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The history of
our St.
John Lutheran
Church
had its beginning
in the year 1876. The spiritual father at the time of its "birth" was
Rev. Theodore Mertens.
When Mr. Ehlers
returned to the seminary to resume his studies, Rev. L.
Craemer
of Fort Dodge served
Storm Lake
for one year. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Grumm of near Aurelia, who
faithfully ministered to the spiritual needs of the few families in Storm
Lake
for two years, 1882‑1884.
Again
a
change was made in 1884. Mr.
F.C. Leeb, another theological student from Springfield,
preached in Storm Lake for a
few months
until relieved by the Rev. William Lauer, who had accepted a call to
Crozier.
The
Rev. William Lauer, Pastor of
Crozier, served Storm Lake from
1884 to 1888. This was a period of
special
importance, for under his guidance and leadership a Constitution was
drawn up
and then formally adopted in August of 1885.
When Rev.
Lauer left Crozier, he was
succeeded by the Rev. L. Traub, who immediately took charge of the
Storm Lake
Congregation, and served the congregation from 1888 to 1893. Under his
leadership the congregation conducted its first regular business
meeting March
20, 1893, and also at that time rented the Lakeside Chapel, as it was
then
called, from the Presbyterians. Since that time, services and meetings
of St.
John have been held
at the northwest corner of Lake Ave.
and West Third.
Expenses
for
the year 1902 listed in
the minutes are expenditures of $1.65 for broom and table covers; $1.
10 for
coal; 25" for a lock and $1.25 to Duschinski for snow shoveling. In
addition there was the Pastor's salary of $119.00. Expenditures for the
year
1903 increased to $13.20 with the pastor's salary the same. Bills were
$1 f or
snow shoveling; 501 f or nails; 35" f or lock; labor f or John Linge,
$1.50; coal, $3.55 and lumber, $6.50.
Rev.
Richard
Haendschke was
installed as first resident pastor in September of 1905 and served
until April
of 1910. During his ministry here a new constitution was adopted, and
the
Ladies Aid was organized on June 8, 1908. Mrs. Anna Linge was the only
living
charter member at the 75th anniversary.
Rev.
E.A.
Brauer served the
congregation for a short period from 1911 to 1912.
From
1912 to
1918 the congregation
was served by the Rev. Eugene T. Lochner. On August 15, 1912, a
parsonage was
purchased for $1,400.00 located at 308 Hudson St.
Also in 1912 the congregation joined
the Missouri Synod as a voting member.
Rev.
Carl H.
Boye of Galva served
the congregation as vacancy pastor for about one‑half year, until the
Rev John
Hartmeister accepted the call and served from January, 1912, until May,
1927.
In
1920-1921 a
new brick church was built for about $29,000.00, after the
old Presbyterian building had been dismantled. On April 14, 1920, the Lutheran Circle
was organized.
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In 1922
Rev.
Hartmeister wrote and translated, and
revised the
constitution. This is still our present copy of the constitution. Rev.
Hartmeister also established a regular parochial school which he taught
himself
for several years. Mr. Paul Brauer was called as a regular teacher and
served
in the school from September, 1924, to
June, 1926. Despite all
good efforts the school
was closed and out
of existence when Rev. Hartmeister accepted another call.
After
a
short vacancy during which
time the Rev. C.H. Seltz served as interim pastor, the congregation's
call was
accepted by the Rev. H.P. Schmidt, who served the congregation from 1927 to 1945. Not being
able to revive the parochial school, he put forth all his efforts in
organizing
and promoting the best possible Sunday school. These efforts were
crowned with
considerable success, especially after a systematic S.S. Teacher
Training
Course was introduced. To better qualify himself for this work, the
pastor went
to our Normal
College
at River
Forest, Ill.,
and took a special summer course in
Synod's Sunday School Teacher Training Course, this being paid for by
the
congregation. The
result was
that our Sunday school flourished greatly. |
Saturday school and four weeks of summer school were
added.
Biclass work was
also introduced in the Walther League and in the Ladies Aid, and was
continued
throughout the 18 years of the
Pastor's service.
In 1929 the
congregation purchased a new parsonage west of the church, 201 W. Third St. In
December 1930 the Lutheran
Young Peoples Society affiliated itself with the Walther League and
drew up a
constitution in accordance with the International Walther League.
