WHAT WE BELIEVE ST. PETERS CHURCH Pastoral Staff Holy Communion Schedule & Practice History of St. Peters Radio and TV Broadcasts ST. PETERS SCHOOL ASK the PASTOR BIBLE QUIZ SERMON of the WEEK SPECIAL LINKS FUN & FELLOWSHIP HOME	History of St. Peters 111 Years of Blessings at St. Peters Lutheran Church
	From 15 members in 1891 to almost 1,700 a hundred years later, St. Peters congregation has grown by God's grace. Our pastors: John Kaiser, Martin Kionka and Emil Schulze conducted services in German in the late 19th Century as St. Peters pledged $300 for a church and school building. The congregation became affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1893. Pastor Fredrick Schumann began a 40-year ministry at St. Peters in 1904. A year later, parishioners asked that services be offered in English. The church was wired for electricity in 1906, in time for the Christmas program. In 1917, the congregation decided to rebuild the existing church, and three years later spent $900 for the property where the church now stands. The balcony was enlarged in 1929 and in 1931, a new basement was put under the church, and water was installed. New art-glass windows were also added. The church constitution was translated from German into English in 1932, and the liturgy was changed to allow the congregation and pastor to say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer in unison. In 1939, the church was enlarged in preparation of the 50th anniversary. German services were discontinued in 1941, and in 1944 Pastor Theophil Baganz was installed. In 1945, plans for building a new church were explored. Groundbreaking was held April, 1950. The new church was dedicated Aug. 5, 1951. Sunday School for grade school children started in 1946, and Vacation Bible School began in 1948. The children's choir started a year later. Worship services were broadcast on the radio for the first time in February, 1952. Groundbreaking for the education building was held in June, 1964. Pastor Otto Henning accepted the call to be assistant pastor in 1967. After his retirement, Pastor Henning was replaced by Pastor Darald Gruen who was ordained and installed in June, 1973. Research was started in 1974 on the feasibility of starting a Christian Day School. It was again discussed in 1981, and by Fall, 1983, St. Peters started classes in its Lutheran Elementary School. Principal and teacher Frank Corona and teacher Rhoda Lemke were installed. Jan Seiltz was called as a part-time kindergarten teacher. In 1984, Paul Lutze was called as a full-time teacher, and Arlene Corona was called to take Mrs. Seiltz's place. LES enrollment was 76. Steve Biedenbender was called as the fifth full-time teacher. After he left, Mary Maas was called to take his place. LES enrollment by 1990 was 123. After Pastor Gruen accepted a call to Antioch, IL, Pastor John Mattek was installed at St. Peters in August, 1978. Pastor Baganz retired in 1979, and the congregation called Pastor Robert Siirila. He left for a call as a missionary in Taiwan in 1974, and Pastor Robert Schultz accepted a call to St. Peters. In 1989, Pastor David Beckman accepted a call to St. Peters, replacing Pastor Schultz. Renovation of the church was finished in December, 1990, in time for the centennial celebration. COMING SOON: 1990 TO PRESENT…….