SRHS
Steamboat Rock Historical Society
100 YEARS OLD
CENTENNIAL 1855-1955
BAPTIST CHURCH
Rev. Fred Lower began his ministry in 1952 and served until 1955. During his ministry 39 souls were added by baptism, and the present church building was erected. On April 9, 1953 the church voted to proceed with building a new church which was dedicated in February 1954. the cost of the Building was about $65,000.
Rev. Kurt Marquardt became pastor of the First Baptist Church in 1956 and continued until 1963. During his ministry 36 persons were added to the church.
Rev. Elton Kirstein became pastor in 1963 and remained until 1967. The church continued to grow – the membership reached more than 200. There were 28 members added by baptism during his ministry.
Rev. Jacob Ehmen came in August of 1967. During his ministry carpet was added in the church and improvements were made to the parsonage. Forty members were baptized and added to the church during his ministry which ended in November of 1974.
The church remained without a pastor from December 1974 to June 1976. During this time Harry Luiken was chosen as moderator and devoted a large amount of time in conducting services and seeking visiting pastors to fill in each Sunday.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev Harberts left later in 1954, and was followed in 1955 by Rev. Edward Mohr who stayed but one year. Rev. Arthur Conner arrived in 1958 and remained until 1959. The church was once again led by a student, Arthur Nash from 1961 to 1964.
In 1966 Rev. Stephen Woodruff became pastor and he met with an untimely death in 1968 when he fell from a step ladder. Richard Johnson came as student supply and remained until 1971. Rev. Daryl DeNeui served from 1973 to 1975. The present pastor Bruce W. Bailie came to the church in 1975.