Our Puppeteers

Mr. Dave

Mr. Dave grew up with puppets. He has been involved in puppetry for over 50 years. He fondly remembers watching the puppets from the old Captain Kangaroo show. His first hands-on experience was a summer rec program in his hometown. He and fellow elementary-age students worked together to sew and build marionettes and then offer playground shows across the city. His favorite show was You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! in which he played the lead character.

Church Experience

After three years in the summer program, puppetry did not resurface until, as an adult, he was asked to help create a puppet team for the youth group at his church. Using muppet-style puppets, the group came to be named the Hands 2 God puppet team.

Originally performing only at the church, requests for performances came from around the city and state. Eventually his whole family got involved. The groups popularity grew to the point where they traveled across the Midwest and the East coast performing shows and offering workshops for churches, schools, libraries, camps, and conferences.

Hands 2 God eventually morphed into Hands 2 Grow Puppet Productions. Mr. Dave also started a blacklight puppet team at his high school. The STOP (Students Take On Prevention) Group shows focused on helping teens make positive life choices.

Experience at Fox Valley Lutheran High School (FVL)

In 2003, marionettes once again became a focal point when Mr. Dave was asked to build a marionettes program at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. Dubbed the Fox Folk Marionette Troupe, the team has performed across the Fox River Valley for the past 15-plus years sharing Christmas, Easter, and Christian fairy tales at various community venues.

After teaching for 40 years, Mr. Dave retired from his position at the high school in June 2021. He worked with the school to establish Fox Folk Marionettes & Friends, Inc. to keep the story going.