A Brief History of St. John's

St. John's was established in 1884 by five German immigrant families who settled in the region north and west of Green Bay to begin dairy farming. Services were held in the homes of the members, then in the Town of Chase school until in 1890 a log building was erected with donated trees and lumber. By 1913 the log building was inadequate for the congregation and a red brick building was constructed for the sum of $4,500. In the 1960's district officials thought it would be wise for the 190 members of St. John's to merge with a nearby congregation. Fortunately the members refused to act on the district's recomendation. By the late 1960s the area began to grow as roads improved and Green Bay expanded northward. Soon the congregation was nearly 300 strong and the brick building proved too small for the growing congregation. It was replaced by the present structure in 1971. An educational wing was added in 1980. Today, with over 580 members, the congregation is planning to expand again. If all goes well a new addition will be complete by 2009.

In the last 121 years, St. John's has been served by 18 pastors. the Rev. Karl Diemer served the longest, 26 years. The current pastor, the Rev. Paul F. Heykes celebrates his 20th year of service in 2007. The Rev. L. Elizabeth Foster was the first woman to serve as pastor. The Rev. Fred Ohlrogge, Sr. and the Rev. Fred Ohlrogge, Jr., father and son, served the congregation in the 1890's and 1930's respectively. Eight former members of the parish have been ordained into the Lutheran minsitry. Three became bishops: the Rev. Konrad Koosman in California, the Rev. Theodore Ohlrogge in Wisconsin and the Rev. Martin Proehl in Ohio.