Bio: Engel, Nathan J., Pastor (1939)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Engel, Kraft

----Source: The Centennial Booklet of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, 1876 - 1976, page 43

Engel, Nathan J. (July 30, 1939)

“Sons Of The Congregation Who Entered The Ministry”

Nathan J. Engel, son of the late pastor A. J. Engel and his wife Laura, of Medford, was born at Portage, Wisconsin on July 30, 1939.

He came to Medford with his parents when his father became pastor at Immanuel in December of 1948.

After graduating from Immanuel’s Christian Day School, he entered Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, from which he graduated in 1957.

In the fall of that year, he enrolled in Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin, graduating in 1961.

Thereupon he entered the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon. During his period at the Seminary, he served as a vicar during the school year of 1963-64 at First German Ev. Lutheran Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

In June of 1964, he was married to Miss Charlene Kraft and their marriage has been blessed with three children.

He graduated from the Seminary on June 1, 1965.

On July 29, 1965, he was ordained and installed at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in Bison, S.D. and on the same day he was also installed in four additional congregations; St. Paul’s in Faith (which is his place of residence), First English in Dupree; Peace in Isabel; and St. Paul’s in Timber Lake, all in South Dakota.

He served the above five congregations for about four year, during which he also served Pierre, S.D. part time.

In April of 1969, he accepted a call to Hazelton, N.D. During his pastorate there, he also held positions as Visiting Elder of the Western Conference of the Dakota-Montana District; District Stewardship Board Chairman; Secretary of the Board of Control for Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, S.D., and Secretary of the WELS Stewardship Board.

In August of 1973, he accepted a call as pastor to Sugar Bush, Wisconsin to serve Grace and Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran congregations, both on Route 2, New London Wisconsin.