History
History of Immanuel
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School is an outgrowth of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. Our congregation started out in 1902 near the small town, or intersection, known as Shirley, WI. The migration of German Lutherans prior to 1901 created the need for a church. Some of the German Lutherans had come from nearby Morrison, and although this may be fairly close for today s standard, a 7 to 10 mile trip was very inconvenient at the turn of the century.
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
These German Lutherans who lived around Shirley over one hundred years ago were part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. This is a confessional Lutheran church body that began in 1850 in Milwaukee, WI. Today it has remained faithful to its foundation on Scripture and continues to spread the gospel with member congregations in all fifty states and mission churches around the world. To learn more about the history of WELS click here.
WELS trains its pastors in synod schools, colleges, and at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. These men are called by congregations to serve as pastors. Teachers also receive synod training in our schools and Synod College. You can learn more about Martin Luther college.
Incorporation and humble beginnings (1902-1912)
On March 2, 1901 an exploratory meeting was held in the district schoolhouse in Shirley. Of the fifteen people present at the meeting only five were willing to commit to forming a congregation. So time passed and again a meeting was held on November of that same year. And this time those five dedicated men decided to pursue the start of a new congregation on their own. They all signed the papers of incorporation. These dedicated men were Fred Brandenburg, William Faulk, John Hallfrisch, Heinrich Rennicke, and Charles Seefeldt. The congregation called Pastor J. Kaiser of Zion Morrison to serve them, and he did so, having to start worship at the district schoolhouse. The stage was now set and as more faithful members joined they set about building their own worship space. In 1902 a frame church was built.
Self-supporting and starting a School (1912-1916)
At first things seemed to be working out for little Immanuel, but in 1905 Pastor Kaiser retired due to illness. Pastor P. Kionka of Maribel was then called to serve. He served until 1906. At this time the new pastor at Morrison, Pastor W. Henkel, took care of Little Immanuel. However, after six years he left to teach at Northwestern college. For two years Pastor R. Schierenbeck of Greenleaf helped serve at Immanuel. Immanuel decided to become self-supporting. In 1914 the parsonage was built, and a call was made to Rev. Reier. Over the following year the District Schoolhouse was bought and moved to the property. The year after that, 1916, the school was opened and seventeen children were enrolled. One year later the enrollment increased to twenty-eight.
Growth as a congregation and school (1916-1941)
The teaching duties were given to Rev. Reier. The following year, 1917 he was granted a release for a call to a sister congregation. Rev. Arnold Koelpin served faithfully until taking a call to West Allis in 1923. During this time a teacher was added for the lower grades.The next call was accepted by Rev. Hoenecke. He then accepted a call to Cudahy, Wis. The vacancy was filled by Pastor Heidtke who served for the next two years. In 1931 Rev. Voigt was installed as Pastor of Immanuel. At this time a joint parish with St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church of Pine Grove was formed. The worship space at Immanuel was renovated at this time. However in January, 1940 a fire broke out. The renovation was redone, and a basement area was dug and forced air heating was installed. In 1941 Pastor Voigt took a call to serve St. Paul's of Green Bay. The week after his departure Pastor C. M. Thurow was installed.
School Reopening and growth (1939-1960)
Immanuel Ev. Luth. School had been closed during the Great depression and the Second World War. After much prayer and careful thought it was decided the school should re-open. Classes resumed in the fall of 1950 with twenty-two children. Through the Synod's Assignment Committee a call was extended to Howard Woldt, who accepted and assumed the duties of establishing the reopened School. Mr. Woldt was succeeded by Mr. Allen Treichel in 1953. He taught at Immanuel until 1957. During his tenure the teacherage was built for $6,500. In 1953 Pastor Thurow left Immanuel for a mission in Two Rivers. Pastor Maas was installed. In 1957 Mr. Wayne Zuleger taught until accepting a call to Racine in 1960. Mr. William Radue received the call to serve and taught for the next four years at Immanuel. Enrollment reached forty-seven students.
