History of Immanuel Lutheran Church
During the 1840’s and 50’s, Lutherans in Independence worshipped jointly with a Reformed congregation known as the Evangelical (German) Association, which had a house of worship on the northeast corner of Monroe and Madison streets on the east side of the river.
Immanuel Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1861. Its first services were conducted by professors and students from Wartburg Theological Seminary at St. Sebald (rural Strawberry Point) and held in a schoolhouse which was located on the courthouse block.
Because of the distance from the seminary, the congregation soon decided to ask Rev. Hermann Brueckner of rural La Porte City to serve Immanuel also. Pastor Brueckner served Zion Lutheran Congregation of Jubilee, which had been organized that same year. He agreed to serve and continued a joint pastorate until 1865 when he was succeeded by the Rev. Fredrick Ledebuhr. Pastor Ledebuhr was followed by the Rev. Andrew Leupp in 1870. Despite many handicaps imposed by distance and poor roads, the Jubilee pastors served Immanuel faithfully.
The first recorded baptism was that of Auguste Langeneckhardt, who was born May 25, 1861, and baptized June 24, 1861. The first recorded Holy Communion was held on June 22, 1862. Ida Schenkowitz and Helena Lauer were the first recorded confirmands. They were confirmed on April 6, 1873.
Worship at the schoolhouse continued for about four years. The congregation grew slowly. About 1865, the school was demolished to construct a jail on the site. Immanuel’s worship services were continued in the homes of members.
By 1871, the congregation was able to purchase property on the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue and Fifth Street N.E. and build a house of worship. It was dedicated September 10, 1871, and cost a total of $600
By 1872, Immanuel felt able to support its own resident pastor and extended a call to the Rev. John Leonhardt Christ, who began his duties here on March 25, 1872. Pastor Christ was born in Bavaria, Germany. He came to the United States in 1870 to complete studies he had begun some years earlier in the mission’s school in Neuendettelsau. He graduated from Wartburg Seminary and was ordained in 1872. In addition to serving Immanuel, Pastor Christ cared for Lutheran congregations in Quasqueton and Earlville.
While in Independence, Pastor Christ married Miss Auguste Schenkowitz, whose parents were among the founders of the congregation. The Rev. and Mrs. Christ lived at the home of her parents until 1875, when the first parsonage was built. That residence was used by pastors of the congregation until 1920 when the current parsonage was built.
In 1885, thirty people received Holy Communion on Easter and twenty-one communed on the 20th Sunday after Trinity.
Until 1886, business meetings of the congregation were held every other year. No election of church council members took place until 1887. The original church council served continuously for 16 years. The first member of Immanuel who did not speak German joined the congregation in 1895, and from that time on, the transition to worship in English was steadily and slowly made.
By 1910, Pastor Julius O. Krueger’s services were held in English every three weeks.
Reverand Fritschel was installed on August 5, 1917. WWI brought many hardships, suspicions, and discrimination against U.S citizens of German descent, but Immanuel continued to grow. During wartime all public use of the German language was forbidden by law. During Pastor Fritschel’s time of service, worship in English every Sunday was introduced in addition to German.
In 1925 Revered Alvin H. Zeilinger was installed. He was particularly interested in Sunday School and enrollment grew from 41 to 136.
Reverend Gerhardt Bunge succeeded Zeilinger in 1936. In 1937 the congregation approved a proposal to construct an addition to the existing church. It included furnishings and a new Wangerin pipe organ. Total cost was $16,000.
By 1941, Immanuel congregation had grown to 651 baptized and 472 confirmed members.
Reverend Ronald Braulick of Arlington, Iowa was installed in 1944. The years following WWII brought rapid changes throughout our country and intense concern for resuming interrupted lives.
In 1952 Reverend Erwin Schlactenhaufen was installed. Congregation continued to rapidly grow to 927. The average attendance in 1953 was 364.
Under Reverand Louis Sagert the congregation observed it’s 100th anniversary on May21, 1961.
By 1974 women were first elected to the church council.
In 1975, the congregation voted to proceed with the new church building with the first worship services held on April 15, 1976.
Reverand Isabelle Steele served as associate pastor from 1984-1986. The 125th anniversary was held in 1986.
Co-pastors, Larry Lenning and Dale Halverson served together from 1987-1992. During this time Immanuel Wee Care Preschool was added as well as a position for the Director of Youth Ministry.
In 2004, the Westervelt property was acquired.
In 2005, the sanctuary was remodeled including adding a projector, screen, and sound system.
The 150th celebration was held in 2011.
As we consider the history and heritage of Immanuel congregation, we give thanks to God for His grace and mercy which has established and still sustains us. Our prayer is that our stewardship of talents may always reflect His gracious gospel and may be like a light that shines in the darkness and like a path that leads us in ways of peace. To Him alone be glory!
Immanuel Lutheran Church Pastors
Rev. J.L Christ……………………………….1872-1905
Rev. A.R Boer………………………………..1905-1910
Rev. J.O Krueger…………………………..1910-1917
Rev. W.M Fritschel………………………..1917-1925
Rev. A.H. Zeilinger………………………..1925-1936
Rev. G.R Bunge…………………………….1936-1944
Rev. R.E Braulick…………………………..1944-1951
Rev. E. Schlactenhaufen……………….1951-1955
Rev. L. E Sagert…………………………….1955-1967
Rev. H. Schwartz…………………………..1967-1982
Rev. H. Hehr…………………………………1969-1974
Rev. W. Hampton…………………………1974-1978
Rev. J. Adix…………………………………...1982-1986
Rev. I. Steele………………………………...1984-1986
Rev. L. Lenning……………………………..1987-1992
Rev. D. Halverson………………………….1987-1997
Rev. J. Fladland……………………………..1993-1999
Rev. P. Fruhling……………………………..1999-2002
Rev. T. Jones………………………………….2000-2011
Rev. M. Carr…………………………….…….2004-2008
Rev. K. Bockoven…………………………...2009-2014
Rev. Greg DeBoer……………………….....2013-2024
Rev. B Moeller………………………………..2026-Present