Peace Lutheran Church - History...

1865 - Friedens (Peace) Lutheran Church was founded by Rev. Henry Braun.

1891 - Pastor Braun laid the first cornerstone for Friedens (Peace) Lutheran Church on Franklin St. and 4th Ave.

1893 - Pastor Fredrick Koehler was ordained, becoming the first resident pastor of Friedens congregation (1893-1899).

1896 - The congregation bought a house on the corner of Glen St.and 4th Ave. S for a parsonage.

1898 - The Ladies Aid was organized, the earliest group within the congregation.

1899 - Pastor G. E. Fritzke was installed in February (1899-1920). The Young Ladies Society was organized. The badly needed school was built and necessary improvements were made to the parsonage.

1902 - As a result of continued growth, the congregation decided to add a cross section to the church building.

1920 - Friedens congregation called Pastor Alfred Bauer of Cedar Mills to serve as a vacancy pastor, which he did until January 1921.

1921 - Pastor W.J. Schulze assumed pastoral duties (1921-1945).

1925 - The Dorcas Club was organized.

1926 - The ground breaking for the new church building was on July 27.

1927 - The new church building was dedicated on October 23. The architect was August Gauguer of St. Paul, and the twelve painted glass windows show events in the life of Christ. German services and classes were discontinued and all religious instruction has been conducted in English since that time.

1928 - A new 3-manual electrified pipe organ was installed in the new church.

1938 - Young Peoples League was started, replacing the Young Ladies Society which disbanded that year.

1941 - As a special project for the 50th anniversary of the congregation, the interior of the church was decorated with stenciling by artist, C.A. Christiansen of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1945 - Pastor Arthur Koehler was installed (1945-1952).

1950 - Peace congregation voted to join the Missouri Synod after 59 years of membership in the Wisconsin Synod.

1952 - Pastor Martin Kirsch was installed.

1953 - Forty-five families were granted a peaceful dismissal in order to organize Grace Lutheran congregation.

1954 - The Christian Education Building was dedicated on April 4th.

1955 - Deaconess Julia Hennig was installed on February 13th and served one year.

1956 - Deaconess Gloria Jungemann was installed and served until 1958. Pastor Donald Buelow was installed as Assistant Pastor on July 8.

1957 - Twenty Families were granted peaceful dismissal in order to establish a daughter congregation, Our Savior Lutheran Church.

1959 - Pastor Donald Buelow was installed as Senior Pastor and his father, the Rev. Julius Buelow, as Assistant Pastor. Mr. Jesse Bye was called to serve as Director of Education and Music, and later retained as Senior Organist.

1963 - Mr. Gerald Rabe was called as Director of Education and continued to serve until November of 1965.

1964 - Pastor Richard H. Raedeke was installed as Senior Pastor.

1965 - Seminarian Henry Berg was commissioned as Vicar on September 1. Pastor Julius Buelow retired from the full time ministry on September 1, but continued to serve the congregation as Visitation Pastor until his death on March 21, 1966. The Rev. Walter D. Marth was installed as Assistant Pastor on August 29, and later was named Associate Pastor.

1966 - The Rev. Otto Kuehl was engaged by the congregation as Visitation Pastor. On September 18, the congregation observed its 75th anniversary.

1973 - Miss Cynthia Schlegelmilch was installed as Director of Christian Education. On January 14th the Ladies Aid celebrated its 75th anniversary.

1974 - The Glen Street parsonage was moved to the corner lot in November. Rev. James Marshall was installed on June 30.

1975 - Dorcas Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary on January 12. Paul Berg became our new Minister of Education on March 15th.

1976 - A new sound system was installed in the church proper, a gift from Mr. And Mrs. Ed Hoerner.

1977 - Rev. Otto Kuehl celebrated his 50th year in the ministry in August and retired as Visitation Pastor at that time. Rev. Herman Buenting, Litchfield, became our new Visitation Pastor on December 1st.

1978 - Rev. James Lauer was installed as Executive Pastor on July 2. Norbert Malenke was installed as Minister of Music on September 17. Martin W. Lieske joined the staff as consulting pastor.

1979 - In January, approval was given to the trustees to carpet the church and remodel the basement, as well as the education hallways. The basement was air conditioned and a new ventilation system installed in the education building.

1980 - The voters accepted the challenge to participate in the $40 million Synod mission project during the first half of 1981.

