Saint Paul’s Latimer
History of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church
An early history of St Paul's complied in 1935 by Rev Grummer
1895-1897: Rev H. C. Westpfahl
The mother congregation of St Paul’s Latimer was Zion Lutheran Church at Mill Pond (Beed’s Lake). Zion was also the mother church of Immanuel Grant Center (Iowa Falls) and Trinity Hampton. By the early 1890s, Zion had many members from the Latimer area who found it difficult to travel the poor roads to church. In 1894, they asked Pastor C. W. Dietrich of Zion to begin holding services at a school house in Marion Township, north of Latimer. Services were well attended and soon were held in the school of Latimer. Plans were therefore made to form a congregation independent from Zion, resulting in the establishment of St Paul’s Lutheran Congregation in Latimer on March 3, 1895. The first pastor was Candidate Westpfahl, called in June 1896. Pastor Westpfahl served during the construction of the first sanctuary of St Paul's. In the fall of 1896 the building was completed and dedicated, with Rev. Dietrich officiating. This was apparently a time of conflict in the congregation, and Pastor Westpfahl resigned after one year.
1897-1904: Rev A. F. Lutz
Pastor Lutz came to St. Paul’s in 1897. His salary was $300 per year. A house was rented for $8 per month, later he found one for $6.50 a month. During his pastorate the congregation experienced a period of growth and progress. A parsonage and barn were built, and sidewalks were laid. In 1902 the bell was purchased. The first mission festival was held in 1904, and in subsequent years mission festivals were regularly held under the trees west of the parsonage. In December 1904, Pastor Lutz was granted a peaceful release to accept another call.
1904-1908: Rev. Theodore Hanssen
After the departure of Rev. Lutz, Rev. Theiss was engaged to serve during the vacancy, until Pastor Theodore Hanssen accepted the call to become the shepherd of St Paul’s. Rev. Hanssen was instrumental in developing the spiritual growth of the congregation. He also preached at a mission congregation in Burdette, 15 miles south of Latimer. He remained with the congregation until August 1908, when he accepted a call to Sherril, IA.
1908-1924: Rev. R. H. Beer
In the summer of 1908, Rev. R. H. Beer accepted a call to St Paul’s. By this time, the congregation was at least twice as large as when it was organized thirteen years before, having grown from an initial communion attendance of 56 to an attendance of 116. During Rev Beer’s 18 years of faithful service, the congregation continued to grow to 275 communicant members. The congregation therefore found it necessary to enlarge their buildings. In 1909 an addition was built on the original parsonage, at a cost of $1050. In 1914 an annex was built to the church, adding 10 feet to the building. The first one-room school building was also erected at this time. Services in English were begun in 1918. In 1924, Pastor Beer was given a peaceful release upon his request, because of impaired health. Upon his retirement, he moved to Rock Island, Ill.
1924-1939: Rev. E. H. Grummer
Rev. E. H. Grummer of Spencer, Iowa accepted the call of St. Paul’s in October of 1924. He provided leadership to finally bring about the congregation’s dream of starting a Christian Day School, a project which had previously been proposed in 1911. The school first opened in the fall of 1925, and continues in operation today. Mr. K. J. Traugott was the first teacher, called in 1925 for all eight grades. He received a salary of $1200 a year and free housing. Mr. Traugott played the organ at all services and taught in both German and English. Miss Bertha Staehr Borcherding was hired to teach lower grades in the second year. Her salary was $75 per month, and she taught German to 30 students. In 1930, during the Great Depression, Pastor Grummer taught the lower grades without pay in order for the school to remain open. A kindergarten was started in 1940. Until the mid 1950s, children had to pass a county exam in order to enter high school.
Around 1924, Pastor Grummer also organized the St Paul’s young people into a chapter of the Walther League. Over the subsequent decades, league activities included serving an Easter breakfast, trimming the Christmas tree, visiting shut-ins, ushering, running the sound system and recording the services, teaching Sunday School and participating in the band and choirs. League members also participated in volleyball, skiing, soft ball, bowling, and zone, district, and international activities. In about 1926, league members entered a contest to take newspaper subscriptions. The campaign was carried on with determination and they won an automobile. They very generously presented it to the pastor.
With the encouragement of Pastor Grummer, the St Paul’s cemetery society was formed in 1934, along with a Ladies’ Aid Society to aid in the upkeep and beatification of the cemetery. The first cemetery caretaker was Henry Pralle. The cemetery was expanded to the north in about 1970. The earliest markers on the graves are dated about 1896 or 1897. Pastor and Mrs. Grummer had a large family, and they are both buried in our cemetery, along with Rev. Beer and former school principal Frank Behnke. One Civil War veteran is buried in the cemetery, H. H. Reynolds, better known in Latimer as Squire Reynolds, a justice of the peace.
