PASTORS 

ST. JOHN'S AND ZION LUTHERAN CHURCHES PASTORAL LIST

Pastor John Klindworth (1859 - 1879)  Founded St. Matthew's Church in Galena in August, 1858.  He then founded our church in 1859.  First church was built, St. John's, in the Guilford twp.

Pastor George Kuempflein (1879 - 1886)  First parsonage was built in Schapville.  He was the first resident pastor.  School house was built in 1881 and tuition was 50 cents a month. Second church was built in Schapville, Zion.  Pastor George and his wife, Johanna children born while here were:  Clara Maria Addinga (June 18, 1880), Gustav August Adolf (August 21, 1882), and Maria Martha Margaretha (February 21, 1885).

Pastor H.B. Kuhn (1886 - 1888)  Property for Zion cemetery was purchased.

Pastor G. F. Klindworth (1888 - 1900)  Son of the founder.  Constitution was adopted.  In 1891, new pews, the steeple and the bell, the latter were added to St. John's church.  Barn was built on the parsonage property.  Parsonage was destroyed by fire in 1900.  Pastor Gustav married Regina Schlichting on February 5, 1890.  They had three children: Ruby Maria Sophia Catharina (January 27, 1892), Enno Johann Ludwig (July 10, 1896-August 9, 1897), Amos Johann Albert (October 29, 1898-August 22, 1900)

Pastor H.F. Meyer (1900 - 1907)  Mission Festival was started.  They raised $77.15 at the offering.  Henry and wife, Eleonore Prigge had three children while serving as pastor here:  Herman Karl Heinrich (October 25, 1902), Eleonore Johanna Henrietta (September 4, 1904), and Walter Hermann Johann (July 25, 1906).

Pastor H. Hofhenke (1908 - 1921) Hymnals were obtained from the Ohio Synod and used that liturgy.  Each member brought his or her own hymnal.  St. John's added a new black pulpit and alter.  The first automobile garage was built at the parsonage.  Once a month there was an English service at St. John's.  The Brotherhood was organized at Zion (the records are silent on further history of this organization).  Electricity was installed at the parsonage and Zion church.  Rev. and wife, Bertha Harms, had a son while here, Paul Theodor Herman (March 21, 1911) Their older son, Heinrich (January 24, 1905) was confirmed in the class of April 13, 1919.

Pastor H. Holzhausen (1921 - 1923) The envelope system was used at Zion.

Pastor H. F. Leschensky (1923 - 1928)  Sunday school students started bring in offerings.  Services were half English and half German.  They started using the duplex envelope system.  The pastor began receiving a monthly salary.  The parsonage was remodeled and the present parish hall was built.  St. John's received an alter in the memory of the Wachter family.  New constitution was adopted.  Under the law of the State of Illinois, the two congregations became incorporated.  St. John's discontinued the German services and started the duplex envelope system.  During his time here, Pastor and wife, Gertrude Bartell, had a daughter, Lorraine Gertrude Wanda (October 24, 1926).

Pastor Otto Moke (1928 - 1934) St. John's was given an arched gate as a memorial by Mrs. John Dotzel.  Since the beginning of the church the chairman of the church council was the pastor, now a member of the church was elected as chairman. The pastor's salary was prorated by the confirmation membership.  German services were reduced at Zion to once a month.  While Pastor Moke and his wife, Laura Steinigeweg were here they had two children:  Lois Harriet (September 13, 1928) and David Fredrick (July 16, 1933).

Pastor Albert  R. Seeman (1934 - 1938)  The pulpit at Zion was lowered and the organ was moved from the balcony to the main floor.  Art Koester began his duties as Janitor at St. John's succeeding his father, who had held that position for many years.  Confirmation was held 4 days a week and it was changed to Saturday only, for two (2) years and students started in the 7th grade.  Anyone over 16 years of age were considered an adult.  Pastor Seeman and his wife, Augusta Litzner, had a daughter, Georgane Frances (July 17, 1935) while they were here.

Pastor Ernst W. Karsten (1938 - 1942)  The American Lutheran Hymnal was adopted.  No more German services at Zion.  The parish became a member of the ALC Pension Fund.  Changes made to the Constitution so no officer  could succeed himself.  Sunday services were held at both churches each Sunday.  Zion congregation purchased a strip of land and extensive remodeling was done.  This included the addition of stained glass windows, new pulpit, pews, and oak flooring.  The entry was enlarged, the chancel built, and the cry room added.  Some changes were made to the school house by the Luther League and Choir.  Pastor Karsten and wife, Elva Huencke had two children while they were here:  Kathryn Ann (June 1, 1939) and Ernst Randall (October 17, 1940).  Pastor Karsten entered the U.S. Army chaplaincy after leaving our congregation.

