REV. GEORGE. F. REITZ

The Rev. George Frederick Reitz came to serve the Danbury St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1888. The faithful Christians of Marblehead Village found it difficult to make the five mile trip to Danbury for services in all manner of weather. Many of them had walked to service at Danbury.

It was in 1893 that Rev. Reitz decided to travel regularly to Marblehead to meet with these faithful. He began holding services in a meeting place on Hill Street. That building has endured and today it is the private home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mazur at 149 Alexander Pike, the name by which the road is known in this year of 2000. Meetings also were held at Eaton Hall on the state highway. Location of this site needs further study to identify its actual location.

The baptism of Emery Ravasz, son of Andrew and Sophia Ravasz was the first recorded sacrament of the church. The baptism was performed on November 24, 1895.

Rev. Reitz guided the village Lutherans in their spiritual growth. Many were of German heritage so services were conducted in German. The first Articles of the Church Constitution were written in German and signed by the 18 male members. It was not until 1914 that records were kept in the English language. In 1900 Rev. Reitz’s son, Frederick George Reitz, was ordained. The elder Reitz relinquished the pastorate at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Danbury for the appointment of his son. He had built his retirement home in Marblehead on Elliott Street and set himself to work harder in seeing the St. John Parish well established. That home today is the residence of past mayors, John and Kathleen Dziak at 917 Elliot Street right next door to the church.

The first step to a solid congregation, he decided, was to have their own place of worship. Work was begun in 1900 on the frame structure that is used to this day. The building was dedicated September 29, 1901 The Rev. T. J. Stellhorn was serving Zion Lutheran Church in Sandusky at that time and was present for the dedication. He was the grandfather of current member, Rev. Theodore Stellhorn, II, who is now retired.

Now in their own home, St. John Lutheran Church worked to establish a strong congregation. Two years later there was great jubilation when a church bell was installed in the belfry on September 6, 1903. In tribute to their founding minister, the Rev. George F. Reitz, the bell bears an inscription in his honor.

Soon it became obvious there was a need for more seating. The families were growing. The dedication of the parish drew more into their church. A loft was constructed. This added two rows of chairs.

Rev. George Reitz had confirmed his last class in August, 1 904 It is uncertain how long he continued to serve, but his death was recorded as occurring on May 9, 1906 at the age of seventy-two.

Rev. G. Reitz is interred in the cemetery at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Danbury. His gravesite is marked with a distinctive double tree trunk marker, a fine symbol to one who planted the seeds - of Christianity through the Lutheran Faith on this rocky peninsula, with strong foundation that continues to grow and send out stronger roots.

REV. FREDERICH C. REITZ

The Rev. Frederick C. Reitz took over the pulpit at St. Paul Lutheran Church when his father retired and moved to the St. John Parish in his retirement. On the death of his father, he followed in his father’s footsteps, adding the parish of St. John to his duties. This practice of shared ministry between St. Paul and St. John continued for many years. The Rev. Frederick Reitz confirmed his first class on April 7, 1907. He continued to serve both churches four more years.

REV. ERNST E. ECKHOFF

The Rev. Ernst E. Eckhoff was then installed on November 19, 1911. Rev. Eckhoff also served both parishes with a long and dedicated service. When the retirement years neared, he resisted making that step, for he had never wed and the church was his life. When Rev. Eckhoff left the service at St. Paul Lutheran he continued to serve here at St. John. A total of 42 years of faithful service ended in November 1953 when ill health brought his full retirement. He moved to the Williston Home of Mercy, where he died at the age of 71 years . He was one of the prominent members of the Ottawa County clergy, having been a minister for a total 48 years. He had been born in Oak Harbor, Ohio on Feb. 26, 1882, and it was there to which he returned, to be interred in the Oak Harbor cemetery.

There were many changes as Rev. Eckhoff worked with the church in these early years. As the adjustment to the English language service was made, it became the practice to hold services in German on one Sunday, and then in English on the alternate Sunday. Finally in 1914 the records were kept in the English language.

Soon more space was needed to keep the mission of the church: teaching the children, gathering of the women’s guild, the brotherhood, space for social functions of the parish. There was a definite need for a meeting hall. The church fathers went to work to accomplish this. They arranged a lease for land across the street from the church and began construction c the Parish Hall. The church grew and more and more children were being confirmed. Rev. Eckhoff was very dedicated. He officiated at the marriages of many of the members, of their children and their grandchildren.