1940-1948: Rev E. L. Runge
Rev. E. L. Runge accepted the call of St. Paul’s in 1940. Rev. Runge was born Sept 9, 1907 in Blackburn, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois in 1933. He was married to Esther Bruenger in 1935, and they had three children. He was a well-liked minister in the community, taking keen interest in civic affairs of Latimer and Franklin County in general. In 1941, the ground was broken for a new sanctuary. Construction began in May and the building was dedicated in November. The cost of the building was $22000, and the cost of the new pipe organ was $2500. Gerald Walrod cut the trusses for the new church using a hand saw. In the same year the congregation began using The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH). The old sanctuary's altar was sent to mission at Shell Rock, the lectern to Fayette, and the baptismal font to Iowa Falls. At the 50th anniversary celebration, guest speakers included Prof M. Graebner of Concordia St Paul, Prof. A. O. Fuerbringer of Concordia, Seward, and Rev. Alfred Ernst of Wellsburg. Charter members Fred Kragel, Sr and William Pralle, Sr were both in attendance. Rev. Runge served Iowa District East as vice-president of the Board of Directors, and also Lutheran Homefinding Society board of directors. After leaving Latimer, Rev Runge served a congregation in Marshaltown, IA, until he retired in 1972 and moved to Ogden where he served as interim pastor until 1974. God called him home on February 4, 1993.
1949-1958: Rev. A. T. Kellerman
Rev. Kellerman accepted the call from St. Paul’s in 1949, coming from Tolley, ND. He was born at Alma, MO in 1909 and graduated from Concordia Seminary at St Louis in 1932. In 1934 he married Edna Spitzer, and they had three children. While at Latimer, the school building was completed, the parsonage remodeled, and also the addition of a classroom and gym was added to the school. On March 20, 1949, a new school building was dedicated, at a cost of a little less than $28000. Around the same time, the school also began serving hot lunch. A chapter of the Lutheran Laymen’s League at St Paul’s was organized in 1949 with the guidance of Rev. Kellerman. In 1958 a classroom, gym, stage, kitchen, and projection room were added to the school. Around this time, Mrs. Henry Jensen taught Sunday School in the pews in the front of the sanctuary. The Christmas Eve program was always the highlight of the year. Sunday School picnics were held in the summer, with dinner, sports, and a softball game for parents. Pins or Bible verse cards were handed out for attendance. Children attended Vacation Bible School and regularly sang for worship services, as well as other activities within the congregation. After his time at St Paul’s Rev Kellerman served various parishes in North Dakota and Iowa, retiring in 1975.
1959-1964: Rev. Arnold G. Griesse
Rev. Arnold Griesse accepted the call of St Paul’s in 1959, coming from Staplehurst, Nebraska. Pastor Griesse graduated from Concordia Seminary in St Louis in 1935. During his time here the school reached its highest enrollment of 94 students in 1961. Around this time the school started its own band, and students also participated in track and field days in Waverly. Pastor and Mrs. Griesse had three children. After serving in Latimer, Pastor Griese resided in Jefferson City, MO.
1964-1969: Rev. O. Zuberbier
Rev Orlan Zuberbier and family came to St Paul’s in January 1965. He was born in Oconto, WI in 1935, the son and grandson of Lutheran pastors. He attended Concordia Junior College, Milwaukee, WI and then served in the US Marines for three years. After completing his time in the Marines he entered Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL. Upon graduation he was assigned to the church in Jennings, LA. This is where he was when he accepted the call to St Paul’s. Pastor Zuberbier worked hard to encourage Bible Study attendance at St Paul’s, and to start a Vacation Bible School program. Pastor Zuberbier and his wife JoAnn had three children. In 1995, they lived in New Richmond, WI, where he was pastor of St Luke's Lutheran Church.
1969-1972: Rev. Robert O. Faga
Pastor Faga accepted a call to St Paul’s in 1969. In 1970, the parsonage was torn down and plans were made to build a two-story colonial home, which was dedicated in December 1970. Pastor and Mrs. Faga were moved to a rented home until the new one was completed. The new parsonage was dedicated in December of 1970. Also in 1970, the school became fully accredited. Pastor Faga and Sonnie had five children. In semi-retirement, Pastor Faga served congregations in Pasadena, California, and his wife worked as a nurse.