In 1939 a
pipe organ was installed and other improvements made in the
church. Pursuant to a resolution by the congregation the last and final
German
language service was conducted in the church on October 1, 1939.
With encouragement by Rev. Schmidt,
Paul Lemke, a member of St. John,
entered the
ministry, and on June 15,
1941, he
presented
his first sermon at St. John
as the beginning of his career.
In 1943 the
mortgages on the church and parsonage were finally and
fully paid and the congregation was entirely free of all debts. Rev.
Schmidt
presented his resignation on August 26,
1945, and
soon moved into his own home, having served the congregation
for more than 18 years. The
congregation now numbered 548
baptized
members, 420 communicant
members, and 110 pupils in the Sunday school.
Rev. A. O.
Bleeke of Carroll was now
called and served the congregation from November 18, 1945, until August, 1953. On February 13, 1946, the Men's Club, which is affiliated
with the National L.L.L., was organized with 32 charter
members present. In November of 1949
the
Christian Fellowship Society was organized. A choir
had always been in existence in the church, and in September of 1953 a
children's choir was also organized. The church
building for quite some time had been getting too small for our needs,
even
though double services were initiated on February 1, 1946. This did not fully solve the
problem, so it was finally decided to start a second congregation in Storm
Lake.
A goodly number of the members of St.
John now
voluntarily organized the new sister congregation, Grace
Lutheran
Church,
and erected a new
church building at the corner of West Fifth and Northwestern. In August
of 1953 Rev. Bleeke received and accepted a
call to Hartley,
Iowa.
Rev. Bleeke died in August 1972.
After a
vacancy of some four months,
during which time Rev. E. Wehrspann of Aurelia served as interim
pastor, the St.
John congregation
called Rev. Walter F. Mueller of Terril and he was installed on January
31,
1954.
The Lydia
Society was organized in
1954.
In July,
1954, the congregation,
looking forward to the future, bought the A.E. Brunson property north
of the
present church and dismantled the old landmark house on it in the fall
of the
same year.
In April,
1955, a fact‑finding
committee was elected by the Voters' Assembly to investigate the needs
and
possibilities of St. John's,
since the congregation once again had experienced a membership growth.
More
room and facilities were needed, especially in the Sunday school. In
January,
1956, five members were elected by the congregation to act as a
building
committee and were authorized to make contact with various architects
and contractors
to begin the planning and building of an educational unit to provide
for the
present and future needs of the congregation.
In October,
1956, the CYC (Concordia
Youth Club) was organized for children between grades 4 and 8 to
receive
additional spiritual training in religion, crafts and music.
Ground
breaking services for the new
educational unit were conducted on March 30, 1958, and on July 20,
1958, Corner
Stone Laying services were conducted.
In 1958 the
Ladies’ Aid observed its
50th anniversary.
On April 19,
1959, the new Educational Building
was dedicated to the Glory of
God. The new structure was the first part of a proposed two‑unit
construction
program which in future years would incorporate a new church. In fact,
according to plans, the building already contained one‑third of the
proposed
future church: the two vestibules, rear portion of the nave and
overflow
section of the new church, the choir loft and the church tower which
already
contains the church bell which was transferred from the present church.
The 75th
anniversary of St.
John's congregation
was observed at special services held Aug. 7, 1960. Preacher at the two
morning
services was the Rev. Harold Krueger of Lake Zurich, Ill., and
liturgist was our pastor, the Rev. Walter F. Mueller. Serving as
organists were
Victor Vollrath and Mrs. Syril Brown. Mrs. Harvey Koth directed the
choir in
special selections. The afternoon preacher was the Rev. G.W. Lobeck,
president
Iowa District West. Organist was Mrs. Vernon Winterhof.
Assisting
Rev. Mueller in his work
was Glenn Kalthoff of Topeka, Kans.,
who vicared one year
beginning in August, 1962. D.A. McCullough of Minden, Neb.
I came as a
vicar for one year in September, 1963.
At the
February 21, 1966, voters'
assembly it was voted unanimously, 30‑0, to purchase the two lots west
of the
church from the Samuel Cutts estate for $29,000.
The lots contained an old house and the former
Cutts greenhouse.
