Our History

 

Learn a little about us...

• In the quiet residential neighborhood of Ravenswood, there is no Missouri Synod church nearby in which the growing families can worship.  Ravenswood had been created in 1926 from part of a 100 acre farm owned by former Milwaukee mayor and Wisconsin governor, Harrison Ludington.  It was eventually annexed to the City of Wauwatosa, and it is here that the group of families come together to establish a Missouri Synod Lutheran church. 

 

• The first service and meeting of the group is on a Sunday morning in July, 1953.

  A missionary-at-large of the South Wisconsin District, the Reverend Truman Broetzmann, is assigned to gather and serve a congregation until calling a regular pastor becomes feasible.

   

  The first official meeting of the new congregation is held September 22, 1953.

   

  Fourteen persons attend.

 

•  

  From the beginning in 1953 until April 1955, the congregation conducts its services, and in time, a Sunday School, first in one and then in a second larger building on the Milwaukee County Preventorium grounds south of Bluemound Road at 95

  Street.

 

• On October 18, 1953, the male members of the group sign a charter, declaring their intention to establish an Evangelical Lutheran congregation.

  At this time there is no women's suffrage in the Missouri Synod.

   

  The first officers are elected: Franz Schmidt, Chairman; Keith Rogahn, Secretary; and Harry Kaiser, Treasurer.

   

  A major item of discussion is the acquisition of land on which to build its own church.

 

• As of December 31, 1953, membership consists of 22 communicants, 43 baptized children, and 10 voting members.

  A Sunday school is in existence; a ladies' auxiliary is being planned.

 

• The young congregation had been designated as the Ravenswood Lutheran Church.

  On April 8, 1954, the name St. Marks Lutheran Church is officially adopted.

   

  Two months later the Constitution is adopted, Articles of Incorporation legally recorded, and the congregation received into membership of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, in the South Wisconsin District.

   

  This Constitution, with some revisions, is included in the present building's cornerstone.

 

• In 1953 and 1954 a suitable church building is much discussed.  One possible course is the purchase and removal of the County Preventorium building then being used on 95^th Street.  Eventually it is decided to construct a new building.  On November 10, 1954, final approval is voted upon the plan submitted by architect Alfred H. Siewart.  These plans call for the erection of an auditorium adjacent to the present building, which would then serve as a perish hall. 

 

• Approval and a loan of $62,000 is granted by the South Wisconsin District in April, 1955, to construct the first unit of architect Siewart's plan.

  The total cost of construction, exclusive of furnishings, is estimated at $70,000.

   

  On April 24, 1955, ground is broken for the new building.

 

• In addition to the building plans, the congregation is taking steps to call its own pastor.

  On February 20, 1955 voters extend a call to the Rev. Robert Boedecker, at that time pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

   

  Pastor Boedecker accepts and is installed as pastor of St. Mark's on May 15, 1955, just three weeks after groundbreaking for the new church.

 

• Milwaukee County informs the congregation in 1955 that it will have to vacate the Preventorium building then being used.  This is a first step in clearing the way for the construction of the interstate highway that will run directly west of St. Mark's.  The installation service of Pastor Boedecker is conducted at the Wauwatosa Women's Club, as are all worship services from April 1955 forward. 

 

• Missionary Truman Broetzmann, who has faithfully and tirelessly as interim pastor for the first two years, requests to be relieved because of illness.  Various local pastors conduct the services for the new congregation from March, 1955, until Pastor Boedecker's installation in May of that year.  The congregation is particularly grateful to the Rev. Erich Brauer, District Counselor for Parish Education, who serves as interim pastor and also completes the instruction and confirms the first class at St. Mark's.  Members of that first class are Fredric Bickel and Dennis Flint. 

 

• The cornerstone of St. Mark's new building is laid July 24, 1955.  On May 19, 1957, the new church is formally dedicated.  The congregation now includes 65 families and 212 baptized members.  A residence for the pastor is under construction and will be ready for occupancy about July 1, 1957.  

 

• St. Mark's continues to grow.  In 1965 there are 347 baptized members, with 42 children enrolled in midweek school.  The parking lot is paved.  St. Mark's has a Junior Choir and an Adult Choir.  There is a proposal to purchase the large white house on Bluemound and 95^th to use as Sunday school classrooms. 

 

• In 1966, after eleven years at St. Mark's, Pastor Boedecker accepts a call to serve as campus minister at Whitewater, Wisconsin.

  Pastor David Rockrohr, who is teaching at Concordia College in Portland, Oregon, accepts a call to serve at St. Mark's and is installed August 13,1967.

 

• Two members from St. Mark's purchase the pews to replace the folding chairs used since St. Mark's opened, from Our Redeemer Lutheran Church when it moves to its new building in 1967.  The 1968 annual report states there are 113 Sunday school students at St. Mark's. 

 

• By 1969 the all-glass, west facing wall of St. Mark's is in need of repair.

  The architect, Chuck Sazama, son-in-law of long-time member Florence Fleishman, designs a replacement of paneling and colored glass.

   

  The large black wall cross for the interior and the large fish logo for the exterior are constructed and installed.

   

  During this same time period, and for the next several years, a new study on women's suffrage in the Missouri Synod is being debated, and controversy over doctrinal issues erupts between the Synod and the seminary at St. Louis.

 

• In November of 1971, the St. Mark's constitution is amended to allow women to vote and hold office.  A motion is made and accepted that we as a Missouri Synod congregation are in alter and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church.  Many new programs take place: folk services, Thursday evening worship, lay readers, and youth-led worship.  St. Mark's sets up its own program of Mission of the Month as a personal evangelism effort.  The Bethel Bible study series is subscribed and several classes follow the two year program.  A very active youth group holds many activities. 

 

• 1985 marks the beginning of a scholarship program, instituted to help support Darren Wiskow and Carl Rockrohr in their ministerial studies.  St. Marks is very proud to have two ministerial candidates within its small congregation. 

 

• The congregation is saddened in 1993 by Pastor Rockrohr's announcement that he cannot lead worship anymore due to an illness.

  He leads the congregation in worship for the last time August 29, 1993.

 

• For only the third time in the forty year history, St. Mark's issues a call to a new pastor.

  The Rev. Allen Pingel accepts the call and preaches his first sermon here in May, 1994.

   

  He comes from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Monroe, Wisconsin.

   

  He is formally installed at St. Mark's on June 12, 1994.

   

  The year 2004 marks his 10

  th

  anniversary at St. Mark's and his 19

  th

  year in the ministry.

   

  Pastor Pingel also serves as Liturgist of Lutheran Radio Church Service, Inc.

 

• During this decade of rebuilding, St. Mark's participates in a survey of natural Church Development.  Following an analysis of the responses, an Implementation Committee works to develop a road map for St. Mark's in its second half century of serving the Lord.