A Brief History of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church and the Remodeling Project

Zion traces its roots to the German-Russian immigration that took place at the turn of the twentieth century. J. Schaefer served Zion as its first pastor in August 1911. The comer of 3rd St. W and Grand Crossing Boulevard became the location of their first building. Zion's second building was located on First Avenue East and Sixth Street. On June 19, 1921, the members dedicated their new church building which had been moved from old LeBeau. The First Ave. church soon needed more seating because of increased growth and the additional students and faculty of Northwestern Academy attending worship at Zion. The congregation borrowed $1,000 dollars to remodel their church by adding an enlarged narthex and apse. This remodeled building served the congregation's needs another 17 years.

On November 14, 1955 a fire destroyed the church building and most of the contents. The grade school went through a difficult transition as it moved between four locations in four school years. Finally on July 26, 1959, the members of Zion dedicated their third church building on the comer of 5th Ave. W and 9th St.

Space once again ran short in the early 80's when the Lord blessed Zion Lutheran School with more students and a kindergarten class. A building program began that would add a kitchen, fellowship hall, multipurpose room, office space, locker rooms, and a new narthex. The addition was dedicated on November 16,1986.

The remodeling project at Zion has a history of its own. Zion appointed a remodeling committee in 1995 to propose updates to the current building. The committee's members included Lou and Lee Heier, Tom Volk, Mary Lou Landis, Helmuth Eisenbeisz, and Sylvia Sackreiter. This committee identified four areas of concern, expressed by the members of Zion. They asked the congregation to consider better lighting, refinishing of pews, painting the ceiling, and replacing the flooring. Other projects that were considered by the committee in 1995 included: enlarging the church narthex, closing off main doors and removing cement steps, changing the look of the chancel, refinishing all of the wood in the church, and painting murals depicting Bible stories. The hard work of this committee laid the groundwork and gave the project direction. If you look around the remodeled church today, you will see that most of the projects and concerns highlighted by this first committee have been addressed.

In the summer of 1997 the remodeling committee worked with Jean V. Poulin to draw up a plan to remodel the church interior. These plans were later revised by the members and used to attain the current look. The remodeling project gained momentum again in 2001 when a second remodeling committee was formed. This committee had the service of Tom Fried, Bob Ernst, Glen Landis, Roger Frey, Marion Schlomer, and Lyle Walth. The committee enlisted the help of two sub-committees to give specific recommendations in the area of stained glass and flooring. The flooring committee was composed of Soni Andrews, Ella Frey, Marie Guthmiller, and Lou Heier. The stained-glass committee included Harold Bockman, Mary Ann Ernst, Mary Lou Landis, and Judy Rabenberg. We give thanks for the work all of these committees did in bringing this remodeling project to completion.

The final remodeling took place in the beginning of 2002. Our Lord provided volunteers who gave long hours of service to complete this project. Because of their hard work Zion worshiped in the gymnasium for only four weeks, while the remodeling took place in the sanctuary. These hours of labor were donated to the church which brought the costs down significantly from the first estimates. The Ernst family gave of their time and talents to provide a new altar, ambo, baptismal font, and serving table for the Lord's Supper. We give thanks to the Lord for the talents he has given to this congregation and the remodeled church in which we worship him.

This brief history of Zion mentions physical blessings. Our Lord has graciously provided these buildings to worship in and to carry out the ministry entrusted to our care. Zion's greatest privilege is the proclaiming of the gospel. For 90 years Zion has proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Because he lived, died, and rose again we have forgiveness before the throne of God. What a blessing to share the message of the gospel in our community! To God be the glory!