The contract required $5,800 down payment on April 1st
and $4,640
plus interest at 5% each April for five years. This property to be used
as a
future parking area.
In August,
1966, the congregation
honored its pastor, Rev. Walter Mueller and Mrs. Mueller, on the
occasion of
their 25th wedding anniversary and the near completion of the pastor's
25 years
in the ministry. In April, 1979, members of St. John
honored Pastor Mueller with a
monetary gift in appreciation of 25 years of pastoral service here in
our
congregation.
Structural
problems in several areas
of the church and heating difficulties influenced the decision in
November,
1966, to embark on the second phase of the building program ‑‑ to erect
a new
sanctuary. Original plans for the new worship center were changed and
plans
drawn for a church connected to the educational
unit, but as a separate entity.
On June 11,
1967, the last services
in the old church were held and members attending came to the full
realization
that their place of worship for 47 years would soon be demolished.
Precious memories
were recalled, sad times and happy occasions, and many eyes
were misty as a
result of the remembrances.
During
construction it was decided
the interim services would be held in Fellowship Hall of the
educational
building. After the final service, church furnishings were removed with
the altar,
pulpit and baptismal font moved to the interim worship center. The pipe
organ
was removed to Kansas
City
where a firm had been given the contract for its renovation at a cost
of
$3,000. Some pews were moved for future use in the educational unit and
the
curved pews to the church at Arcadia.
Finally the
night preceding the day demolition was to begin,
the contractor gave the word that salvage by members would be permitted
and
many of the congregation came in to salvage a memento of their house of
worship.
Those who felt compelled to take one last look after the church had
been
stripped agreed it looked tired and worn.
The north
art glass window had been salvaged to be used in the
new church.
A large
audience assembled the morning the demolition crew started
its work, and the dragline picked the church a art, p beginning at the
east
gable. After the site was cleared, stakes were soon set for the new
church and
pouring of footings began July 12.
After construction had begun, it
was decided on an Every Member
Visit canvass on Sunday, July 30,
to
raise
funds for the new church. Upon completion they had collected $11,113 in cash gifts, and weekly giving
increased as the congregation backed the building committee's plans.
Numerous
possibilities of memorial giving were also made available.
A unique
part in the construction of the church was eight arches
each containing 5,100 lbs. of
steel and 1,072 cubic feet
of special concrete. Each weighed 54
tons.
The
cornerstone laying was held Oct. 22,
1967. Members
of the building committee
were Walter Linge, chairman, Ralph Koskovich, Paul Wogahn, Lester
Grunig and
Marvin Lichtenberg. Finance committee members were Oscar A. Baumann,
chairman, Richard Theesfield, Richard Stille, Arthur Hintz and Orville
Luepke.
Elders
serving at the time of the
construction were Ralph Davis, Marvin Lichtenberg, Lester Grunig,
Leslie
Millard and Homer Peters. The board of trustees was composed of Henry
Miller,
Marvin Goldsmith and Clifford Sliefert.
To
finance
the new church a loan was
arranged with First Federal Trust and Savings for $200,000 at 6
1/4% interest.
The loan for the two lots purchased earlier was also
integrated into the loan. Monthly payments were $1,500. At the January,
1969
voters
meeting, Art Hintz, treasurer of the building fund, reported the cost
of the
church, complete with furnishings, would be about $293,000.
Dedication and consecration of the
new House of God was held June 30,
1968. The
Rev. Dr.
Ellis Nieting of Fort Dodge,
president of Iowa
District West, and the Rev. A.O. Bleeke of Hartley, former pastor here,
were
preachers with Rev. W.F. Mueller, pastor of St. John as
officiant and liturgist. Organist
was Mrs. Vernon Winterhof. Mrs. Harvey Koth and Mrs. Walter Mueller
were choir
directors. Special music by an instrumental ensemble added to the
festival.
The first
acolytes participating in our church lit the candles
on Easter Sunday, April 6,
1969. The
first
acolytes were Michael Dornsbach, Marlin Sievert, James Rube, David
Stille,
James Mueller, James Wogahn, Richard Zwemke. Their robes were made by
Altar
Guild members.
