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Transcribed by Robert Lipprandt

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1911 [Page 1] During the summer of 1911, several families decided a new church was needed since many families had to travel great distances for worship. Of particular concern were the families from the Southern portion of Green Grove Township and the Northern portion of Beaver Township.

1911 [Page 1] Mr. and Mrs. Fred Molle donated an acre of land for the new church.

1912 [Page 1] Edward Klessig, was hired as the lead carpenter and with help from the men of the congregation, the church was completed by the late fall of 1912. The men made wood from various members woods to provide heat for the first winter.

1912 [Page 1] The charter members, whose names appear on the first constitution were: August Schuette, Fred Molle, William Rusch, David Mandel, William Scheel, Adolph Molle, William Draheim, William Hardrath, H. Hardrath, Henry Schuette, Fred Becker, Frank Becker Sr., Edward Klessig, Albert Schuette, Charles Witt, Fred Witt, William Kloszinski, Henry Awe and Louis Kranopp. Third, fourth and fifth generations families comprise much of the present membership.

1937 25th Anniversary, no printed information available at this time.

1939, May [Page 1] St. Luke’s was badly damaged by lightning and the services were suspended for three months to complete the renovation.

1939, September 24 [Page 1] A dedication service was held after the renovation of St. Paul’s from the effects of a lighting strike in May of 1939. At this time, St. Luke’s became a sister congregation of St. Paul’s (North Green Grove) and Curtiss Lutheran, Curtiss.

1942 [Page 2] English only services began under the pastorate of Rev. M. C. Goetsch.

1950, October [Page 2] During the pastorate of Rev. Paul T. Deitz, the Ladies Aid was organized. Charter members were Gertie Becker, Bessie Franke, Elsa Hardrath, Anna Horner, Viola Lange, Dorothy Molle, Louella Molle, Ruth Schuette, Hilda Schuette, Florence Schuette, Lilly Schuette, Elpah Schuette, Bertha Kath and Ida Molle.

1951 [Page 2] The Ladies Aid joined the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Through the years, the monies contributed toward missions was raised through dues, memorials, bake sales, etc.

1951 [Page 2] St. Luke’s Sunday School was organized.

1951 [Page 2] The interior of St. Luke’s Church was remodeled.

1952 [Page 2] A lighting system was installed and Orv Schuette made a baptismal font from the base of the pulpit.

1958 [Page 2] Trees were purchased.

1958, November 9 [Page 2] A new organ was dedicated

1960, Summer [Page 2] a new entrance was completed by members of the congregation and a new heating system was installed.

1962 50 Year Anniversary, no printed information available at this time.

1963, Spring of [Page 2] The basement remodeling was completed.

1963, July 31 [Page 2] A rededication service was held.

1966 [Page 2] New communion ware was put into service.

1967 See entry for October, 1989.

1967 [Page 2] A well was drilled and to raise funds, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League began serving turkey dinners.

1968 [Page 2] The well was paid for and profits from the turkey dinners were invested in LCEF for bathrooms.

1970 [Page 3] Women became voting members of the congregation.

1973 [Page 3] Carpeting was installed, the nave floor was sanded and sealed.

1975 [Page 3] The sacristy was remodeled.

1978, Summer [Page 3] A new roof was put on the church.

1979 [Page 3] The interior of the church received a fresh coat of paint and varnish.

1980 [Page 3] Insulation was installed and ceiling fans were added.

1981 [Page 3] New siding was installed on the church and a fence was erected around the cemetery.

1984, July 14 [Page 8, St. Paul’s Centennial Book) St. Luke’s equally shared expenses of St. Paul’s parsonage.

1985 [Page 3] A new amplifier was installed.

1987 [Page 3] A set of stoles and the new bathrooms are being dedicated on our Diamond Jubilee anniversary. The lead carpenter for the remodeling project was Wayne Schultz. He received able help from many members of the congregation. Calvin and Arlene Schulz, in particular, donated countless hours to see this project through.

1987, September 20 75th Anniversary. This chronological history guideline is constructed from this booklet.

1989, October (reproduced from page 9 of the 125th Anniversary Book) St. Luke’s held an annual turkey dinner the last Sunday of October that all tried to attend. This started in 1967 and went until October 1989. Funds were first used to dig a well.

1994, April 2 [Page 8, St. Paul’s Centennial Book] During the pastorate of Rev. DuWayne Schneider, St. Luke’s Congregation was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Holy Saturday, .

1994, April 4 [Marshfield News-Herald Article, by Sara Steffes] Unity - Even before their country church was destroyed by fire on the eve of Easter, St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church parishioners were welcomed for Sunday service with the walls of a sister church.

Joint Easter Sunday Services previously had been planned at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Colby. St. Luke’s is located on the South end of Green Grove Township, five miles South of St. Paul’s also in the Township.

Owen and Loyal firefighters responded to the fire call at 4:30 a.m. Saturday to St. Luke’s. They arrived and watched the 83 year old structure burn as it was engulfed in flames with caved in walls.

“When we got there the entire building was destroyed,” said Owen Fire Chief Harry Mitchell.

Good Friday service had been held the evening before at St. Luke’s, said Rev. DuWayne Schneider, pastor for both congregations. Everyone left the building by 9:30 p.m.

Sometime afterward, fire broke out in the basement, Mitchell said. It burned for several hours in the basement before venting itself through the rest of the building, based on the destroyed floor beams. Cause of the fire is listed as undetermined, he said. Damage was estimated at $60,000 to $80,000. “What started it, I’m not going to speculate.”

For the congregations, Schneider said, the fire was a shock. However, the “good working relationship” between St. Luke’s and St. Paul’s parishioners has made the loss easier to cope with.

About 25 families belong to St. Luke’s and 50 families belong to St. Paul’s. Members often attend both parishes, Schneider said, and participate in events together.

Sunday’s plans included a sunrise Easter service at 6 a.m. followed by a parish breakfast.

Within St. Luke’s had been an old and unique carved wooden altar Schneider said. The church has also recently received a brass altar cross from a memorial, a focal point for the altar.

The joyous Easter season that celebrates Christ’s resurrection was an ideal time for the congregations to handle such a material loss. “I think the loss of the building and these memorials and memories helps focus our faith and attention on the risen Christ, we were prepared for it,” Schneider said.

The fire might lead to consolidation for the parishes, a decision to be made by the congregations, he said.

1994, April [Page 9, St. Paul’s Centennial Book] An invitation was extended to the congregation of St. Luke offering to share St. Paul’s facilities. Each family of St. Luke’s Congregation was visited extending an invitation to join with St. Paul’s Congregation.

1995, January 15 [Page 9, St. Paul’s Centennial Book] St. Luke’s Congregation was received, by transfer, to St. Paul’s Congregation.

1995 , July [Page 9, St. Paul’s Centennial Book] It was approved to add 25 members from St. Luke’s, to the list of communicant members for the assessment roll from the Synod.

The former St. Luke’s Congregation generously designated their insurance proceeds to be used for a Narthex addition to the St. Paul’s Church building.

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