St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church History Contributed by Kurt D. Miller

St. John�s Evangelical Lutheran Church is located on the corner of Oregon Rd. and Evergreen Rd., in the Township of Nekimi. As early as 1862 services were being held for Lutherans in this locality. The first baptism was performed November 2, 1862.

Services were first held in what later became the Golden Rod School. That location today is a mile west of St. John�s at the southwest corner of Knapp Rd. and Evergreen Rd. Later services were held in the home of Ludwig and Wilhelmine Abraham just south of the church. It was in this home, used as a house of worship, that a meeting was called for the purpose of incorporation on March 31, 1868. The following trustees were elected at this meeting: August Luebke for the term of three years, August Abraham for the term of two years, and Friederich Abraham for one year. It was also determined by vote, that the said trustees and their successors shall forever be called and known by name or title of Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. John�s in the Township of Nekimi. The above transaction was witnessed and sealed on April 1, 1868 by August Beduhn and Charles Weber. Also on April 1 a plot of ground, 12 rods by 10 rods (rod-5 and � yards or 16 and � feet), was bought from Ludwig Abraham for $25.00. The first building that was erected was a log built church. It served as a dual purpose of a church and school. Sometime after the log church was built, a dwelling was built on the northeast corner of the church property, which first served as a parsonage. Pastor Dowidat of Oshkosh first organized the congregation, but the parsonage was built for Pastor H. Hoops who accepted his call in 1872. For many years this was the home for the parochial school teacher, then utilized by the brotherhood of the church to house the Sunday School Department.

Although the congregation was organized in 1868, the constitution was not adopted until August 1874. A warranty deed shows us that on March 24, 1876 St. John�s Congregation bought � acre of land from Ludwig Abraham for $10.00. The church was built of brick construction in 1876. Before this church could have been entirely completed the pastor of the congregation died. The record of his death was on June 15, 1876.

Pastor Thiele was then called and served the congregation from 1876-1884. During the pastorate of Dr. Karl Hemminghaus (1884-1889) another portion of land was bought and the parsonage south of the former church was erected on it the following year. It was purchased in October 1886 for the sum of $10.00. It is interesting to note the warranty states the congregation keeps a fence around this land and the rest of the congregation�s property. In 1887 the brick parsonage was used for the Christian Day School, which maintained until 1944. The first full-time teacher was called in 1887. Some of the senior members and friends remember long, log-hewn benches, hand-made in which 6 pupils could sit. A long stove, that needed to be filled constantly with long slabs of wood was very welcome to warm by after having walked several miles. Most of the children came without overshoes. Nearly all the boys were clad in overalls and the girls in cotton dresses and aprons, with hand knit woolen stockings for both boys and girls. Sometimes in cases of vacancies the pastor would also assume teaching responsibilities. We have reason to believe a new schoolhouse replaced the old log church that had also served as school soon after Pastor Barre (1889-1927) began his pastorate of thirty-three years in 1894. These were still horse and buggy drawn days so some parishioners remember Pastor Barre coming to visit them in his buggy drawn by his faithful horse �Dolly�. The English language slowly came into usage in about 1924. It was used in Sunday evening sermons once or twice a month. In 1925 a new chancel (the space around the alter) and sacristy (storage room for sacred vessels) was added to the church, which brought joy to Pastor Barre as a fulfillment of something long hoped and prayed for. It was only a few years later in June 1927 that he passed away.

Pastor H. H. Cronrath was called and was installed in September of 1927. About half of the services were now in English as well as the catechetical instruction. The Christian Day school now with Mr. Theodore Buchholz as teacher taught all of the secular (not relating to religion) subjects required for eight grades together with religious subjects which were taught daily.

Improvements were made in the parsonage, including building of a sun porch and installing electricity. Pastor Cronrath organized the Luther League, the Ladies Aid, Missionary Society, and the Brotherhood. During the period of 1941-48 three pastors; Pastor E. Kulman, Pastor O. Krueger, and Pastor E. Keller served St. John�s. In 1945 the Christian Day School was discontinued and Sunday School classes were started. These are the names of teachers that taught in the parochial school: Mr. Henning, Mr. Kordiss, Nichols, Mr. Philip Kircher, Mr. Frederich Lutz, Mr. Theo Buchholz, and Mrs. Viola Luebke.

Vacation Bible School began during the pastorate of Pastor O. H. Behrens (1948-1963). It has been held every summer since 1949 with the exception of two years due to the building program.

In 1949 art glass windows were installed in the church and in 1950 the interior of the church was completely refurbished. Improvements were also made in the parish hall and a kitchen was added in 1951-52. In 1954 an electrified pipe organ was dedicated and in 1958 new pews were added.

New hymnals were introduced in 1960. To meet the needs of a growing congregation a new parish hall was added to the church. This addition was also used as an overflow and was dedicated on January 28, 1962. An altar guild was organized in 1963. Pastor Behrens retired from the active ministry in the fall of 1963.