1972-1977: Rev. Mervyn D. Bauer
Rev. Mervyn Bauer was called to serve St Paul’s from 1972-1977. He spent many hours working with youth and Ambassadors for Christ programs. He and his wife Judy had two sons. In 1974 a committee was chosen to study the matter of remodeling the church entrance. Around the same time the young couples club built a tennis court, the kitchen in the church was remodeled, and the congregation began a radio broadcast program. In 1975 the church’s bell tower was removed, a narthex was constructed, and an elevator installed. In the same year Rev Bauer was given permission to start a mission church in Rowan. St Paul’s thus became the mother church of Immanuel Rowan. In 1976 a new bell tower was built, and Russel Bowder was called as the school principal. In 1977, children began riding buses to school. Rev. Bauer later served as pastor in Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska.
1977-1983: Rev. Wayne A. Renning
Rev. Wayne Renning was called to serve St Paul’s congregation in 1977, and he served until 1983. In 1978, Rodney Langbehn was installed as the school principal, and then in 1981 Dean Rudloff became principal. In 1982 Lydia Schoenbeck was recognized for 19 years of teaching, and Frank Behnke was recognized for 50 years in the teaching ministry. Rev Renning and his wife Emily had three children, and they later resided in New York.
1983-1998: Rev. Dennis A. Arndt
Pastor Dennis A. Arndt was installed at St Paul’s on Nov 6, 1983. He was born in 1942 in Carroll, Iowa. He graduated from Concordia Junior College, St Paul, MN in 1963, then from Concordia Senior College in Ft Wayne in 1965, and from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield Illinois in 1969. Pastor Arndt and his wife Joyce were married in 1969, and they had five children. In 1985 the first spelling bee was held at the school. In 1986, Richard Gottschalk was called as the principal teacher, and in 1990 Frank Parris became the principal teacher. On Nov 3, 1991 the congregation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the church building with Rev Zuberbier as guest speaker. Due to an ice storm, the power lines were down and there was no electricity, so services were held in the church basement, using camping stoves to heat coffee and sandwiches.
Over the years, the congregation had maintained relatively consistent membership. In 1940 there were 462 members and 344 communicants. In 1945 there were 590 members and 440 communicants. In 1970 there were 593 members and 465 communicants. And in 1995 there were 390 members and 301 communicants. At the centennial anniversary celebration in August 1995, Dr Alan Borcherding, a son of the congregation, preached at the morning service. Other speakers included Dr Curtis Moermond, president of Iowa District East, and former St Paul’s Pastor Mervyn Bauer. For the centennial anniversary, a mission project was chosen to support Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Independence, IA, which was holding services in a store front church. $10000 was raised for the purchase of a parsonage for the church in Independence.
1998-2001: Rev. Randall Bell
Rev Randall Bell was born in 1959 in Bismark, ND. He graduated from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne IN in 1986. Upon graduation, Pastor Bell served calls in Bertrand NE and Woodburn IN. He accepted the call the St Paul’s Latimer in 1998. He and his wife Julie were married in August 1984, and they have two children.
2003-2013: Rev. Marvin L. Lorenz
Pastor Lorenz was born in 1951 and married to his wife Mary Jean in August 1976. He graduated from St. Paul’s College in Concordia, MO in 1971, then from Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward NE in 1973, and finally from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne IN in 1977. Over the course of 36 years of ministry, he served several parishes in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. His final call was to Latimer, where he retired in 2013. Pastor Lorenz fell asleep in Christ on April 12, 2021.
2013-2022: Rev. Travis L. Berg
Pastor Travis Berg, originally from Minnesota, graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft Wayne IN in 2013, and immediately received a call to St Paul’s. Pastor Berg led a popular theological study at a pub in Hampton, as well as participating in the Clerical Errors podcast and Gottesdienst blog. While at St Paul’s he and his wife Glorianne were married in 2018. In early 2022 he accepted a call to serve as pastor and headmaster of a Lutheran school in Cheyenne, WY.
2023-present: Rev. J. Peter Wagner
After a year-long vacancy served by Rev Paul Beisel from Immanuel in Iowa Falls, the congregation of St Paul’s called Pastor Wagner from Concordia Theological Seminary Ft Wayne in April 2023. He was ordained and installed in Latimer on June 25, 2023. He was born in 1993 in Minnesota, and his wife Rebecca is from Westgate IA. They were married in July 2017 in Minneapolis. They have three children, and the oldest started kindergarten at St Paul’s in the fall of 2023.
