A Brief History of St. John Lutheran Church

As with most Lutheran churches in the upper Midwest, this church was born before there was a church building or a resident pastor. People had been drawn to this area to harvest the pines, but the greatest influx of people came when the railroad was built, when land became available for a low down payment and low monthly payments. The railroad also made it possible for the Rev. D. Markworth to travel to this area from Gillett, for former members of this parish had asked him to come north to serve their spiritual needs. He did this from 1911 to 1919. The church first met in the homes of members, and then moved to the schoolhouse for the services. In 1919, with leadership from the District Mission Board, a call was issued to a graduate from the St. Louis Seminar. Rev. John Nau was installed as the first resident pastor, and on August 30, 1919, the church was organized and chartered.

There were eight families in this newly organized church, but still there was no building or parsonage. Pastor Nau was engaged to a young lady from Ohio, but he couldn’t get married or bring her until they had a home to live in. Thus the first priority was a parsonage. Members cut the timber, had it milled, and then built the home on a portion of the five lots they had purchased in the village. They had no money for siding, so it stood many years wrapped in tarpaper. In 1920, the "Coleville" school was no longer needed, and the congregation purchased it and moved and converted it into a church. This served the parish until 1970, when the present church was built on land donated by Mike and Bernice Maloney. The Church Extension Fund provided the capital so this new structure could be built, but the total cost could not exceed $60,000.00. This structure was dedicated on August 30, 1970. The idea for a new church, located next to the highway, was first advanced during the pastorate of Rev. Loren Trapp in January of 1969, but lack of funds in the Extension Fund delayed this until Pastor Leslie Weerts shepherded this flock. At the time the church was built there were 153 communicant members and 205 souls.

From its birth until 1955, St. John Lutheran Church had its own resident pastor. Pastor Nau took a call to a rural Wausau parish in 1923. Another Seminary graduate, Richard Rohlfing, then came to Townsend, but after three years he was called to Concordia College, River Forest, as the band director and instructor in the music department. During the next ten years Rev. H.L. Busing served God’s people here. In 1936, Rev. Gustave Karpinsky was assigned to this parish, but left in1942, to serve as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army. For nearly four years an interim pastor, the Rev. Otto Schreiber of Suring, served this congregation. It was only after the war, in 1945, that a fulltime pastor could again take over as servant of the word. Rev. E. Malueg served this northern parish for seven years. Changes in the economy, and in the church, brought on a decline of membership. Once again, from 1952 until 1955, an interim pastor who also served two rural parishes near Gillett, the Rev. J.R. Westphal, served this congregation.

Finally, in 1955, a dual parish was created with St. John Lutheran Church of Laona. The parsonage in Townsend was sold, as a newer parsonage existed in Laona. Those who served both parishes were Pastors Richard Tremain, Daniel Ahrens, Loren Trapp, Leslie Weerts, Richard Dannenbring, and Keith Brutlag. During Pastor Brutlag’s ministry a mission congregation was started at Crandon, and to help serve God’s people here Vicar Larry Harvala was assigned to this parish, with Pastor Brutlag as supervisor. A study was conducted by the congregation in 1979, which led to a decision to go on their own and call their own pastor. They also voted to build an addition to the existing structure - a fellowship hall, kitchen, and downstairs classrooms. This new addition was dedicated on April 30, 1980.

Once again a new, but older, seminarian was assigned to this church. Pastor Gerald Behling arrived in March of 1980, serving first as vicar, and then being ordained and installed as Pastor on September 20, 1980.

At a special congregational meeting on January 25, 1988, the members felt that the parish had grown to such an extent that another servant of our Lord was needed to carry out ministry at St. John. It was resolved to call a Minister of Christian Education, Youth and Music. It was acknowledged that it would be difficult to find someone who could cover these three areas, but God found the person we needed in Mr. Scott P. Wycherley, who had been serving in Greenbelt, Maryland. He was installed in July of 1988, and continues his service among us. When Pastor Behling retired in October of 1993, God in His grace provided for His people the Rev. Gary C. Bratz.

Because of the increase in membership and needs, it was decided to add additional classrooms and a larger fellowship hall. The expansion was built in the summer of 1998 with the help of the Laborers for Christ and many volunteers from the congregation. It was completed and dedicated on November 1, 1998.

Upon Pastor Bratz's retirement in January 2003, a call committee was established to seek a new pator. The Lord sent us Pastor Ken Mangold who has had missionary experience in Kazakhstan and several years in a dual parish near Peoria, IL. Pastor Mangold was installed on January 4, 2004. Under his leadership an emphasis has been placed on education in the Word, family ministry and growth of the church through Christian relationships.

The years have brought many changes, but one thing that has never changed is the love that the Lord has lavished upon this congregation.