A call was sent to Pastor E. Poff. Pastor Poff accepted the call and was installed January 19, 1964. That year, the choir was robed for the time. At the Easter sunrise the choir wore the new robes that were bought. Within that year�s time a new altar, communion rail, pulpit, lectern, and altar hangings were dedicated. New sanctuary carpeting was installed as a gift from the Woman of the Church. The Ball �N� Chain group gave a new piano to the church also. A complete new kitchen in the parsonage was built in the later part of 1965.

Most people in the vicinity will always remember that cold sub-zero January 28, 1966 morning when St. John�s and the buildings that surrounded it were ablaze with a fire that could be seen for miles. We are thankful, with God�s help that a neighbor awakened Pastor Poff and his family in the parsonage to escape unharmed. All earthly possessions and the contents of the church, with exception of some records in a safe were destroyed. Of the church only a grim outline remained which soon also became rubble. After a meeting with the church council that same evening it was decided to relocate the church services to the Van Dyne Firehouse. Those present will not forget that first church service. We all experienced a great loss as was evident by the unrestrained emotion by the parishioners. We felt, however, that by the help of God we would survive as a congregation as we looked to our Pastor for guidance as he and wife led us in worship. We realized that a great task lie before us but that generations before us had also sacrificed and worked so by the grace of God we would be able to go forward. .Sunday School and choir rehearsal was held in homes in and around Van Dyne. At a meeting of the Women of the Church, it was decided to divide into smaller circles. The former Schumacher home, owned by the Potratz brothers became the parsonage until one could be built. After a congregational meeting held at Peace Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, it was voted to rebuild and to acquire land from Mr. And Mrs. Oscar Hemminghaus, part of which was donated by them.

Many meetings by various committees were held and it was decided to engage Mr. Edgar Stuebenrauch and Associates of Sheboygan as architects. On October 30, 1966 groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church were held. Through prayers and gifts from members and friends together with labor, the visible church again began to take form. The parsonage was completed first and was occupied by the Poff family on February 11, 1967. Date stone laying ceremonies were held on May 28, 1967. The awaited day finally arrived and on August 27, 1967, our beautiful new church was dedicated to the �glory of God�. Three church services were held that day and over 700 people attended. It will be a day that will be long remembered. The church is designed in a modern style with sweeping roof supported by laminated wood arches. It is of dark-faced brick with white stone trim. It includes 21 classrooms, area for 12 provided in the Fellowship Hall, plus offices, mother�s room, library, kitchen, choir room, and storage area. The church furnishings and Allen organ are largely from gifts through memorials.

On May 25, 1969 Ronald Koplitz, son of the congregation, was ordained. He is one of four sons of the congregation that have been ordained into the Christian ministry. The Rev. Ronald Belanger, the first one was ordained June 2, 1957. He was the pastor of St. John�s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baroda, Michigan. The Rev. Lee Luebke was ordained on Jan. 31, 1960. The Rev. Dennis Hinz was ordained on July 17, 1977.

The Carillon Bell system dedicated, and new Lutheran Book of Worship introduced on August 28, 1977.

On January 17, 1982 Pastor Carl R. Knitt was installed as the pastor of St. John�s Lutheran Church.

Senior Saints was organized March 23, 1983.

The year of 1985, on March 24, marked the date of the mortgage burning celebration. The following year in 1986 a new roof was put on.

St. John�s Lutheran Church became affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The windows were replaced in the Fellowship Hall and Sunday School rooms in 1990.

March 3, 1991, Reverend James E. Reiff was installed as pastor.

New furniture was added by the W.E.L.C.A. in 1992. Pew cushions were installed through memorial donations. The Mother�s Room was carpeted also.

We had two anniversaries to celebrate in 1992 and 1993. The 25th Anniversary of the new church that was built in 1967. The 125th Anniversary of the founding of St. John�s Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Township of Nekimi was celebrated in 1993.

The landscaping project began in 1994. The church added trees, bushes, decorative stone, and etc. around the church. This is always an on going job. Asphalt was put on the parking lot in the 1990�s also. Another 2 � inches of asphalt was put on August 6, 2001.

The 21st century is here and our church stands tall in the eyes of the Lord!

Pastors Who Have Served
Pastor H. Dowidat (organized and came to preach from Oshkosh)�����..1868-1871
Pastor Heinrich H. Hoops (our first resident pastor)..�����������1872-1876
Pastor G. Thiele������.1876-1884
Pastor Karl Hemminghaus��.1884-1893
Pastor H. Eisenbach����...1893-1894
Pastor Schmidt������...1893-1894
Pastor H. H. Barre�����..1894-1927
Pastor H. H. Cronrath����.1927-1941
Pastor E. Kulman������1942-1945
Pastor O. Krueger�����...1945-1947
Pastor E. Keller������..1947-1948
Pastor Otto H. Behrens���..1948-1963
Pastor Raymond E. Poff���1964-1981
Pastor Carl R. Knitt�����1982-1990
Pastor James E. Reiff����1991-present