1895-1897: Rev H. C. Westpfahl
The mother congregation of St Paul’s Latimer was Zion Lutheran Church at Mill Pond (Beed’s Lake). Zion was also the mother church of Immanuel Grant Center (Iowa Falls) and Trinity Hampton. By the early 1890s, Zion had many members from the Latimer area who found it difficult to travel the poor roads to church. In 1894, they asked Pastor C. W. Dietrich of Zion to begin holding services at a school house in Marion Township, north of Latimer. Services were well attended and soon were held in the school of Latimer. Plans were therefore made to form a congregation independent from Zion, resulting in the establishment of St Paul’s Lutheran Congregation in Latimer on March 3, 1895. The first pastor was Candidate Westpfahl, called in June 1896. Pastor Westpfahl served during the construction of the first sanctuary of St Paul's. In the fall of 1896 the building was completed and dedicated, with Rev. Dietrich officiating. This was apparently a time of conflict in the congregation, and Pastor Westpfahl resigned after one year.
1897-1904: Rev A. F. Lutz
Pastor Lutz came to St. Paul’s in 1897. His salary was $300 per year. A house was rented for $8 per month, later he found one for $6.50 a month. During his pastorate the congregation experienced a period of growth and progress. A parsonage and barn were built, and sidewalks were laid. In 1902 the bell was purchased. The first mission festival was held in 1904, and in subsequent years mission festivals were regularly held under the trees west of the parsonage. In December 1904, Pastor Lutz was granted a peaceful release to accept another call.
1904-1908: Rev. Theodore Hanssen
After the departure of Rev. Lutz, Rev. Theiss was engaged to serve during the vacancy, until Pastor Theodore Hanssen accepted the call to become the shepherd of St Paul’s. Rev. Hanssen was instrumental in developing the spiritual growth of the congregation. He also preached at a mission congregation in Burdette, 15 miles south of Latimer. He remained with the congregation until August 1908, when he accepted a call to Sherril, IA.
1908-1924: Rev. R. H. Beer
In the summer of 1908, Rev. R. H. Beer accepted a call to St Paul’s. By this time, the congregation was at least twice as large as when it was organized thirteen years before, having grown from an initial communion attendance of 56 to an attendance of 116. During Rev Beer’s 18 years of faithful service, the congregation continued to grow to 275 communicant members. The congregation therefore found it necessary to enlarge their buildings. In 1909 an addition was built on the original parsonage, at a cost of $1050. In 1914 an annex was built to the church, adding 10 feet to the building. The first one-room school building was also erected at this time. Services in English were begun in 1918. In 1924, Pastor Beer was given a peaceful release upon his request, because of impaired health. Upon his retirement, he moved to Rock Island, Ill.
1924-1939: Rev. E. H. Grummer
Rev. E. H. Grummer of Spencer, Iowa accepted the call of St. Paul’s in October of 1924. He provided leadership to finally bring about the congregation’s dream of starting a Christian Day School, a project which had previously been proposed in 1911. The school first opened in the fall of 1925, and continues in operation today. Mr. K. J. Traugott was the first teacher, called in 1925 for all eight grades. He received a salary of $1200 a year and free housing. Mr. Traugott played the organ at all services and taught in both German and English. Miss Bertha Staehr Borcherding was hired to teach lower grades in the second year. Her salary was $75 per month, and she taught German to 30 students. In 1930, during the Great Depression, Pastor Grummer taught the lower grades without pay in order for the school to remain open. A kindergarten was started in 1940. Until the mid 1950s, children had to pass a county exam in order to enter high school.
Around 1924, Pastor Grummer also organized the St Paul’s young people into a chapter of the Walther League. Over the subsequent decades, league activities included serving an Easter breakfast, trimming the Christmas tree, visiting shut-ins, ushering, running the sound system and recording the services, teaching Sunday School and participating in the band and choirs. League members also participated in volleyball, skiing, soft ball, bowling, and zone, district, and international activities. In about 1926, league members entered a contest to take newspaper subscriptions. The campaign was carried on with determination and they won an automobile. They very generously presented it to the pastor.
With the encouragement of Pastor Grummer, the St Paul’s cemetery society was formed in 1934, along with a Ladies’ Aid Society to aid in the upkeep and beatification of the cemetery. The first cemetery caretaker was Henry Pralle. The cemetery was expanded to the north in about 1970. The earliest markers on the graves are dated about 1896 or 1897. Pastor and Mrs. Grummer had a large family, and they are both buried in our cemetery, along with Rev. Beer and former school principal Frank Behnke. One Civil War veteran is buried in the cemetery, H. H. Reynolds, better known in Latimer as Squire Reynolds, a justice of the peace.
