Born and raised on the southeast side in Kentwood, Deborah attended Concordia University and the University of Wisconsin majoring in music education with a K-12 choral emphasis, a tremendous asset to various choirs over the years. As a team, Deborah and Jeffrey Roland established the West Michigan Lutheran Chorale which has travelled to various concert sites, including mission tours to Europe. Travel is a favorite pastime for Deborah, preferably in Europe. Italy is the favorite, but she has also enjoyed Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.