St John's Circle noted its 50th anniversary
in April, 1970. The group organized April 14, 1920, with 25 members was
first
known as Home Loving Club. According to its bylaws, proceeds from this
group
were to go to building a new church. Mrs. Paul Voit became a member in
March 1929,
and Mrs. Ray Biggins in June, 1937.
Both are current members of our congregation and of the organization
when it
disbanded in 1982.
The Rev.
Walter Discher from Immanuel
Lutheran in Estherville, who was semi‑retired, came to assist our
congregation
in August, 1971. He served as assistant for six years. The Rev. Discher
and
Mrs. Discher were honored on their 50th anniversary and of his
ordination on
April 16, 1978, sponsored by the congregation. They were honored at an
appreciation potluck for a job well done here on October 16, 1977, upon
his
retirement. He was called to his heavenly home on Sept. 8, 1981.
With an eye
to the future, an organ
fund was started and by May, 1972, $300 was in the fund. It was
generally
thought that $35,000 would be needed.
The Altar
Guild decided in February,
1976, that it would be appropriate to make Chrismons to be used on the
trees at
Christmas in the new church. Mrs. Henry Nielsen, Guild director,
appointed Mrs.
Walter Linge, Mrs. Chester Brecher and Mrs. Herman Nielsen to be in
charge of
the project.
The first
class of youthful
confirmands repeated their vows of service to the Lord in the new
church on
July 7, 1968. Eldest member of the congregation at that time was Jacob
Schmidt,
who was 97 on Aug. 16. He celebrated his 100th birthday at an open
house three
years later.
The
congregation celebrated its 90th
anniversary with special morning and afternoon festival services on
Sept. 15, 1975.
Guest speaker was a former member of St. John, the
Rev. Paul Lemke of Rock Rapids.
By
resolution of the voters
assembly, beginning with the month of October, 1975, communion was
offered at
both services on the first and third Sundays of the month. Palms were
used for
the first time at Easter services in April, 1976.
At the
voter’s assembly in April,
1976, it was voted to call a fulltime assistant pastor. The call
extended to
the Rev. Harvey Hendrickson of Zion Lutheran, Woodburn, Ind.,
was accepted and he was installed in September, 1977, as our associate
pastor.
On October,
25, 1966, a group of
ladies, many over 80 years of age, organized a Mission Sewing group. Of
the
many dedicated workers, 90‑year‑old Doretta Wogahn and Esther Linge
have missed
only three meetings and are still going strong. Since their beginning
they have
made 950 quilts, in addition to lap robes, children's clothing and
other items
needed in the mission field. Their goal for the centennial year is to
make and
tie 100 quilts.
The Rev. and
Mrs. Mueller vacated
the parsonage in July, 1976, moving to their own home. A report on the
sale of
the parsonage at 201 W. Third was made at the voters meeting in
October, 1977.
The property was sold to Andy Parks for $36,500. The congregation
helped Rev.
Hendrickson financially in the purchase of his home and held a first
mortgage
on his property.
Voters at
their August, 1978 meeting
were told by the elders that the remuneration for a guest speaker was
set at
$30 for one service and $15 additional for two services, plus 15 cents
for
mileage.
After
several months of limited activity because of ill health, the Rev.
Mueller
reported in November, 1979, that he would not be returning full time
and at the
end of January would be on permanent disability. The Rev. Albert
Bostelman,
retired, assisted with the Lord's work in our congregation on a
part‑time basis
during Rev. Mueller's illness. On Jan. 27, 1980, Rev. Mueller delivered
his
retirement sermon.
After making
the final payment on
the mortgage on our church property was made on Nov. 10, 1981, a
mortgage
burning ceremony was held on Thanksgiving Day. The original loan was
set up to
mature on Feb. 1, 1987. Treasurer Art Hintz reported that the total
cost of the
church was $298,780, parking lot and paving, $34,815, interest on loan,
$107,159, less the interest received on a Lutheran Brotherhood Money
Fund of
$2,451. Total amount paid on the loan was $437,303.
Vicar Martin
Moehring, after serving
his year of vicarage at St. John's,
gave his farewell sermon on June 28, 1981. The Rev. Paul Warnier of
Manitowish
Waters, Wisc., was ordained and installed as associate pastor on June
28, 1981.
The new blue
covered Lutheran
Worship hymnals were dedicated at services on April 18, 1982. The 300
hymnals
for our church were purchased at a cost of $8.50 each.
