History of Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church(Okabena's history was provided courtesy of the Okabena Centennial Edition of
The Okabena Press, Jackson County History Books, Jackson County Historical Museum and Tri-County News.)
History of Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church
(Okabena's history was provided courtesy of the Okabena
Centennial Edition of
The Okabena Press, Jackson County History Books, Jackson County Historical
Museum and
Tri-County News.)
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church was organized at a meeting held on July 23, 1953 when a group of 28 men assembled and resolved to incorporate as a congregation. The congregation, which at this time numbered approximately 135 souls, consisted of those former members of St. John's who desired to remain in the Missouri Synod. The action was precipitated when that congregation had voted to no longer be associated with that synod. Through court action St. John's retained the church building and property and Our Redeemer received a cash settlement.
The new congregation received permission from the Okabena Methodist Church to use their church for worship and Sunday School on Sunday mornings. Previous to this arrangements had been made to hold services in the Public School. Rev. Theo Krenzke was asked to serve as their first pastor.
Shortly thereafter, Our Redeemer formed a building committee composed of Emil Kay, Louis Pomerenke and Richard Bayerkohler. Plans for a new church began to rapidly materialize. At a special meeting held on December 15, 1953, the trustees were ordered by the voters to purchase lots for the new church site. At another meeting, on February 25, 1954, the congregation decided to hire Gustav Seydel, Jr., a contractor and member of the congregation, to build the church with some help being donated by the members of the church. The church design was similar to the newly build Presbyterian Church at Reading, MN.
A ground breaking ceremony was held on April 1, 1954. At a special service on June 27th the corner stone was laid, with the local pastor, Rev. H. D. Haak officiating.
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The new church was dedicated on Sunday, October 24, 1954. About 800 people were present when Pastor Haak conducted the dedication services and at which time Gustav Seydel, Jr., the builder, and August Scheppmann, chairman of the congregation, unlocked and opened the doors. Rev. O. Krause, third Vice President of the Minnesota District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, preached the dedication sermon at the afternoon service and Rev. Theo Krenzke, the first pastor of the congregation, preached at the evening service. Rev. F. A. Kolander served as liturgist and Mrs. Vernon Kay as organist.
The cost of the complete structure with furnishings approximated $40,000.00.
The first baptism of the new congregation was that of Christine Saider, and the first baptism in the new sanctuary was Reed Scheppmann.
The church purchased the H. L. Mikelson residence in 1960 for a parsonage for the first resident pastor, Arthur Anacher. He was followed by Rev. Roland Hischke in 1961.
When Rev. Hischke moved, and Pastor Haak, of St. Paul's in Rost, accepted a call to Benraska both churches were left without a minister. At that time the two churches agreed to form one parish and call a pastor to serve both congregations. Twenty two calls were issued in approximately two years. During this time the congregations were served by Pastors Rehwalt of Lakefield Immanuel and Schiefelbein of Delafield St. Peters. Reverend Henry Behling accepted a call in January, 1965 and began serving both congregations.
Having no further use for the parsonage, on April 3, 1967, the Board of Trustees, John Sinnen, Wm. R. Myers and Arthur Bass entered into an agreement with Weldon Bayerkohler for purchase of the dwelling.
After 25 years of preaching, Pastor Ronald Yungmann retired. He has been serving as pastor of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Okabena for the past 13 years.
Reverend Stephen Weiss has been installed as the new pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Okabena and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rost Township.
