A Detailed Timeline of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Maribel, Wisconsin, USA

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Underlined words or phrases correspond to the image at the right of the line. Click the small image to view a larger image.

1854-1899, 1900-1949, 1950-1969, 1970-1989, 1990-Current


1854-1899
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1854: Lutheran settlers conduct services at the Becker family blockhouse.

1855: July 21st, St. John's Congregation is founded.
St. John's joins the Synod of Buffalo.

1855-58: St. John's is served by pastors from the Milwaukee area once every 4-6 weeks. (Pastors: C. Kuehn, Heinrich von Rohr, F.T. Mueller, Meissner, J.A.A. Grabau)

1857: First church and School are built.

1858: Rev. Gottfried Rehwald becomes first resident pastor.

1859: Feburary 27th, St. John's in incorporated. Congregation purchases forty acres for $100.

1866: Pastor Rehwald dies while attending the Synod Convention in Buffalo, New York.

1867: Rev. Christian Meyer is called to be the pastor.

1869: Second church is Built ($1000).

1870: Rev. Meyer resigns from the ministry.

1871: Rev. Carl Schadow called to be the pastor.

1873: First separate parsonage is built.

1875: Rev. Schadow accepts a call to Detroit.

1876: Rev. Albert Keibel is ordained and installed as the pastor.

1877: St. John's leaves the Buffalo Synod, from this point on St. John's called all it's pastors and teachers from the Wisconsin Synod.

1879-81: St. John's seriously discusses joining the Synod of Wisconsin and Other States (final vote: 22 for, 10 against), but the decision is put off for more study.

1889: New pipe organ is installed.


1892: Second school is built ($1000)
Rev. Keibel accepts a call to David's Star, Kirchhayn.

1893: Rev. Christian Sieker is ordained and installed as the pastor.


1900-1949
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1901: Rev. Sieker accepts a call to St. John's, Newtonburg.
Rev. Paul Kionka is called to be pastor.


1903: Present parsonage is built ($3000)

1918: Question about formally joining the the Wisconsin Synod is discussed and tabled.

1925: Present church is built ($32,000).
Electric lights are installed in parsonage.
One sermon per month to be preached in English.

1930: Church is decorated.

1936: Pastor Kionka resigns due to ill health.
Rev. Gerhard Struck is called to be the pastor.

1942: Cemetery Association is founded.

1944: Most Services are held in German and English (With the exception of communion Sunday, which was in German only).

1945: Running water and hot air furnace was added to the parsonage.
Pastor Struck accepts a call to St. John's Wrightstown.
Pastor Paul Gieschen is called to be the pastor.

1947: March 3rd St. John's Lutheran School burns down.

1948: Present school facilities are built ($47,768)


1950-1969
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1950:Pastor Geischen accepts a call to David's Star, Kirchhayn.
Pastor Reinhardt Koch is called to be the pastor.

1951: The Congregation unanimously votes to join the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

1953: St. John's votes again to join the the WELS (vote: 26 for, 22 against)

1954: The first constitution written for St. John's is adopted.
St. John's calls a second full-time teacher.
The church is replastered and redecorated.

1955: Congregation celebrates it's centennial anniversary.

1960: Church roof is replaced.

1961: Church interior is repainted.

1962: New Baldwin electronic organ is installed.
Rev. Koch accepts a call to St. John's, Boyd, MN.
Rev. Armin Engel called to be the pastor.

1964: St. John's joins the Manitowoc Lutheran High School (MLHS) federation.
The envelope system is begun for offerings.

1965: Altar is relocated and communion rails are added.

1966: Ladies Aid is founded.
Current teacherage is built ($19,396).

1968: Parsonage garage is built.


1970-1989
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1970: Church is carpeted.

1971: School furnace is replaced.

1972: Church interior is repainted.

1973: Church restrooms are installed.

1974: Church lot is paved.

1978: Church ceiling is replaced ($15,840).

1979: Parsonage breezeway is built.

1980: Rev. Engel retires from the ministry.
Rev. Karl Kuenzel is called to be the pastor.
Gas furnace is installed in parsonage.

1981: Public Address system is installed in church.

1983: School basement ceiling is tiled.

1984: Rev. Kuenzel accepts a call as a missionary to Malawi, Africa.
Rev. Arthur Callies is ordained and installed.
Cemetary By-laws are revised.

1985: School entry is added, school windows are remodeled.

1986: Church sign is replaced.
Electrical service is remodeled in church, school, and parsonage.

1987: Balcony is carpeted.
Playground is remodeled.

1988: Church basement ceiling is tiled, walls are repainted, and basement windows are replaced.

1989: Constitution is revised.
Church doors are replaced.


1990-Current
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1990: Rev. Callies accepts a call to Zion, Peshtigo.
Rev. Michael Riley is ordained and installed.
Church is made handicapped accessible (Ramp & Lift).
Replacement of storm windows on church is begun.

1991: New carpeting is installed in the church.
Seat cushions are added to the pews.

1992: St. John's Preschool is established.

1993: St. John's Kindergarten is established.

1994: Congregation purchases and begins using Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal.

1995: New Ahlborn-Galanti Electronic Organ is installed.
St. John's School calls a third full-time teacher.
A temporary classroom is set up in the school basement.

1996: Rev. Riley resigns from the ministry.
Rev. Thomas Mielke is called to be the pastor.


1999: School addition is built ($351,096), this eliminates the temporary classroom in the school basement, and the Kindergarten/Preschool classroom in the church basement.

2000: Church office and meeting room built in church basement.

2002: Church roof is repaired.
Rev. Mielke accepts a call to Messiah, South Windsor, Conn.
Rev. Mark R. Walters is called to be the pastor.

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