1940-1948: Rev E. L. Runge
Rev. E. L. Runge accepted the call of St. Paul’s in 1940. Rev. Runge was born Sept 9, 1907 in Blackburn, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois in 1933. He was married to Esther Bruenger in 1935, and they had three children. He was a well-liked minister in the community, taking keen interest in civic affairs of Latimer and Franklin County in general. In 1941, the ground was broken for a new sanctuary. Construction began in May and the building was dedicated in November. The cost of the building was $22000, and the cost of the new pipe organ was $2500. Gerald Walrod cut the trusses for the new church using a hand saw. In the same year the congregation began using The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH). The old sanctuary's altar was sent to mission at Shell Rock, the lectern to Fayette, and the baptismal font to Iowa Falls. At the 50th anniversary celebration, guest speakers included Prof M. Graebner of Concordia St Paul, Prof. A. O. Fuerbringer of Concordia, Seward, and Rev. Alfred Ernst of Wellsburg. Charter members Fred Kragel, Sr and William Pralle, Sr were both in attendance. Rev. Runge served Iowa District East as vice-president of the Board of Directors, and also Lutheran Homefinding Society board of directors. After leaving Latimer, Rev Runge served a congregation in Marshaltown, IA, until he retired in 1972 and moved to Ogden where he served as interim pastor until 1974. God called him home on February 4, 1993.
1949-1958: Rev. A. T. Kellerman
Rev. Kellerman accepted the call from St. Paul’s in 1949, coming from Tolley, ND. He was born at Alma, MO in 1909 and graduated from Concordia Seminary at St Louis in 1932. In 1934 he married Edna Spitzer, and they had three children. While at Latimer, the school building was completed, the parsonage remodeled, and also the addition of a classroom and gym was added to the school. On March 20, 1949, a new school building was dedicated, at a cost of a little less than $28000. Around the same time, the school also began serving hot lunch. A chapter of the Lutheran Laymen’s League at St Paul’s was organized in 1949 with the guidance of Rev. Kellerman. In 1958 a classroom, gym, stage, kitchen, and projection room were added to the school. Around this time, Mrs. Henry Jensen taught Sunday School in the pews in the front of the sanctuary. The Christmas Eve program was always the highlight of the year. Sunday School picnics were held in the summer, with dinner, sports, and a softball game for parents. Pins or Bible verse cards were handed out for attendance. Children attended Vacation Bible School and regularly sang for worship services, as well as other activities within the congregation. After his time at St Paul’s Rev Kellerman served various parishes in North Dakota and Iowa, retiring in 1975.
1959-1964: Rev. Arnold G. Griesse
Rev. Arnold Griesse accepted the call of St Paul’s in 1959, coming from Staplehurst, Nebraska. Pastor Griesse graduated from Concordia Seminary in St Louis in 1935. During his time here the school reached its highest enrollment of 94 students in 1961. Around this time the school started its own band, and students also participated in track and field days in Waverly. Pastor and Mrs. Griesse had three children. After serving in Latimer, Pastor Griese resided in Jefferson City, MO.
1964-1969: Rev. O. Zuberbier
Rev Orlan Zuberbier and family came to St Paul’s in January 1965. He was born in Oconto, WI in 1935, the son and grandson of Lutheran pastors. He attended Concordia Junior College, Milwaukee, WI and then served in the US Marines for three years. After completing his time in the Marines he entered Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL. Upon graduation he was assigned to the church in Jennings, LA. This is where he was when he accepted the call to St Paul’s. Pastor Zuberbier worked hard to encourage Bible Study attendance at St Paul’s, and to start a Vacation Bible School program. Pastor Zuberbier and his wife JoAnn had three children. In 1995, they lived in New Richmond, WI, where he was pastor of St Luke's Lutheran Church.
1969-1972: Rev. Robert O. Faga
Pastor Faga accepted a call to St Paul’s in 1969. In 1970, the parsonage was torn down and plans were made to build a two-story colonial home, which was dedicated in December 1970. Pastor and Mrs. Faga were moved to a rented home until the new one was completed. The new parsonage was dedicated in December of 1970. Also in 1970, the school became fully accredited. Pastor Faga and Sonnie had five children. In semi-retirement, Pastor Faga served congregations in Pasadena, California, and his wife worked as a nurse.
