St. Paul's History

Between 1844 and 1878, more Germans than any other nationality migrated to the Milwaukee area. By 1870, Milwaukee was, the largest German settlement in the United States. Many farmed the surrounding rich land.

The German families Barten, Bass, Boldt, Bluhm, Hohensee, Holz,Kamrath, Krause, Link, Martin, Muehl, Pellmann, Ratke, Steffan, Tess, and others brought the Lutheran Christian faith with them from the old country to what is now Muskego. The Reverend C. Koester, St. John's (Ev.) Lutheran Church, Root Creek (68th and Forest Home), started a mission in 1857. Services were held once a month in a one-room log schoolhouse on the P. Smith farm on Tess Corners Drive.

On January 19, 1858, Jacob and Julia Tess sold two acres of land for $100 to the mission congregation, which took the name The First Protestant Church of Muskego. In spring, a small frame church was built. The floor plan had a broad aisle in the center with rows of pews on both sides. The building was expanded in 1877.

A reed organ furnished music while a pot belly stove worked hard to warm the building. Women and children sat left of the aisle and men on the right. Men and women communed separately until 1950.

Pastor Koester served the mission until 1859. Mr. L. Neitmann, a Christian parochial schoolteacher, took over until 1861. The first baptism was Heinrick Ferdinand Warnecke, on August 30, 1859. The first funeral was Emilee Bertha Pellmann, aged 12, on January 19, 1861. The first class was confirmed on March 29, 1861. The first marriage was performed on December 1, 1861, for Wilhelm Paepke and Sophia Schwarz. Pastor Baartz served from 1868 to 1869, followed by Pastor P. Lukas, at which time the congregation began holding services every two weeks. The first financial report was published in 1871; the income for the year was $174. 18. The salary for the part-time pastor and miscellaneous expenses totaled $200. Pastor Gotthold Thurow of St. John's Lutheran at Root Creek served the mission until 1890.

On May 15, 1878, the congregation's first constitution was filed before Thomas Lannon, Justice of the Peace, Town of Muskego, by William Tess, John Carl Schaubitzer, and Julius Ruehle, trustees of the church. The name Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church was chosen.

By 1889, the congregation had grown to 122 communicant members. In 1890, it erected a schoolhouse for German religious instruction. It stands west of the present cemetery. Classes were conducted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. In 1891, while John Karrer was pastor, the congregation purchased two acres of land for $600 from William Krause to build a parsonage.

Pastor Karrer was followed by Pastor Glauss in 1892, then by L.B. Mielke in 1894. During Pastor Mielke's stay, the congregation grew to over 160 communicant members. By the turn of the century, the wood frame church had become overcrowded, and discussions were held concerning a new building. Some disagreements arose, which led to the establishment of another Lutheran church at Durham Hill. On June 3, 1902, St. Paul's changed its constitution from one of trustees to a corporation. Then on July 6, 1904, a committee was formed to head a building project, and in September, Charles L. Lessor was selected as architect. On March 20, 1905, the bid by building contractors Lacy and Hoppe of Burlington was accepted. The wood frame church was moved in April (by B. Whitman for $60) and sold to Ernest and John Ludwig for $700. The Ludwigs used the lumber for an ice house and other buildings. Excavation began the same month. The total cost of $11,820.21 included the interior furnishings, cement sidewalk, and iron fence around the church and cemetery. On August 26, 1905, Schwalbach & Sons of Milwaukee was contracted to install a "Star Tower Clock" in the steeple. The cost for clock faces, bell and materials (the congregation provided the labor) was $390. The bell weighed 1700 pounds and was 40 inches across. The reed organ from the first church was rebuilt into the new church. The Young People's organization helped to defray costs, and a communion ware set was given to the church by the confirmation class of 1904. Dedication services took place on Sunday, November 12, 1905. President P.H. von Rohr of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary conducted the morning service. Pastor Thurow of Root Creek led an afternoon service. Both services were conducted in German. An evening service, led by Pastor John Brimmer of Cudahy, was in English.

