ST. JOHN’S SPIRITUAL LEADERS

1909-2016

1909…Missionary H. J. Eggold arrives in North Platte Valley for mission work.

1916…Pastor Eggold of St. James organizes St. John’s.

1918…August 25…Pastor Alfred Saeger is installed as first Pastor of St. John’s.

1923…September 3..Pastor Stoeppelwerth installed.

1924…February..Pastor Eckhardt from Gering installed, who then served Gering, Harrisburg, began a preaching station at Bayard, taught 51 pupils at Gering Parochial school, and was the pastor for St. John’s.

1927…Pastor A. G. Johnson installed, served for 8 years.

1936…April 6..Pastor Clarence Peters installed.

1939…Pastor John F. Daniels installed.  He later organized Saturday school with 39 enrolled and established first Sunday School teachers classes.

1940…Pastor George Weber installed, instrumental in fostering growth.

1953…October 8…Pastor Alfred Ernst installed.

1955…June 19..Marvin Gruett became St. John’s first Vicar.

1956…June 24..Arthur Siegfried installed as Vicar.

1957…November 10..Pastor F. D. Doctor becomes assistant Pastor, served with Pastor Ernst until 1959, Saturday School expanded to include grades 4-8.

1959…November..Pastor Daniel J. Ondov installed, brought a forward thrust in Christian Education through courses in Bible, Church and Lutheran history, music in the Saturday School and many new Bible converts.

1961…Deaconess Beverly Reardon installed, worked with youth, young adults, and did    visitations, organized Pauline Callers who helped with visitations.

1966…March 6..Pastor Richard Teuscher installed.  Pastor Teuscher died while in service at St. John’s in 1974.  During this time, several lots to the west of the church were purchased for future expansion.

1966…Deaconess Lorraine Rathman installed.

1968…June 9..Louis Griser installed as Layworker.

1972…July30..Norbert Malenke installed as first Director of Christian Education.

1975…April 6..Pastor Burnell Beyers installed.  He was the longest continuous Shepherd (13 years) for St. John’s until Pastor Jeffery Grams.

1976…David Glanz installed as DCE.

1982…Paula Bauer installed as DCE.

1984…Pastor William Gratz installed as Associate Pastor.

1987…July 12..Pastor Kenneth Davidson installed as Associate Pastor.

1990…April 29..Pastor Mervyn Bauer installed as Senior Pastor.

1993…Jeffery Grams installed as Vicar

2000…June 25..Pastor Jeffery Grams installed. Longest continuous Shepherd (16 years)

2004…Brad Hopfensperger installed as Vicar.

2005…Jason Harris installed as Vicar.