History of St. John Lutheran Church and School, written by Eleanore Ruediger
(Not sure of the date this was written the school is no longer open)
Former Pastors who served at St. John
Pastors of St. John Lutheran Church, Marion Springs (list compiled by Dean Bohn)
This is a compilation of various sources, and is as accurate as can be found unless other evidence is located.
Served Pastor .
1892 –? Pastor Elmer L. Inglehart
NOTE – As far as can be determined, he was the first pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Marion Springs, serving in 1892, but likely not into 1893. According the U.S. Census, in 1900 he was living Port Sanilac, Sanilac Township, Sanilac, Mich.
1892? – 1893 (Vicar) Lorenz A. Wissmueller
1893 – 1895? Pastor Carl W. Schoenow
NOTE – There is a newspaper article (attached) that shows Pastor Schoenow was at Marion Springs as late as July 31, 1895.
NOTE – At the bottom of his tombstone is this: “I am the resurrection and the life” – John 10: 25 However, that quote is from John 11:25. John 10: 25 is: “Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
1896 –? Pastor Brandt – student theologian
1896 – 1903 Pastor P.J. Reininga
1904 – 1906 Pastor Justus Christian Lohrmann – Ordained at St. John, 1904
NOTE – There is proof that Rev. Lohrman was at St. John from at least August 23, 1905 to September 20, 1905. In one reference he has “E” as a middle initial.
ALSO – The St. John minutes of a July 30, 1905 meeting notes the presence of “Pastor Peters Chairman” and “Pastor Lohman Secretary” of the meeting.
It is Possible Pastor Peters was the pastor of St. Peters, as there was discussion at the time to merge the two churches.
Dec. 7, 1904 – 1909 Rev. Oscar John George Peters – Ordained at St. John, Dec. 1904
Possible – It is possible that he was ordained at St. John and then was called by St. Peters. This is speculation.
June 26, 1909 Pastor Filip (Called from the Ohio Synod to serve both churches for six weeks.)
? – October 1910 Rev. Detzer
1910 – 1914 Pastor Paul Schulz
NOTE – There was a “Pastor Paul Schulz” that got a “first call from the Seminary of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod,” and “served a group in Marion Springs from 1910 to 1914.”
NOTE – It is curious to see that in most meetings before and after 1910, that the pastor of the church usually opens the meetings with prayer and most times serve as chairman.
However, the church meetings from June 19, 1909 through until March 25, 1910 the minutes do not show any pastor present. At the March 25 meeting “Pastor Philipp” was in attendance. At the very next meeting, on April 3, 1910, no pastor was mentioned. There was no mention for the following meetings until July 17, 1910, at which time it noted that “our congregation celebrate Mission Festival with a mission sermon preached by our pastor.”
Then, at the September 5, 1910, it was noted that the “meeting opened by Pastor Detzer with Pastor Filips of Reese present.”
It was noted at that meeting that “calling a pastor was discussed, since our Pastor Detzer’s time is nearly at an end, and he can no longer stay. Pastor Philips (different spelling within the same minutes) indicated that if the congregation is in the position to bring up a suitable sum, it is quite possible to get a pastor. The members voted for a raise, which was accepted, and “Pastor Philips be charged to go to the mission board on our behalf and if it is possible obtain a pastor for us.”
For the October 9, 1910 meeting, no pastor was mentioned.
At a special meeting on October 23, 1910, the church chairman reported “it is possible that we receive a pastor soon, and secondly that Pastor Filips from Reese is willing to come on Oct. 31 if the congregation wishes,” which was unanimously approved.
October 31, 1910 (1 day) Rev. Martin Christian Phillipp
NOTE – He arrived on October 31, 1910, and resigned the same day. However, church elders voted to release him “as soon as we received another pastor.” They then called Pastor Charel Mueller for pastor.
Dec. 1910 or Jan. 1911 – July 20, 1919 Rev. Charel Mueller
NOTE – In some meeting minutes his name is spelled Muhler, and at times his first name is listed as Carl.
1914 – May 1919 (Trinity) Rev. Gerhardt Heinrich Ruediger
July 20, 1919 – May, 1920 (St. John) Rev. Gerhardt Heinrich Ruediger
NOTE – It appears Rev. Ruediger was the pastor at Trinity until the May 1919 fire. At the July 20, 1919 church meeting, it was decided Rev. Ruediger would take over at St. John and Rev. Mueller resigned. The church voted to “support Pastor Charel Mueller until he gets another place.”
NOTE – Rev. Ruediger accepted a call from the congregations at Hopkins, Dorr and Salem and was granted “release” at the February 15, 1920 meeting, but it was resolved that he stay “until the children are confirmed.” Rev. Ruediger was in attendance at the May 2, 1990 meeting.
Summer 1920 – June 1923 Pastor Otto Gruendemann
(September 1921) (Rev. G.L. Linderman performed a wedding)
NOTE – Perhaps Rev. Gruendemann was on vacation or otherwise indisposed at the time. This is speculation.
June 1923 – January 1924 No pastor assigned to St. John
NOTE – At the August 5, 1923 meeting, the members “unanimously resolved that we call Pastor Paul Naumann from Sterling, Mich. as our pastor.”
Jan. 1924 – Summer 1925 Rev. Paul Naumann
1925? – 1927 Rev. Eick LaHaine – Retired in 1927
1927 – 1959 (retired) Rev. Gerhardt Heinrich Ruediger
September 1948 Rev. Hans Schultz
1959 – 2009 Rev. Joel Hensel
2009 – 2020 Rev. Timothy Behnke
9/12/2020 – Present Rev. Rich Lewis – Ordained at St. John, 2024
These are the photos that we could find, not all pastors are pictured here.
(from left to right) Rev. O.A. Gruendemann, Rev. Carl W. Schoenow, Rev. John Reiniga, (bottom row left to right) Rev. Martin Christian Phillipp, Rev. Gerhardt Heinrich Ruediger, Rev. Joel Hensel