Pastor A. T. Buckler (1942 - 1947)  Women were given the right to vote in church.  St. John's received electricity and a building fund was established.  Lenten services were alternated between the two churches on Wednesday evening.  Zion joined the American Lutheran Church.  Zion congregation added an Acre of land to the Zion Cemetery property.  Mrs. Emma Liphardt was recognized for 13 years of services as the organist.  

Eight month vacancy.

Pastor R. F. Hahn (1948 - 1951)  Vacation Bible School was held every year.  The Kilgen pipe organ was purchased at Zion.  The basement at Zion was excavated and built to substantially what it is today.  St. John's became members of the American Lutheran Church.  St. John's observed its 80th anniversary of its dedication.  While Pastor Hahn and his wife, Margaret Burzlaff, were here they had a son, James Randolph Hahn (August 4, 1949).

Five month vacancy.

Pastor John Northwall (1951 - 1953)  Constitution was updated.  St. John's was enlarged and renovated.  A new floor was installed, the pulpit lowered and covered, interior redecorated and two Sunday School rooms added to the western end of the structure.  Pastor Northwall and his wife, Naomi Ruth Ohntma, had a son while they were here: Karl Walter (May 2, 1952).

Five month vacancy.

Pastor Paul Albers (1953 - 1956)  A loud-speaker system was installed at Zion in memory of Russell Dotzel.  New front doors were added to Zion and a new baptismal font was added.  While Pastor Albers and his wife, Erna Fick, were here they had a son, Mark Paul (May 30, 1955).

Pastor Elroy Dietrich (1956 - 1960)  St. John's obtained a new Hammond Spinet electric organ.  Service Book and Hymnals were purchased.  Chancel pews and a new baptismal font were added to St. John's as gifts from the Women's Missionary Society.  New doors were added to St. John's. A new propane gas furnace was placed in the parsonage to replace the wood-coal furnace.  Pastor Dietrich and his wife, Joan Dahlsleat, had a son while they were here: Carl Arthur (March 21, 1956).

Pastor Charles Mueller (1960 - 1962)  A choir was organized with 15 members.  Zion and St. John's Churches incorporated as St. Paul's Parish.

Pastor Ernest L. Serr (1962 - 1966)  New steeple was finished on St. Paul's (Zion) church.  Lighted cross was donated in memory of Raymond Schlichting.  The Brotherhood held a Mission Sunday and a family night.

Pastor David Siefert (1966 - 1969)  St. John's congregation celebrated its 100th anniversary.  Lenten services were joint with the Schapville Presbyterian Church.  

Pastor John Paul Dexter (1970 - 1979)  Residents from Apple Canyon Lake began coming and many joined Zion Lutheran church.  Services and Sunday School were moved to Zion church for each Sunday of 1973.  In 1976, legal action was taken to combine the two congregations.  A vote was taken to dissolve the church names of Zion and St. John's and adopt the new name of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.  New roof was put on the Schapville church.  Pastor Dexter and wife, Shirley, had two sons confirmed while they were here:  Joel Michael Dexter (1972) and Joshua Anthony Dexter (1976).

Pastor James Gardner (1979 - 1994)  New hymnals were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Gustus.  New piano was purchased.  The church was redecorated by The Religious Art Group.  It was voted to donate St. John's building to the mission Lutheran church in East Dubuque.  This was later abandoned because of cost.  New parsonage roof.  Church signs were placed on several roads, giving direction to the church.  New siding for the parsonage.

Over a year vacancy:  The old garage at the parsonage was torn down and a new two car garage was added.  Air-conditioning was added to the church and the parsonage.  

Pastor Richard Downing (1995 - 1998)  New siding for the church.  St. John's church building was sold for $10 to Sandy Wolfram and now rest on her farm as a wedding chapel.  Every summer, our congregation holds a Sunday service there and an old fashion picnic follows the service.

Two year vacancy. Seminary Students from Wartburg Seminary helped provide us with leadership.  We were fortunate to have one special student who helped in the leadership of our church for most of the two year vacancy.

Pastor Barbara Rapp (2000 - 2002)  First women pastor in the history of our church.  Shepherd of the Hills was redecorated, new sound system installed, and protection windows were installed to protect the stain glass windows.

Pastor Denise Anderson (2002 - 2003)  Floor was refinished at Shepherd of the Hills. All the old wooden signs for the church at different locations in the area to direct visitors have been replaced with vinyl direction signs. 

Pastor Arthur Stees (2003 -  )

Despite the frequent change of pastors, Shepherd of the Hills parish has been fortunate in having Wartburg Seminary professors and students, retired ministers and individuals from our church to provide immeasurable and dedicated leadership.  For this we are thankful.