Growth and a new building (1951-1976)
When Mr. Radue received a call from Grace Lutheran in 1964 Immanuel was left without a teacher. The congregation deliberated the possibility of amalgamation the school with Zion Morrison Lutheran School. It was decided that the School should remain open and Mrs. J Glaze helped teach with an emergency call. Mrs. Elaine Kittell also helped along with the Pastor. Miss Ruth Peikert, a student teacher, was called to finish the remainder of the school year. Mr. James Martens accepted the call through the Assignment Committee to serve Immanuel in 1965.
Maas left in 1960, and Pastor Geiger was installed. At this time Immanuel began to see a need for a more adequate Christian day school. Building projects were considered due to increased growth. But projects did not materialize until 1964. At this time the congregation began to consider addressing the needs of its growing school. Immanuel Lutheran School had used the relocated Shirley District School House since 1916. The church building was also over fifty years old. In January 1964 it was resolved that a joint church-school design be employed in the construction of a new building. A building Committee consisting of Alvin Pittner and Fred Dobberpuhl began to work with the Church Council as the building project was set in motion. The total cost amounted to under $50,000. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on July 25th, 1966 and the old church building was demolished to make room for the new buildings.
The new building held its first services on Christmas Eve that year. By February the School was ready for use. Finally on June 12th 1965 everything was completed and the dedication service was held for the worship space and the school building. This also marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school. Within fifty years God had richly blessed Immanuel so that this new building was dedicated to the glory of our Good Shepherd and the instruction of his lambs. Mr. Martens then accepted a call to teach at Bethel Lutheran School, Bay City, Michigan. In the spring of 1970 the new graduate Mr. Grant Barthel accepted the call through the Assignment Committee to teach at Immanuel.
Transition in parish services and Greenleaf support added. (1969)
In 1969 St. Paul's of Pine Groove disbanded due to diminished membership. Most transferred membership to Immanuel. At the same time St. Paul's Greenleaf requested vacancy service from Immanuel's Pastor. This later changed to full-time shared parish ministry. St. Paul's Greenleaf has since then helped to support Immanuel Lutheran School.
God with us still (1976-Present)
Immanuel called Pastor Wallace Gaulke. He accepted the call and was installed in 1977. In 1982 members constructed the playground pictured to the right for the school children. In 1988 Immanuel started using both classrooms, upstairs and the basement, for her Christian day school. In 1995 a joint basketball team was formed with Zion Morrison Lutheran School with practices held in the Gym at Zion Lutheran School.
Immanuel Lutheran School continued to expand its programs by adding another teacher, classroom, kindergarten and various young children's programs. Faithfully serving at various times as classroom teachers were Susan Ashley, Johanna Mears, and Avis Bleick and as assisting teachers Pam Lauber, Elaine Kittell, and Janet Barthel.
Pastor Gaulke served Immanuel until his semi-retirement in 2005. Pastor J.C. Eggert accepted the divine call to serve Immanuel later that year and continues to serve at Immanuel Church and School. For the past few years Immanuel has done remodeling of her pastorage and renovating projects on parts of the church and School. Presently the teaching staff at Immanuel includes Principal Grant Barthel, teacher Sandy Eggert, and assisting teachers Janet Barthel and kindergarten assisting teacher Melissa Romberg. In addition member volunteers and guest speakers continue to serve Immanuel on special days.
Summary
Immanuel Lutheran School has grown and changed much over the years. From wood stoves and chalk slates to today's education subjects and computer screens. But there is one thing that has remained constant over Immanuel's long history. From the very beginning Immanuel has desired that it train children in God's Word. The first full-time pastor at Immanuel was called for this very reason. And since its beginning over 94 years ago, Immanuel has sought to faithfully carry out this task. It still stands today to assist parents in teaching children about the one thing needful: Jesus.
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9)