BEGINNING & HISTORY OF ST. MARK’S
In 1949, Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau, felt a distinct need to promote a mission congregation on Wausau’s west side. A Trinity member had already opened her home for Sunday School in that area. They were also aware that new families building homes in that part of town found the distance too far to enroll their smaller children (no buses yet) in Trinity Day School.
They built “TRINITY MISSION CHAPEL” at 602 Strowbridge Street. The Rev. E. H. Bertermann and the Rev. Leroy Koepke served as vacancy pastors.
Trinity members residing north of Bridge Street were encouraged to worship there. For many it was difficult to leave Trinity for someone in their family had probably been baptized, confirmed, married or buried there. Twenty-two members attended the first service. But attendance increased rapidly . .. enthusiastic, organizational meetings were held and by AUGUST 13, 1950, ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH was dedicated. It took most of one evening to finally decide on the name of St. Mark’s for our congregation. It was inspired by the story about “Jesus blessing the little children” recorded in the Gospel of St. Mark.
On January 1st, 1951, the Charter Membership list, showed St. Mark’s already had 72 members. Charter members still living include M/M Eugene Lehrman (Madison, WI), M/M Wilbur Rusch (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), M/M
Gilbert Jacobi, Mrs. Ruth Neumann, M/M Roy Passow, Mrs. Elvira Schmidt and Mrs. Gertrude Zarnke, all of Wausau.
The first officers of St. Mark’s were: Walter Neumann, Chairman; H.G. Plischke, Secretary; William Porath, Treasurer; Eugene Lehrmann, Chairman of the Board of Education; Wilbur Rusch, Roy Passow, H.J. Wiedow,
Trustees; Leone Lane and Marcus Lemke, Board of Education: Norman Zarnke, Financial Secretary; Walter Grob and Raymond Schmidt, Finance Committee.
The Rev. Robert Ehlers was installed as our first pastor on February 25, 1951. Pastor and Mrs. Ehlers lived in a home rented by the congregation on W. Wausau Avenue.
The afternoon of March 6, 1951, twenty ladies of St. Mark’s gathered in the Chapel to organize a ladies society. Pastor Ehlers opened the meeting with a prayer, then mentioned that the women of St. Mark’s would be allowed to attend voters meetings, but, of course, would not be allowed to vote.
St. Mark’s Ladies’ Guild was the name selected for our society. First officers were: Mrs. Arnold Lane, President; Mrs. Lenard Kleberg, Vice President; Mrs. Walter Neumann, Secretary; and Mrs. Raymond Schmidt, Treasurer.
Suggested projects were: clothing for the Children’s Hospital in Vicksburg, Mississippi; aid foreign
missionaries in a way of food boxes; Lutheran Welfare; nursery for the children in the basement (cry room) during church services; make calls on the unchurched in the area and visit the sick and homebound.
Mr. Eugene Lehrmann, a teacher at the vocational school, enlisted the help of his students to build the basement cupboards free of charge. Each Guild member donated 10¢ for coffee cup purchase, so each lady no longer needed to bring her own cup to every meeting.
The first year we had bake sales, an ice cream social, rummage sale, and a Christmas bazaar. We also affiliated with the International Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and gathered mites for missions. Members attended the first LWML Retreat at Camp Luther.
A Men’s Club was also organized. They supported the Lutheran Hour Ministries and gathered funds for future building projects. Monday nights they were “Fishermen” making visits with people in the area and inviting them to visit St. Mark’s. They affiliated with the International Lutheran Laymen’s League and participated in Camp Luther workbees.
Written by Elvira Schmidt (Charter Member)