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Trinity Lutheran Church Records
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This page contains
links to the church records for Trinity Lutheran Church in
Spencer, Wisconsin. These church records include information on
births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials. To protect privacy, birth,
baptism, and marriage information for people born after 1930 has been omitted.
However, it is available by email from Marla Zwakman, who transcribed these
records from Nov. 2006 to Mar. 2007. *** (If
these records appear in this or any other format on the Clark County Wisconsin
Internet Library website, it is without Marla' permission.)
Some members of
Trinity Lutheran Church also belonged to St. John's Lutheran
Church in Spencer. You may want to check their records
as well.
German Translator (occupations and cause of death) - Ursula Peterson
Key:
- * -- Information that was not found in the actual church
records, but rather from information from cemetery lists, obituaries and other articles,
as well as personal knowledge.
- FR -- Family Record.
- MR -- Membership Register.
Note: Not all records have a record or page number. Record#
and Page# are noted where available. |
Trinity Lutheran
Church - History
----Source: Spencer Centennial Booklet (Spencer, Marathon
County, Wis.) 1874 – 1974
pages 34-35
Trinity Lutheran Church was organized 90 years ago, on May 21,
1882, under the leadership of the Rev. J. Schuette, who at that
time was serving a number of congregations in the Auburndale,
Wisconsin area. For quite a few years services were held in the
Spencer Town Hall before the first church building was erected.
After the Spencer congregation had been organized as a joint
parish with St. John’s congregation located two miles north of
Spencer, Rev. Schuette established his residence in Spencer. On
November 3, 1883, he accepted a call to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
May 25, 1884, Rev. F. H. Siebrandt became the pastor of the
newly organized parish, and served until July 1893 when he
accepted a call to Merrill, Wisconsin.
His successor was Rev. J. H. Todt, who served the parish from
1893 until 1899. During his pastorate, the first new church home
– a brick veneer structure, 32x55 feet, was dedicated in 1896.
In 1899 Pastor Todt followed a call to Manistee, Michigan. In
the same year the Rev. A. F. Imm was called and he served until
1909, when Pastor E.J. Schmidt took up the duties of pastor. He
served until October 21, 1923. During Rev. Schmidt’s pastorate,
in 1912, the two churches voted to become separate parishes.
On January 13, 1924, the Rev. H. H. Wegner was installed as
pastor of Trinity congregation. In 1926 the members of Trinity
voted to build the present house of worship, a 32x87 foot brick
and tile structure. The cornerstone was laid June 20, 1926, with
Pastors F. H. Siebrandt, J. H. Todt, W. J. Plischke, Karl E.
Schmidt and H. H. Wegner, officiating. Rev. Wegner left Spencer
on October 2, 1927.
The seventh pastor of Trinity was the Rev. A. D. Stapel who
served the growing congregation for 21 years, until February,
1949, when he accepted a call to Naugart, Wisconsin. During his
pastorate, in 1932, the interior of the church was decorated. In
1942, the Dr. Krueger home was purchased for use as a parsonage.
A new Hammond organ was installed in the church in 1946.
On June 19, 1949, Pastor Randolph Mueller was installed as
Trinity’s eighth pastor and he served until August 31, 1956 when
he accepted a call to Bonduell, Wisconsin.
In 1953 a new parsonage was built on the church grounds. The
cemetery, owned by members of Trinity and adjoining St. John’s,
was improved and perpetual care was provided.
At two different periods during its history, Trinity
congregation sponsored a Christian Day School, as a joint
project with St. John’s from 1901-1912, and by itself from
1924-1936. The following served as teachers in the school: Mr.
Robert Perl, Mr. August Siecke, Mr. Walter Brockopp, Mr. J. E.
Schuster, Mr. Albert Barwinick, Mr. George Moll, Mr. Leonard
Piotter, Mr. Henry Steinweg and Mr. Adrian Prochnow.
Although a Sunday School was in existence earlier, in 1936, it
was reorganized with Mrs. John Karau as superintendent.
On June 2, 1937, Rev. W. R. Krueger was installed as the
congregation’s new pastor. In 1961 the congregation dedicated a
new addition which consisted of a new narthex and a chapel which
could also be used as a Sunday School area. In July, 1965,
Pastor Krueger accepted a call to Poy Sippi, Wisconsin.
The Rev. William Ruhbusch was installed on Febraury 5, 1967, and
is serving at the present time. On May 9, 1971, ground was
broken for another addition. This 39x78 foot addition consists
of 12 Sunday School rooms, a church office, rest rooms, and a
utility room. Dedication services were conducted on August 22,
1971.
About 325 families, (650 communicants, 970 souls) make up the
present membership of Trinity Lutheran Church. There are 205
enrolled in the Sunday School.