After Pastor Mielke accepted a call to another parish in 1909, Gustav Schoewe became the new pastor. During his tenure the congregation joined the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. English services were held once a month, and a system of dues was established.

Between 1914 and 1915, general repairs were made to the church, and two murals were added to the interior walls. Lewis Karrer, a twenty-year old seminarian, painted guardian angels watching over the dwellings of Gods people and the German words from Luke 2:16, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace." In subsequent years, the murals were painted over, but in 1982, they were restored to their original state. A used pipe organ, purchased from Wangerin Organ Co., was installed in 1919 under the supervision of Frank Moench, an organ builder from Germany. Someone had to pump the large five feet by eight feet bellows by hand.

In 1924, the last German confirmation class was held.

In 1925, Ewald Tacke became the new pastor. Under his leadership Sunday School classes were conducted for the children of the Congregation. In 1929, a new parsonage was built for $12,000 next to the church. The, old parsonage was sold at an auction for $600.

The congregation voted to build a Christian Day School in 1932. However, plans were postponed for two years, then dropped. In 1935, the church basement was enlarged and remodeled.

The transition from German to English services came in 1937. German was still used twice a mouth and on festival occasions.

In April of 1946, Pastor Tacke accepted a call to St. Lucas Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. That year, in preparation for the 90th anniversary, the church interior was cleaned, the chancel redecorated, the pulpit lowered, and the canopy from above the pulpit removed. This costed $1500.

On September 21, 1947, Pastor Delton Tills was installed and on Novernber 9,1947, the church celebrated its 90th anniversary with special worship services. Afterward, to accommodate all the people, three sitting of a banquet meal were held in the church basement. A skit reenacting the church's first anniversary was performed by the Arnold Bass and Howard Imme, families. To close the festivities, the group sang "Till We Meet Again."

In 1948, the congregation opted to use The Lutheran Hymnal, and on Maundy Thursday 1949, the final German service was held.

In 1957, the church commemorated its centennial with Pastor Ewald Tacke preaching for services on, November 24, 1957; that following week, the members celebrated the blessings, of one hundred years with a banquet at Muskego Beach and a fun night at Tess Corners School. They also redecorated the church interior with a new altar, pulpit, and baptismal font. During-the church's first one hundred years there had been 2,122 baptisms 1,504 confirmations, 529 marriages, and 692 funerals.

The burgeoning numbers in Sunday School prompted the congregationto provide additional space. In September 1958, they broke ground south of the church, and on Thanksgiving Day, 1958, the cornerstone inscribed, Jesus saith, "Feed My Lambs" was laid. On September 6, 1959, at the 8:30 a.m. service, President Carlton Toppe of Northwestern College spoke. At 9:45 a.m. the Center's opening ceremony was held, started by the tolling of the bell taken from the one-room schoolhouse- Pastor Tills called the Youth Center "our investment in the future." The plans included a park complete with picnic ground, tennis court, baseball diamond, and other recreational facilities. The Sunday School filled the Center on Sundays, and various church groups kept the building in use almost every other day.

In 1963, Pastor Tills accepted another call, andafter a vacancy of several months, Pastor Robert Zink accepted the call to serve St. Paul's. Under his leadership, the congregation replaced the system of dues with the Sunday envelope system. In 1965, the Evangelism Committee was organized for community outreach. Junior and Senior Bible classes were started- In the fall of 1965, the pews were replaced with new ones, and in 1966, a new $10,000 Allen electronic organ replaced the old organ. By 1967, a third Sunday service was needed.

On October 15, 1967, a special 110th anniversary service was conducted by Rev. Edward Lindemann, a son of the congregation. A dinner and fellowship followed at the Intermediate School gym. The Rev. Oscar Naumann, President of the Synod, and the Rev. Luther Voss were guest speakers. The Young People's Society and the choirs entertained. The Married People's Society sold plaques and plates embossed with the church's picture. That same year, land was purchased east of the church for future expansion.

In the fall of 1967, the congregation approved a Christian Day School which would be held in the Youth Center. On September 4, 1968, St. Paul's Lutheran School opened its doors to fifty-eight students in grades one through five. Principal Owen Dorn taught grades four and five, and Miss Karla Falch taught grades one through three. Each successive year a grade was added so that on June 8, 1972, the first eighth grade graduated.