While enjoying the service of Rev. Eckhoff, the members of St. John met their responsibility to St. Paul Lutheran Church by assisting with costs for maintaining the parish home at Danbury. Wages for the pastor, housing improvements, utilities, and other costs were paid by St. John, with contributions from the Sts. Mary and Martha Guild.

REV. LLOYD HASSELBACH

After the long tenure of Rev. Eckhoff the shared ministry with St. Paul Lutheran ceased. Efforts to acquire clergy to serve St. John alone, proved a major task. Some who answered the call were: Rev. Walter Dyer, 3 years; Rev. Henry Lindemann, 1 year; and Rev. Robert Richardson, 1 year. A new agreement with St. Paul did little to resolve the problem, for they did not stay long in the area. These were Rev, Leroy Beck, 3 years; Rev. Jerome Riggert, 2 years. The Rev. Wm. Bowers was unable to work with the people of St. John. While he stayed on to retire from St. Paul, he spent only 1 year at St. John. The Rev. Lloyd Hasselbach brought a steadying force, remaining for 8 years. The congregation had come through some hard times, but they endured and have earned this centennial celebration.

REV. JANINE DRESS

Many dedicated members of the clergy have answered the call to serve this small congregation. In 1982 the Rev. Janine Dress was ordained in the Lutheran Ministry, having graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She answered the call from St. John Lutheran Church and is the first woman pastor for the church. She observed her 18 year of ordination on July 11,2000. She has served all this time at St. John.

In the marriage of Edward and Phyllis Dress, the church gained an organist, for Phyllis was the daughter of a minister and trained in piano and organ. In the marriage of their son, Ted Dress to Janine Somers, the tradition of service through marriage continued. This time, the church acquired a new pastor.

She accepted the call, with the request that she might accept other employment while performing her duties to the parish. This she has managed very well. She is diligent in her hospital and nursing home visitations, funeral and marriage officiations and working with the Danbury Ministerial Association to achieve a greater working relationship with all churches throughout the area through joint community services and activities. She is well respected among clergy and community and is sought by many non members for Christian marriage ceremonies and burial.

PASTORS OF ST. JOHN
Rev. George Frederick Reitz - 1895-1905
Rev. Frederick George Reitz - 1906-1911
Rev. Ernst E. Ecklioff ----- 1911-1953
Rev. Walter Dyer ------------ 1953-1956
Rev. Henry. Lindemann ------- 1956-1957
Rev. Robert Richardson ------ 1957-1958
Rev. Leroy Beck ------------- 1958-1961
Rev. Jerome Riggert --------- 1961-1963
Rev. William Bowers --------- 1963-1964
Rev. Lloyd Hasselbach ------- 1964-1972
Rev. David Campbell --------- 1973-1974
Rev. Dwight Anderson -------- 1974-1977
Rev. Oliver Strand ---------- 1977-1982
Rev. Janine Dress ----------- 1982-2002

The parish of St. John Lutheran Church has experienced difficulty at times in filling the pulpit. The small size of this congregation and lack of a parish home to house the minister were just two of the handicaps. Their strong faith with strong Christian practice in which they look out for the needs of one another and the church itself, has prevailed. Loyal servants have come forth when needed. The services have continued.

An extra blessing has been the availability of Lutheran Ministers who have chosen this beautiful area for their retirement. As a result, many have been available to assist when vacations, illness, or other duties call the pastor away. Some who have filled the pulpit in these times were: the Rev. L. L. Glick, Rev. Kurt Meuschke, Rev. Theodore Stellhorn Ill and Rev. Harold Rust. The Rev. Eugene Loehrke had served an interim pastorate from January through March in 1991. In these more recent years, the individual talents and dedication of these clergy have added variety to the services while permitting Pastor Dress time to attend other events. The Rev. Rust shares the honor of observing the fiftieth year of his ordination in this same year that St. John Luther Church observes its centennial.

NEW CHURCH CONSTITUTION – 1923

In 1923, under the guidance of Reverend Ernst Eckhoff the church adopted a new constitution written in the English language. The Pastor was elected by the congregation and served in an ex-officio capacity as the president and chairman of both congregation and church vestry. It was the duty of the pastor to lead and govern the parish.

