my faith. Being raised in a Christian family, I was taught that life is precious and has worth from the very beginning. One of my favorite verses states, “For it was you who created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…I will praise you for I have been fearfully and wonderfully made…Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began” (Psalms 139:13-16). In the Spring of 2024, I attended my first Iowa March for Life with DCRTL and my desire to continue work in this field began. At DCRTL, I hope to make a difference and bring more young advocates for life together to fight for the rights of the pre-born.