Plans for a
pre‑school were
inaugurated in 1982 with Mrs.
Wayne (Annette) Lussman as the first teacher. After her resignation
Mrs. Paul
(Anna Mae) Wamier was hired for the 1984‑85
term.
In compliance with regulations for conducting preschool, a fire alarm
system was installed in the fall of 1982.
Because of an area of leakage in
our
church and connecting area, it was deemed necessary to put on a new
roof. Bids
received ranged from $14,000 to $17,000
with
Peterson Construction of Alta low
bidder. Total costs of the 1984
project
including electrician, air conditioner hook‑up and moving and architect
fees
came to some over $20,000.
In August, 1984, plans for the congregation's
centennial to be observed
in August, 1985, were
started. Various committees were appointed with Darwin Lussman,
chairman, and
Richard Stille, vice‑chairman, o the general committee.
A call from
Cole Camp, Mo., to serve
as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church
was received by Rev. Hendrickson in November, 1984. After prayerful consideration, he
accepted the call and gave
his farewell sermon at St. John
on Dec. 2, 1984. He had
served as associate pastor from 1977‑80
and
head
pastor from 1980 to 1984.
The proposed budget for 1985 is $152,119.
At the beginning of the centennial
year, St.
John
had a membership of 803
souls, 648 of
which are
communicant members.
The eldest
member of our
congregation is Mathilde "Tillie" (Kay) Sroka, who observed her 100th
year in October, 1984. She was
confirmed in 1899 at Hanover. Her
parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kay, were charter members of St.
John
and members of St.
John
at that time. The local church and Hanover
were served as a dual parish. Mrs. Alvina (Kay) Meyer, a sister of Mrs.
Sroka
was confirmed in 1913, and is still
a member of our congregational family.
"Reflections"
During the first 100 years of
history at St.
John,
many organists have served faithfully including Ida Miller, who filled
her
position for 19 years.
Others were Anna Kay, Alma Linge Brown, Sadie Schuelke Rehder, Victor
Vollrath,
Fern Frerichs Finney, Esther Linge, Rayme Francis Liberti, Milly
Peterson,
Doris Norman Ehlert, Mardell Oatman,Brown, Eva Grover Coburn, Bruce
Peters,
Mama Dierenfield Ripley, Lois Koth Theesfield, Linda Sharp Renfro,
Donnadee
Strombeck Nicholson, Becky Stille Haight, Denise Benna Betts, Mary
Norlin
Schuldt, Janet Winterhof, and presently serving are Eloise Obman and
Suzanne
Winterhof.
Custodians
of our church have filled
an important part in our history. Those who have served include Charles
Bauman;
Rev. and Mrs. Hartmeister, (who also served as pastor), Mr. and Mrs.
Ferd
Luepke; Anna Linge and son Walter; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Borcherding; Art
Roy; Doug
Hoeppner and wife Karen; Glen Jones, Oscar Nelson, Ernest Hogrefe and
our
present custodian Leona Delbridge.
Walter Linge
has memories of serving
as "janitor", as they were called in the earlier years. He
reminisced, "Times were rather difficult during the early 20's. The trustees requested us (Walt and
his mother) to get
up around 3:30 on Sunday
mornings to start the two coal burning furnaces in the old brick
church. After
starting the fires with paper and cobs (donated by our members) I would
shovel
in about 40 shovelfuls of coal in each
furnace and usually by 10 a.m. would have the church warmed up to 60
degrees.
Then I would have to crawl down into different manholes to turn on the
water to
activate the men's and ladies' restrooms. While doing this, my mother,
Anna
Linge, was usually dusting the pews, scrubbing the hallways, etc.
Sometimes we
would have Sunday evening services, after which I would again have to
shut off
all the water and drain the toilets. The church would not be heated
again until
the following Sunday. Confirmation classes were held by Pastor
Hartmeister in
the basement, but without heat. The previous wooden church had a large
pot
bellied stove in the center of the church and people would all try to
get seats
near the stove. At that time we had a large outhouse to the west of the
church,
supplied with Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs."
"Being a
janitor was a
difficult job, but we received a total salary of $16 per month, which
was
considered good pay back in the early 1920's."
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