Communion set Altar service edition of the Book of Worship

Altar set and cloth Organ light Pulpit light

Baptism font Lighted cross Electric coffee urn

Pulpit Bible Picture, “Christ in Gethsemane”

Money toward a projector fund

Money for new carpeting in the church. It is hoped the carpeting will be in place before the date of our anniversary jubilee.

A number of organizations at the present time are not active, due to the fact that we have the services of a supply pastor only. There is fine material here for Youth Fellowship with in the church, but since Rev. Hohmann’s departure from Humbird, this society has been inactive.

The Women’s Guild, which had its transition from the “Ladies Aid” in the year of 1940, has always been a staunch supporter in the church, and continues its work with 33 active members. They not only help financially when necessary, but at this writing are making plans for painting the basement and furnace room, doing the actual work themselves. A good deal has been done in years past for World Service, along with other timely projects, whenever the need was experienced.

The Sunday School is greatly handicapped by the fact that since Humbird and Fall Creek have been one charge, the pastors have never been able to attend Sunday School sessions. A group of faithful workers are doing their best to instill the teachings of Jesus in the hearts and minds of some sixty boys and girls. The S.S. has presented $65 toward the carpeting fund.

It has been somewhat of a problem to maintain a standing choir; we have many times had a fine group organized who were most faithful in their services of special music, but all too soon some of the members either left to attend college, or married and moved elsewhere, and new young voices were hard to find. For some reason the “oldsters” in this congregation with good voices are far too modest in acknowledging their special talent.

SUMMARY STATISTICS

Total number of baptisms, 247, five of whom were adults.

176 young people and five adults were confirmed.

59 marriages were performed.

128 burial services are listed in the church records.

Rev. Ben Stucki

Consistory

Mrs. John Greub

Mrs. A. F. Hahn

Mrs. Will Theiler

Mrs. G. H. Anderson

Mrs. Everett Senske

Mrs. Fred Trachsel

Mrs. Harry Hart

Mrs. John Bryner

Mrs. Fred Theiler

Mrs. Osewald Lien

Mrs. Edwin Bleiler

Mrs. Bud Walker

Interior St. John’s Church

The Reverend Benjamin Stucki and the Reverend Jacob Grether of Neillsville were still sharing ministerial duties for St. John’s Church in 1951. How grateful the parishioners were for their faithful service. The older members have many fond memories of these ministers of God.

John Greub, Fred Trachsel, William Theiler, Sr., and Elmer Duerkp were members of the Consistory which was composed of two deacons and two elders. Mrs. Greta Anderson served as threasurer. Elmer Duerkop served seventeen years as secretary. George Mueller served twenty years.

Deep concern and care went into making the decision of whether to rebuild the parsonage on the site of the former one that burned or to look for a suitable substitute. The greatest goal for the year 1952 was realized when the home of Mrs. Anna Theiler was purchased for $7,000 as the new parsonage. This lovely home sets at the base of the hill and high were the hopes of the congregation to have a pastor and his family occupy it. Mrs. Theiler took a mortgage of $2,000 for the balance due at three per cent interest to be paid semi-annually. This amount was satisfied in full July 11, 1955.

There was a decision to accept the recommendation of the Synod to yoke with the Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church of Black River Falls which was also seeking a full time pastor. The pastors, Reverend “Ben” and Reverend “Jack” again supplied services while an acceptance to a pastoral call was anxiously awaited. Charles Fix, a student, served the parish during the summer months.

In August of 1952, the Reverend Herman Hartman of Marion, South Dakota, preached his trial sermon, was accepted, and along with his wife, Blanche and two sons, established residence in the parsonage in November. Monetary problems were troubling and the money for his moving was borrowed from the two consistory members, John Greub and Bill Theiler. Through faith, dedicated members managed to repay this debt and their share of the pastor’s salary.

Taken from Minute Book---1952:

St. John’s will pay $2,000 toward the pastors’ salary; National Board of Missions, $452; and Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church of Black River Falls will pay $908.

The Reverend Hartman served the congregation faithfully until he resigned in August of 1957 to accept a call to Baltic, Ohio. He is now serving in Bucyries. Many things were accomplished during his five years of service. The church constitution was amended to enlarge the Consistory from two to three Elders and Deacons to be elected for three-year terms. The name of church was officially changed in 1953 from St. John’s reformed to Reformed and Evangelical.

A much needed parking lot was installed at the rear of the church. The upstairs of the parsonage was finished to accommodate bedroom space for the boys, Mark and David. Memorial money was used to purchase a new organ from Robinson Piano and Organ Company of Eau Claire for the cost of $1,075. John Stickler, of Wisconsin Rapids, was contracted to remodel the sanctuary. How inspiring the first service held was.

A very active and large choir furnished beautiful worship in song under the direction of the pastor and Emma Theiler, organist. A contata was given at Easter and presented in other area churches. A cherub choir, under the direction of Mrs. Daniel Simonson, was formed and dressed in white surplices. We had angels singing.