Because of the school's rapid growth, the congregation approved an addition to the Youth Center/School. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on November 1, 1971, and on October 1, 1972, the $177,000 addition, which included five classrooms, a library, offices, conference room, storage, and a separate heating plant was completed.

After the graduation ceremony in May of 1977, a tornado blew the roof off parts of the school. Damage was repaired by the time school started in autumn.

By 1975, it became apparent that the congregation would have to deal with the overcrowding in the church. Four services were being held every week: three on Sunday and one on Monday evening. On September 27, 1976, the congregation decided by a vote of one hundred twenty-two to five to build a new church. Ground-breaking was on April 3, 1977, and on October 16, 1977, the cornerstone was laid in place with special ceremonies. On June 4, 1978, the last regular services were held in the old church, and as people filed out, each member tolled the old church bell in farewell.

The new church has a total of 14,393 square feet, seats 720 people, and cost $525,000, including furnishings and architect fees. $300,000 had been raised by dedication Sunday. Two black walnut trees were given by Alvin Guhr. Some of the wood was used in a 9' by 12' cross for the altar, carved by Wayne Boldt. TIhe balance was used by Clyde Jacobson, a Waterford craftsman, to construct the lectern, altar, pulpit, and baptismal font. Roman Rynders, a member of the congregation, collected the hundreds of granite, limestone, and fossil fieldstones for the chancel wall. The special faceted glass windows depicting church seasons were donated by members.

On June 11, 1978, dedication of the new church took place, and several services were held that day with sermons by Rev. Edwin Klumb, Prof. Edward Lindemann, and Rev. George Boldt. An original hymn, "Go Forward in Grateful Devotion," written by Owen Dorn with music by Mrs. Jan Lindemann was performed. A catered dinner was offered for about 1,000 people in the gym and a tent outside.

The congregation completed construction of a new parsonage for associate Pastor Richard Lehmann in 1982. That same year the church celebrated its 125th year and chose as its theme, "To God be the Glory." On September 19, 1982, special services were held with a catered buffet dinner following. A duplex was built in 1986 on the east side of the church property for teachers.

On May 28, 1989, ground-breaking took place for an addition to the Christian Day School. The addition costed $407,000 and included four classrooms, an office complex, locker rooms, and a large storage room. Dedication took place on January 21, 1990, following the 10:15 a.m. church service. Elmer Heileman, chairman of the building committee, handed over the keys to the new addition to Adam Smith, a second grade student. He in turn presented them to Richard Garbe, president of the congregation. Principals who have served the Christian Day School are: Owen Dorn, 1968 - 1988; Karl Grebe 1988 - 1996; and Mike George, 1996 - present.

With the ever-growing congregation and the increasing responsibilities, St. Paul's called additional pastors: Gerhard Albrecht, 1975 - 1984; Richard Lehmann, 1979 - 1985; Martin Lopahs, 1984 - 1995; Lee Vaccarella, 1985 - 1990; David Kuehl, 1990 - present, Jeffrey Bonack, 1996 - present; William Fischer 1996 - 1998; Peter Panitzke, 1998- present; Gerald Meyer 1999 - present.

In 1990, the congregation called its first staff minister, Mr. Joel Nelson, to serve as Family Minister. In 1999 he accepted another call. In 1992, Mr. Robert Garbe was called to be St. Paul's Lay Director of Discipleship. In 1999, Randel Fink was called to be St. Paul's Minister of Administration.

In 1993, the new WELS hymnal, Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal, was adopted for use 'in St. Paul's worship services.

In 1996 the voters approved the formation of a Facilities Planning Committee to develop a plan for a church addition, narthex renovation, and a new organ. On June 8, 1997, the congregation voted to install a new Allen Electronic organ and renovate the balcony and chancel.

As we contemplate these spiritual and physical blessings which God has graciously poured into our lives, we praise and glorify Him for His kindness to us! How wonderful is God's faithfulness for over 140 years! To Him be all the glory!

View a history of the WELS here.