This file part of www.watertownhistory.org
website
Trinity
Lutheran Church
Established
1916
Trinity
Lutheran School

10 06 2004
Trinity Lutheran Church of
Watertown,
Trinity's origin began in 1916 with
English services and 13 members in St. Mark's School auditorium. Pastor
Frederic Stem was called as first pastor. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
was established on
The Ladies Aid was organized in
1917.
Buchheit Home
The first congregation met in a
house built by one of Watertown's early settlers, Luther Cole, on the William
Buchheit property (SW corner of
Fourth and Wisconsin) which was purchased by the church in 1919. The home
was remodeled and church services were conducted there for many years.
The existing parsonage was built in
1921, and by 1922, the church had 212 communicant members. Rev. Kurt Timmel was
named pastor in 1932.
Trinity members had some
participation in the operation of St. Mark's School starting in 1920, and
Articles of Agreement for the school provided Trinity with the opportunity to
call a teacher in 1933. She was Hertha
Sievert, who taught for 47 years.
A building committee was established
in 1945 and in 1952 plans were approved to build a new church. The old house/church was razed by Trinity
members.
The new church building was
dedicated on
In 1966, the Rev. Walter Schumann
was called to replace Rev. Timmel, who retired.
Trinity Lutheran School
The Trinity School Building
Committee was established in 1972 to pursue its own school due to crowding at
St. Mark's School.
Trinity Lutheran School was built on
Phillip Glende was named school
principal in 1978, and Robert Moldenhauer took over in 1980.
Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School
In 1981 the joint school operation
was established. The school was named Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School, or
TLS. Communicant membership was 530.
The Rev. William Gabb was called to
replace Rev. Schumann, who retired.
Due to enrollment growth, expansion
plans for the school got under way in 1987. St. Luke's became joint owners of
the school, and plans for a building addition were approved. The school was
dedicated in 1988.
When James Moeller became principal
in 1990, the school had a staff of nine, and 193 students.
The new organ was installed in 1991
in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the church, Communicant membership
was 595. The sound system was replaced with a new sound system in 1992.
The Rev. Paul Eickmann joined the
church as part-time pastor in 1995.
In 1997 a new bell system was
installed. A buildings committee was established to plan for a church addition,
and a heating and cooling systems upgrade.
School expansion prompted a decision
in 1998 to establish a split campus. St. Luke’s built the school on
There were several changes in ministry
in 1999. The Rev. Robert Voss served as interim pastor after Rev. Gabb accepted
another call. Rev. Eickmann retired, and Rev. Mattek was called.
Gerald Kastens joined the church as
minister of discipleship in 2000, the same year the church addition and upgrade
were approved.
The new Parish Center addition and
heating and air conditioning systems were dedicated in 2001.
In 2004 communicant membership was
653. The school staff numbered 15 and student enrollment was 279.
Cross-References:
No 1:
Trinity Lutheran website
No
2: St. Luke’s chapter