It was with glad hearts that the congregation welcomed the Reverend Carl Serr, his wife, Marion, and two boys, Phillip and Paul, from Glenfell, Saskatchewan, Canada, as their new pastor. Carl gave his trial sermon in September and moved into the then vacated parsonage in November, 1957. The Reverend Jack Grether supplied in September and October in the interim. The Ladies Guild had the necessary cleaning and dusting so everything would be spotless, and will never forget what a rainy, muddy day moving day was.

The Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church decided to close their doors in 1958 and become affiliated with the Methodist church in Black River Falls. The Consistory applied to the National Board of Missions for the $908 paid by them toward the pastor’s salary. The Board approved $600 and St. Johns had to raise the rest.

Water was piped from the parsonage to the church. How thankful the ladies were to no longer lug water up the hill.

The Reverend Serr served the congregation until December of 1961, when he accepted a call to the Colby-Athens charge. A daughter, Katherine, joined the family unit while at Humbird.

The National Board of Missions had again cut the allotment from $600 to $300 for the 1961 year. The story is told that Archie Kirby, then Consistory president, loaned the money so Pastor Serr could receive all back salary due him. His Christmas letter of 1974 informs us that his family now numbers four and his wife, Marion, graduated as a licensed practical nurse. They are now living in Estelline, South Dakota.

Now started a long period of being pastorless. The dedicated congregation’s determination

to continue the Lord’s work and the able assistance of the Reverend Jack Grether kept the church going in worship and community service while awaiting an answer to their pastoral call. A possible yoke at Fall Creek or Osseo was considered.

Reverend “Jack,” as he was fondly known, was busy serving as superintendent of the Winnebago Indian School, now known as the “Sunburst Home,” but made himself available for Sunday services, baptisms, funerals, Council meetings, and Northwest Association meetings. Due to his conflicting commitments, he gave just temporary assistance in 1967.

The congregation adopted the new church name, St. John’s United Church of Christ, at the annual meeting held January 14, 1962, which was recorded at the Clark County Court House on April 4, 1962 by Archie Kirby.

A public address system, twenty-four steel foundling chairs, a new pulpit chair, lighted outside cross, communion table and hymnals were some of the Memorials given during this time.

The Reverend Jack Grether continued to serve as supply minister for $25 a week from 1962-1967. During these years, many men, both pastors and laymen, responded to our need for pastoral assistance. We owe a debt of gratitude to the following for their cooperation and help:

Ted Prange, Robert Tilden, Kenneth Schultz, Dr. Robert Bryant, the Reverend B. Talledge, and Bruce Unglesbee. A little later, Don Arndt, Milo Mabie and others filled in. Our organist at this time was Diane Bryner Hayden.

Clifford Walker was elected Elder at the 1964 Annual meeting. He served as president of the Council for six years. This was a very trying time in our history. Without a resident pastor, it was up to the Council president to assume many extra duties to keep the church in operation. We certainly owe many thanks to Cliff for the time and effort he put into this position. Mrs. Hubbard Krumholz was elected treasurer and is still serving in that capacity.

The Lee Terrell family moved into the parsonage and Lee assumed the duties of custodian. A street light was installed at the foot of the hill.

Ron Fruth, a ministerial student, served the congregation June through September of 1965. He was followed by the Reverend Otta Stockmeier, a retired pastor, who served until December. Laura Baumgartner donated the use of her home with St. John’s paying the fuel and light bill. Ron painted her house while there.

Guided by Cliff Walker, the congregation continued to thrive with the help of lay ministers who traveled great distances to serve. The congregation was drawn together during this time of uncertainty.

The visiting ministers were aware of a sincere desire on the part of the congregation to find God’s will and to carry on His work at St. John’s. New names added to the list of supply pastors are: David Johnson, Lawrence Loomans, Percy Cox, DeWitt Small, Jim Brandt, and Russell Johnson.

We were fortunate enough to have Mr. And Mrs. Azure Osborn join our membership. Marion, a former missionary to China, taught catechism classes and Sunday School, and printed the Sunday bulletins. Azure served on the Council and is lay leader, in which capacity his services are very much needed, supplying the pulpit for a month in June, 1967, and whenever needed. Walter Jenswold has also supplied in these past years.

The old furnace needed to be replaced, so a new automatic oil furnace was installed in 1967. This was a wonderful improvement in the heating facilities and as it occupied a smaller space, there was room for the installation of rest rooms at a later date.

Early in this year, Robert Johns and Jess Scott joined the ranks of those serving as supply ministers. Ralph Walker, from Augusta, and student assistant, Russell Christensen, from the United Methodist Charge in Fairchild, began serving our church in September 1967 on a regular basis. They continued here through 1968.

[Home]     [Back]      [Next]