St.John Church, Cudahy

   ST. JOHN HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

1906 - October 7: Founding of Slovenska Evanjelicka Cirkev Augsburgskeho Vierovyznani Svateho Jana Kristitela (Slovak Evengelical Church of the Augsburg Confession of St. John the Baptizer); 18 “Founders” representing the families / individuals.

   - Patrick Cudahy provided property for the Church at the corner of Squire and Swift Ave.

1908 - February 2: Church structure dedicated. ($9,000)

1911 - Rev. Andrew Olsavsky installed as Pastor to serve St. John & Pentecost, Racine. (October 13)

   - Slovak Sunday School begun.

1912   - Parsonage built. ($2,800)

1914   - Rev. Thomas Bakalar installed as Pastor. (1919)

1919   - Rev. John M. Ondov installed as Pastor. (1931)

            - First Choir organized.

1924   - (Slovak) Ladies Aid Society formed.

1927   - Pipe Organ dedicated.

             - Senior & Junior Young People’s Societies become charter members of the Slovak Luther League.

1932   - Rev. Stephen G. Mazak, Sr. installed as Pastor. (1969)

1940   - Dorcas Society founded as the English-speaking women’s group.

1945   - Purchased 6-acre site on Lake Drive and Munkwitz Ave. ($6,000)

1946   - English Sunday School begun.

1952   - November 27, Thanksgiving Day: Dedication of new Church facility. ($200,000) Groundbreaking: April 8, 1951)

            - Altar Guild and Ushers Guild founded.

1954   - Parsonage built. ($27,000)

1955   - St. John establishes mission congregation: Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Barland Ave.

1956   - Stephen Mazak, Jr., Vicar

1957   - Richard Mazak, Vicar

1958   - Kenneth Ballas, Vicar, working with Cross of Christ.

1963   - Gerald Kovac, Vicar, working with Cross of Christ.

1964   - October 4: Dedication of Education building. ($300,000)

1968   - Coffee Koinonia established to facilitate fellowship

               - Donald Hayas, Vicar

1969   - Rev. Andrew D. Brondos installed as Pastor. (1978)

1970   - St. John Day Care & Child Development Center opened (Kay Miller, Director 1974)

1973   - St. John women join (LCMS) Lutheran Women’s Missionary League to promote mission education and involvement.

1974   - Wilma Bodin, St. John Day Care Director (1988)

1978   - Rev. Stark, Pastor of Cross of Christ, serves as Vacancy Pastor.

1979   - Douglas Hasner, Lay Minister (1980)

                - Rev. Carl H. Krueger, Jr. installed as Pastor.

1981   - Bradford Scott, Vicar

1982   - Karl Wardell, Vicar

1983   - James Freeman, Lay Minister (1990)

1984   - Pastor Krueger becomes Air National Guard Chaplain for 128th Air Refueling Wing.

1988   - Carol Benko, St. John Day Care Director (1989)

1989   - Wilma Bodin, St. John Day Care Director (1990) came back to assist while in search of a new director.

1990   - Karen Erickson, St. John Day Care Director.

1991   - Richard Schauer installed as Assistant Pastor (2002)

1992   - Purchase of Cross of Christ’s Parsonage, along with acquisition of Cross of Christ building, rent free for 5 years, renamed: The Life Enrichment Center.

1993   - Parish Nurse Program begun in cooperation with Aurora Health Care.

               - Sue Schaus, Parish Nurse

1997   - Rev. Krueger elected as President of the SELC District at the District Convention hosted by St. John. SELC District supplies Vicar to the Congregation of the District President.

1998   - Donal Widger, Vicar

1999   - Paul Biber, Vicar

             - March 14: Dedication of $1.5 Million building renovation, handicapped accessibility.

2000   - Theodore Groth, Vicar

             - Marcia Isherwood, Parish Nurse

             - Stephen Ministry established as spiritual support of members in crisis.

             - October 31: Church Steeple fire.

2001   - Rodger Williams, Vicar

2002   - Jon Bender, Vicar

2003   - Joshua Hollmann, Vicar

2004   - Matthew Gehrke, Vicar

             - Rev. Jon M. Bender installed as Assistant Pastor.

             - Rev. Krueger retires from WI ANG. (Chaplain, Lt. Col.)

2008   - Fire in the original St. John Church (now St. Nikola Serbian Orthodox) on 3802 E. Squire Ave. Structural damage, repaired.

2004   -09Rev. Jon M. Bender, Assistant Pastor

2005   -06Vicar Joel Giese

2006-07   Vicar Kyle Schwan

2007-08   Vicar John Merrill

2008-09    Vicar Benjamin Kaiser

2009-11    Rev. Jon M. Bender, Senior Pastor

2011-12   Rev. Dr. Carl H. Krueger, Jr., Administrative Vacancy Pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Bergmann, Visitation Vacancy Pastor

2012-21   Rev. Matthew W. Vesey, Senior Pastor

2021-22   Rev. Dr. Carl H Krueger, Jr. Administrative Vacancy Pastor

2023 -      Rev. Phillip DeVries, Pastor