Who We Are
The Neeb Family Foundation provides grants to religious educational institutions and faith-based or secular nonprofit organizations.
The Neeb Family Foundation provides grants to religious educational institutions and faith-based or secular nonprofit organizations.
The Neeb Family Foundation was founded in late 2004 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with an initial contribution from the Rev. Dr. Larry W. Neeb. When Dr. Neeb passed away in late 2019, he designated additional contributions to NFF from his estate. With contributions from Dr. Neeb and others NFF has grown to approximately $16,000,000.
At the time of its formation, the Directors consisted of Rev. Dr. Larry Neeb, his brother Rev. Dr. Martin Neeb, his niece Kristina (Neeb) Nylander, and his two nephews Douglas M. Neeb and John M. Neeb.
Today Douglas M. Neeb and John M. Neeb serve as the Directors and as the executive officers of NFF. They are joined on the Board by Directors Rev. Penny Holste, John S. Korsmo, Jr. and Thomas P. Hohenstein. Molly Neeb Nelson and Emma L. Neeb, 4th generation Neeb family members, and Diane Saleska, a relative of the Neeb’s, serve as Advisory Directors.
You can find each of their biographies below.
The Neeb Family Foundation focuses its work on Christian projects and institutions. It places special emphasis on the support of Christian educational programs, facilities, and students at all academic levels and programs that facilitate Christian witness and service.
Dr. Neeb was active throughout his life in many phases of church life. He served as a pastor, as a seminary administrator and teacher, as executive editor of the Lutheran Perspective newspaper, and for over 25 years as the founder and president of Creative Communications for the Parish, a publisher of devotional, educational, and worship resources for Catholic and Protestant congregations.
Dr. Neeb served on the Board of Regents of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and the board of the Lutheran Family and Children’s Services Foundation, Inc. He chaired the investment committees of both of those boards.
Dr. Neeb was the Founder and President of The Neeb Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity focusing on Christian ministry and education and supporting health and human care. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Webster Groves, MO.
Douglas Neeb
President & Treasurer
Doug is the nephew of founder Larry Neeb. For more than 25 years he was a Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel at a Bank headquartered in Kansas City, MO. He recently retired to devote greater time and energy to NFF.
He is an alumni member of Beta Sigma Psi, The National Lutheran Fraternity where he pledged at the University of Missouri-Columbia and was the former Treasurer of his Church. His wife, Tammy, is a lifelong Catholic primary school educator having held a variety of positions including teacher, teacher coach and special needs coordinator in several Catholic schools in metropolitan Kansas City. Doug and Tammy have been married for 38 years and have four adult children located around the country and a granddaughter and a grandson.
John Neeb
Vice President & Secretary
John is the nephew and godson of founder Larry Neeb. He recently retired from a long and distinguished career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Pierce County (Tacoma) Washington.
In addition to NFF, John serves on the board of the Washington Homicide Investigators Association (WHIA) and is a member of the Tacoma Police Dept. and the Pierce County Regional Child Abduction Response Teams (TPD CART; PCR CART). John and Michelle have two children in college – Emma and Jacob. John and his family are members at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by the Narrows (ELCA).
Diane Saleska
Diane is a first cousin to Doug and John Neeb. A nurse for 40 plus years, Diane currently works as a professor of nursing at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Diane has a master’s degree in nursing education and received her doctoral degree in nursing practice from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN.
Diane is a member of Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis. She has served as the church council president and school board chairman at Word of Life Lutheran School. She volunteers in many capacities and supports organizations that offer assistance to immigrants, asylum seekers, and underserved populations in St. Louis. Diane is a handler for Noah, a Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dog, making visits with him to hospitals and residential nursing care facilities.
Diane is married to the Rev. Dr. Tim Saleska, the Dean of Ministerial Formation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Together they have three adult children and eight grandchildren.
Rev. Penny Holste
Penny is a retired parish pastor after more than 20 years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, most recently as co-pastor of the congregation of which Dr. Larry Neeb was a member.
Before becoming a pastor, Penny was an elementary and secondary teacher. Penny graduated from the University of St. Thomas, with a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. She also received a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.
Thomas P. Hohenstein
Tom and his family are lifelong friends and acquaintances of the Neeb families. Tom is a graduate of the University of Missouri and is in private law practice in St. Louis.
He and his wife of 38 years, Beth, raised four children. Beth was a medical social worker for 15 years and then a preschool teacher for over 20 years at a local Catholic Parish.
Tom and Beth are a members of St. Thomas Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Sunset Hills, Missouri.
Tom’s past charitable and educational board service includes his service as a council member and president of Unity Lutheran Church in St. Louis County, as a director and the board chair of the Lutheran High School Association in St. Louis, and a member and officer of the Columbia Missouri Alumni chapter of the Beta Sigma Psi fraternity. Tom is currently a member of the “operating” and foundation boards of the Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri.
John S. Korsmo, Jr.
As the second-generation owner of Korsmo Construction in Tacoma, WA, John has been leading the firm since 1986. He is involved in all aspects of the business and provides overall guidance and leadership to the entire team.
John is passionate about building strong communities. He is heavily involved in the South Sound region, serving various nonprofit organizations, boards, and committees. He has instilled this passion in the Korsmo Construction company culture. Employees are dedicated to supporting local causes through outreach and volunteer efforts that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities.
John is a long time friend of the Neeb family after he and John Neeb met each other in college while at Pacific Lutheran University.
Emma Neeb
Emma is the eldest child of John and Michelle Neeb and also a godchild of founder Larry Neeb.
Emma will receive her college degree in 2023. Emma is a member of her local chapter of “A Moment of Magic,” participating in a program where princesses and superheroes visit sick children at local hospitals.
Molly (Neeb) Nelson
Molly Nelson is the youngest daughter of Douglas Neeb.
She graduated from The University of Alabama in 2015 with an undergraduate degree in Food and Nutrition and a Master’s in Human Nutrition. She is a Clinical Dietitian in Birmingham, Alabama.
She and her husband, Andrew, have two children.
She is an active member of Valleydale Church and has a passion for finding ways to serve the unreached and underserved communities.