1981 - The Franklin Street parsonage was sold for $4,200. The choir loft was remodeled. On August 6, 1981 bids were opened for the construction of the Peace Center, offices, ramp ways, and library.

1982 - Pastor Gary Galchutt was installed as Associate Pastor on June 6th in the service immediately before the dedication of the new building. The new Lutheran Worship hymnal was introduced.

1983 - James Streufert was hired as Director of Music. A computer was purchased for the office.

1984 - A commitment was initiated to give 10% of the unified budget to missions.

1985 - Pastor Marth accepted the call to serve again at Peace. Paul Berg accepted a call to serve as "Dean of the Christian Learning Center in New Hope" in July. The Williams Sound Corp. Hearing System was installed for the hard-of-hearing. Pastor Koepp began work as Visitation Pastor.

1986 - Pastor David Anderson accepted the call to Peace and started here October 1st. Marlys Haag was hired full time as Director of Youth. The Church exterior was tuck pointed. A trained group was established to tape services for cable tv.

1987 - Pamela Doebert was hired to join the Peace staff as Director of Music. The nursery began in November. The church was insulated, the roof reshingled and a new sound system was installed.

1988 - The Peace Church library was completely redone by Ruth Hagen and Verna Henke.

1989 - Paul Berg accepted our call to return as Minister of Education. The Peace Center kitchen was completely furnished and air conditioning was installed in the Peace Center.

1990 - Paul Otte accepted the call to be Minister of Music. A large replica of the first Friedens Church was built by Gary Wurdell and placed in the church to begin the Centennial activities. A security system was installed.

1991 - Centennial celebration. The celebration continued throughout the year, with special reunion for those who were confirmed and or married at Peace. Sunday School enrollment is the highest it has been in over 20 years. The church pews were refinished by Chet Maki, new hymnal racks were made, and the light fixtures in the church were rewired. The property at 345 Glen Street was purchased for $35,000 for the purpose of future development.

1992 - Worship services were begun on Saturday evenings. Dr. Huebert donated a 100’ x 325’ parcel to the cemetery land.

1993 - A special voters’ meeting approved the planning and implementation of Prince of Peace Senior Living and the establishment of a nonprofit corporation. An Organ Fund was established and many fund raisers were held.

1994 - Construction of Prince of Peace began and Paul Berg was named facility manager. It was decided to purchase a 3-manual tracker action organ from J.W. Walker & Sons, Organbuilders, of London, England for a total cost of $379,204. Greg Ewing was hired as our new Youth Director in December. Parish Services was begun with Marlys Palmer as Director.

1995 - The first residents moved into Prince of Peace on April 1st. Pastor Gerhard H. Bode accepted the call to Peace and was installed June 11th. Pastor Marth retired July 2nd after serving 1965-1977 and from 1985-1995 at Peace. It was decided at a voters’ meeting to call a seminary graduate from St. Louis seminary. Jonathan C. Rathjen was ordained and installed at Peace on August 27th. The Parish Nurse program was established, headed by Shirley Wurdell.

1996 - A pictorial directory containing photographs of over 600 families’ was published. A lot at the corner of Franklin and 3rd Avenue SW was purchased.

1997 - The new J.W. Walker pipe organ was installed with dedication on March 16th.

1998 - Pastor Walter D. Marth returned to Peace as Visitation Pastor. Marlin Haag was hired as custodian. On April 2nd the Ladies Aid at Peace celebrated its 100th year of service to the Lord. The group decided that this would be the final year as an organization. The bell tower was repaired and refurbished.

1999 - Vision Peace 2000 and Beyond was approved by the congregation. Committees in the areas of Facilities, Focus Ministries, Parish Structure, and Finance were established. Greg Ewing left the staff for a position at Hutchinson High School. The parish purchased a home on Franklin Street as part of the long range plan for mission and ministry development. Pastor Layton Lemke joined the staff as Visitation Pastor.

2000 - Ted Stroming joined the staff as Minister of Youth and Family. Sandra Hall joined the staff as Director of Children's Education. Jerry Haag joined the staff as Property Manager.

2001 - In the spring of the year, our painted glass windows were refurbished, cleaned, and protected with new exterior glass. Pastor Eric Goodwin accepted the call to Peace to serve as Associate Pastor.

2003 - Peace acquired the former Hantge Funeral Chapel on 400 Glen Street and changed the name to Peace Place Activity and Outreach Center. Little Lamb's Christian Preschool celebrated its twentieth anniversary.