The Church Council officers were to be: 2 elders, 3 deacons, 5 trustees, 1 secretary and I treasurer. These, together with the Pastor, constituted the church council.

Duties of the council were to see that all laws and regulations of the church were duly executed, and that discipline be properly exercised in all cases where offense was given to the congregation or its members. A majority of the council was required to form a quorum.

THE PARISH HALL

It was in May, 1927 that the Rev. E. E. Eckhoff, president of the church council, and Walter Shirley, council secretary, signed a lease with the John James family for a piece of property across Stone Street from the church. The land was Lot 56 of the James’ subdivision, Plat “C’. Its dimensions ran for a distance of 100 feet west on Elliott Street mid 50 feet south on Stone Street.

The church was required to pay the sum of twelve dollars a year for fifteen years, and taxes during the term of the lease, a major challenge during the Great Depression. They also held first option to purchase in the event the owner placed the property for sale.

The lease also enjoined the church that there be no intoxicating liquors ever sold, no business or calling contrary to law, no disorderly conductor unlawful gatherings.

The lease was recorded by Ottawa County Recorder Elgin Winters on Sept. 25, 1927 and recorded in Ottawa County Record, Vol. 16 of Leases on Page 602.

The Parish Hall has added greatly to the growth of the church and has been available for many community services. The large meeting hall is used for Sunday School classes and many social functions.

The kitchen serves many dinners, and has been equipped through efforts of the Women’s Organizations over the years. They have fully funded kitchen needs with fine china, silver and necessary cooking and serving equipment.

Many card parties provided a time of happy gathering for the residents as funds were raised for needs of the hail.

Men of the church have always come forward to meet the physical needs like painting, repairs, roofing, etc. They also are at the ready to serve the All Daughter’s Banquet in May, the major social event of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Parish Hall also has been used for community needs. Distribution of Food for the needy, meeting place for the Danbury Young at Heart when it first formed to provide a social outlet to the elderly, gathering place for Alcohol Anonymous, and most recently, a worship place for the Chapel on the Lake, a non-denominational worship group.

THE PASTOR'S CHAIR

The Pastor's Chair is a stylish piece of furniture that adorns the chancel. It came to the church as a gift from the Glick family. When the Rev. L. L Glick retired from his Lutheran ministry in 1961, he retired to Lakeside. He filled in at St John Lutheran whenever the need arose,

Rev. Glick's hobby was restoring Victorian furniture. Many broken or worn pieces were often available and he enjoyed bringing them back to their original beauty

One day his son, David was delivering auto parts when he called on a dealership just off the town square at Wellington or New London, Ohio. An old opera house there was in the early stages of being torn down. David, with his natural curiosity wandered through the old building. He spotted an old chair, with the top rail of the back missing. He thought of his father, end returned to the dealership to inquire if he could buy the chair. The business owner was also the mayor of the town and told David to just take it. The chair was placed into the delivery truck and he took it home.

Rev. Glick did not show too much interest in the chair, but surmised that it may have been a ritual chair from a lodge. He put it into the basement. The chair was not thrown away when the parsonage was moved, however. It went along and was then placed into the new basement.

In l96l Rev. Glick retired to 431 Walnut Avenue in Lakeside. To accommodate his hobby they built a wood working shop as an addition to garage. The old chair, still untouched, had yet another home.

One Sunday Rev. Glick filled the pulpit here at St. John and he noticed that they had only an old straight chair in the chancel. He then took an interest in that old broken chair. He looked around and found the perfect piece to replace the top rail. His workmanship completed the chair in so elegant a manner that it looked perfect.

He then completely refinished and re-upholstered the chair. When it was complete, he took it to St. John Church and placed it in the chancel, as his gift. It remains today, strong and beautiful to behold.

Some years ago when St. Mary Byzantine Church was hosting their Bishop they were looking for a prominent chair to seat his excellency. Word of St. John's chair got around and it was loaned that the Bishop might be seated on a throne befitting his stature.

Just a piece of old broken furniture, but the Pastor's Chair carries a story of love and dedication, patience and perseverance those merits that reflect the true essence of this small church at the corner of Stone and Elliott Streets in Marblehead, Ohio.