1972-1977: Rev. Mervyn D. Bauer
Rev. Mervyn Bauer was called to serve St Paul’s from 1972-1977. He spent many hours working with youth and Ambassadors for Christ programs. He and his wife Judy had two sons. In 1974 a committee was chosen to study the matter of remodeling the church entrance. Around the same time the young couples club built a tennis court, the kitchen in the church was remodeled, and the congregation began a radio broadcast program. In 1975 the church’s bell tower was removed, a narthex was constructed, and an elevator installed. In the same year Rev Bauer was given permission to start a mission church in Rowan. St Paul’s thus became the mother church of Immanuel Rowan. In 1976 a new bell tower was built, and Russel Bowder was called as the school principal. In 1977, children began riding buses to school. Rev. Bauer later served as pastor in Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska.
1977-1983: Rev. Wayne A. Renning
Rev. Wayne Renning was called to serve St Paul’s congregation in 1977, and he served until 1983. In 1978, Rodney Langbehn was installed as the school principal, and then in 1981 Dean Rudloff became principal. In 1982 Lydia Schoenbeck was recognized for 19 years of teaching, and Frank Behnke was recognized for 50 years in the teaching ministry. Rev Renning and his wife Emily had three children, and they later resided in New York.
1983-1998: Rev. Dennis A. Arndt
Pastor Dennis A. Arndt was installed at St Paul’s on Nov 6, 1983. He was born in 1942 in Carroll, Iowa. He graduated from Concordia Junior College, St Paul, MN in 1963, then from Concordia Senior College in Ft Wayne in 1965, and from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield Illinois in 1969. Pastor Arndt and his wife Joyce were married in 1969, and they had five children. In 1985 the first spelling bee was held at the school. In 1986, Richard Gottschalk was called as the principal teacher, and in 1990 Frank Parris became the principal teacher. On Nov 3, 1991 the congregation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the church building with Rev Zuberbier as guest speaker. Due to an ice storm, the power lines were down and there was no electricity, so services were held in the church basement, using camping stoves to heat coffee and sandwiches.
Over the years, the congregation had maintained relatively consistent membership. In 1940 there were 462 members and 344 communicants. In 1945 there were 590 members and 440 communicants. In 1970 there were 593 members and 465 communicants. And in 1995 there were 390 members and 301 communicants. At the centennial anniversary celebration in August 1995, Dr Alan Borcherding, a son of the congregation, preached at the morning service. Other speakers included Dr Curtis Moermond, president of Iowa District East, and former St Paul’s Pastor Mervyn Bauer. For the centennial anniversary, a mission project was chosen to support Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Independence, IA, which was holding services in a store front church. $10000 was raised for the purchase of a parsonage for the church in Independence.
1998-2001: Rev. Randall Bell
Rev Randall Bell was born in 1959 in Bismark, ND. He graduated from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne IN in 1986. Upon graduation, Pastor Bell served calls in Bertrand NE and Woodburn IN. He accepted the call the St Paul’s Latimer in 1998. He and his wife Julie were married in August 1984, and they have two children.
2003-2013: Rev. Marvin L. Lorenz
Pastor Lorenz was born in 1951 and married to his wife Mary Jean in August 1976. He graduated from St. Paul’s College in Concordia, MO in 1971, then from Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward NE in 1973, and finally from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne IN in 1977. Over the course of 36 years of ministry, he served several parishes in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. His final call was to Latimer, where he retired in 2013. Pastor Lorenz fell asleep in Christ on April 12, 2021.
2013-2022: Rev. Travis L. Berg
Pastor Travis Berg, originally from Minnesota, graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft Wayne IN in 2013, and immediately received a call to St Paul’s. Pastor Berg led a popular theological study at a pub in Hampton, as well as participating in the Clerical Errors podcast and Gottesdienst blog. While at St Paul’s he and his wife Glorianne were married in 2018. In early 2022 he accepted a call to serve as pastor and headmaster of a Lutheran school in Cheyenne, WY.
2023-present: Rev. J. Peter Wagner
After a year-long vacancy served by Rev Paul Beisel from Immanuel in Iowa Falls, the congregation of St Paul’s called Pastor Wagner from Concordia Theological Seminary Ft Wayne in April 2023. He was ordained and installed in Latimer on June 25, 2023. He was born in 1993 in Minnesota, and his wife Rebecca is from Westgate IA. They were married in July 2017 in Minneapolis. They have three children, and the oldest started kindergarten at St Paul’s in the fall of 2023.
