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Cross Lutheran Church
Ixonia
Founded 1877
1992: Members of Cross Lutheran celebrated the
115th anniversary
of the church and the
100th anniversary
of the building, pictured above.
1992
115th anniversary
Cross Lutheran
Church in Ixonia will celebrate its 115th anniversary Oct. 11. It will also be the 100th anniversary of the
church building.
The guest preacher
for the 9:30 a.m. worship service will be the Rev. Jeffrey Blank. The Rev. Bland is a son of the congregation,
now serving in Cokato, Minn. A
presentation about the church’s history will follow worship services. A meal in the church basement will be held
after the program.
The Rev. Laurie
Stumme-Diers has served as pastor at Cross since 1989, Charlotte Bouche is the
church organist and Dale Wegner is the current council president.
Cross church was
founded in October 1877 by a group of St. Paul Lutheran Church of
Oconomowoc. A school and parsonage
building were built in 1878. Since the
members were originally Pomeranian German, or first generation in this country,
the congregation worshipped in German and began a German parochial school.
The present church
building was constructed in 1892 and was affiliated with the Lutheran Church,
Ohio Synod.
The present
parsonage was built in 1919. A pipe
organ was purchased in the late 1920’s.
During the 1930’s significant improvements were made to the church
building, such as the digging of a basement under the sanctuary, which provided
needed space. The first English worship
services were occasionally offered using the American Lutheran Hymnal. The English services finally became more
popular and the last German services were held in the early 1960’s.
Cross was involved
in a parish relationship with St. Paul’s of Sugar Island from 1948 to 1985.
During the 1960s
and 70s the building was remodeled inside and out. The school house which had housed decades of
Saturday school had been removed. The
pipe organ was rebuilt. Throughout the 1980s, the building continued to take on
a new look. In 1987 a new narthex was
built.
In 1990 the church
added new stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Throughout the
past decades, Cross has been blessed by the dedication, talents and commitment
of many who have shared in ministry.
Pastors and dedicated lay people have kept the mission and ministry of
Cross active and growing.
Cross is proud of
their history of giving to ministry beyond its church doors. The people of Cross have generously supported
the mission of the whole church in a variety of ways. A small group of women still make quilts for
Lutheran World Relief. Last year they
made 150 quilts to be sent to those in need.
2002
125th anniversary
Cross Lutheran
Church,
The new building
is adjacent to the church, with the two facilities connected by a large hall
and entryway.
Cross Lutheran
Congregation in the town of Ixonia was organized during the summer of 1877 by
the Rev. J. Ehmke of Oconomowoc.
Land was purchased
from August Gauerke. A school house, where German services were held, and a parsonage
were built in 1877, but the church was not built until 1892. Land for the
cemetery was purchased from Carl Gauerke.
A German parochial
school was operated by the church in its early years. Later, it was changed to
Saturday school and in the 1930s and 1940s both German and English were taught.
The German Was later dropped. Saturday school was held until 1974 when Sunday
school began.
The first English
worship services were held in the 1930s. As English services became more
popular, German services ended in the early 1960s.
The present
parsonage was built in 1919, and several renovations and improvements have
taken place over the years.
Improvements to
the church over the years include a pipe organ in the late, 1920s; basement dug
out and a wood and coal furnace added in early 1930s; windows replaced in 1965;
siding installed and narthex and cry room added in 1970; new carpeting,
paneling and pews in 1972; furnace replaced in 1974; and basement improvements
in 1975.
In 1987, a new
narthex was built and a parking lot added. Stained glass windows were installed
in 1990.
Cross Lutheran and St. Paul's Church of Sugar Island were affiliated
from 1948 to 1985.
On
Many furnishings
in the church have been given in honor or memory of loved ones. The items
include pictures, banners, paraments, candelabra, Advent wreath, cross and
vases on the altar, lighted cross on the big steeple, new hymnals and white
processional cross.
Several items in
the church date back to its early years. The altar, pulpit and statue of Jesus
were purchased for $40 in Columbus, and carried to the church by Henry Gauerke
with his horse and wagon. The lectern and some of the flower stands were made
by Ruben Tietz. The present baptismal font was given in memory of Reinhard
Tietz, and was made by his son, Robert Tietz. It was stained and varnished by
Frieda Bartel.
The white
communion altar cover was made by Cora (Tietz) Kuehl over 80 years ago.
Pastors who have
served Cross Lutheran over the years include J. Ehmke, W.F. Gebhart, H.
Allwart, J. Mittermaier, H. Zumhingst, W. Baritzke, E. Schimsky, H.W. Hahre, W.
Schlachtenhaufen, Gerhart Reiff, W.G. Hoffmann, J. Buth, E.J. Boerger, Erwin
Abelmann, Joseph Lunde, Herman Michelke, Harold Shudlick, Carmen Thronson,
Michael Oakley and the present pastor, Laurie Stumme-Diers, who has served
since 1989.
Two 50th
ordination anniversaries have been celebrated by the church. Lunde's
anniversary was celebrated in 1966, and Michelke's in 1972.
In the church's
125 history, Jeff Blank was the only son of the congregation to become a
pastor. He was ordained in 1988 at the church.
Custodian Frieda
Bartel was honored in 1991 for her 50 years of service. She was followed by
Valerie Scott who had the job for several years. Present custodian is Charlene
Schellin. David Mohr is bell ringer.
Franklin Genz was
cemetery custodian for many years. Willard Bartel was then custodian until his
death.
Cross Lutheran
Church has been served by many dedicated musicians over the years. Former
organists include Bertha Lilige, Cora (Tietz) Kuehl, Clara (Gauerke) Leisner
who played for 45 years, Caroline (Wegner) Weimer, Barbara (Blank) Parkhurst,
Ellen (Bartel) McDonald, Charlotte (Bartel) Bouche, Wendy Genz, and Laure
Schwefel, present organist.
Caroline Wendorf
was choir director for over 30 years, and was also a substitute organist.
The 60th
anniversary of the Cross Choir was celebrated in 1993. The choir was started by
Pastor Waldemar Schlachtenhaufen and his wife, Charlotte, who now reside in
Tomahawk. Mabel Wendorf, one of the original sopranos, is still singing in the
choir.
Lorraine Blank was
honored in 1996 for teaching Sunday school for over 30 years.
The growing
congregation presently has a membership of over 225 members.
