Zion Lutheran Church

Our History

Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens (1913) written by Louis Marchetti, pages 352-366 (Transcribed by Marla Zwakman)

This congregation was organized by Rev. W. L. Rosenwinkle, A. D. 1874, with eight members. The first church and parsonage were located on Seymour street near Frenzel street.

In 1876 Reverend Rosenwinkel was succeeded by Rev. W. Weber, who served the congregation as a filial charge while he resided in town Wausau, till April, 1882.

In April, 1882, the Rev. H. Erck was called. Under Reverend Erck the present church building on corner Fifth and Scott streets was built, the same being dedicated October 19, 1884. It cost $3,600. The congregation then numbered sixty members.

In June, 1889, when Rev. H. Erck was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Bretscher, the congregation numbered one hundred and five voting members. Under Rev. C. A. Bretscher the church building was enlarged and remodeled at an additional cost of $7,000. This was in 1903.

In 1908 all members living on the west side of the river (eighty) were branched off and organized the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity congregation. The mother congregation aided them to the extent of $6,000 plus the building site.

When Reverend Bretscher resigned, January, 1911, the congregation numbered 194 voting members. Rev. George C. Schroedel, was installed in May, 1911.

Zion congregation maintained a parochial school since 1876. The school building on the corner of Fifth and McClellan streets, was built in 1892. Under the able leadership of Prof. W. Wetzel, assisted by Prof. W. Haas and Miss Ida Braun, Zion's school ranked second to none in the schools of Wausau.

As of 1913, the Zion congregation numbers 207 voting members, about 1,000 souls, and has 160 children in its school. The property, church, school, parsonage, and teacher's dwelling are valued at about thirty thousand dollars.

Kegg Organ, installed December 2009

This new organ was installed above the choir in the gallery of this handsome post WWII church. It presents very well from its splendid and commanding position, located on either side of a fine lancet window. With a portion of the Great enclosed separate from the Swell, its tonal design is very flexible for choral works, while the three choruses will play classic literature with great conviction. The organ is 3 manuals and 49 ranks. Dr. David Heller of San Antonio was consultant. Virginia Giese is Music Director. Rev. Steven Gjerde is Senior Pastor. The installation of the new organ was completed in early December, 2009 with voicing complete in early February, 2010. It was dedicated on February 21, 2010 with Dr. Heller playing in concert. Here you see the left case side closest to the lancet window. The cases are white oak. The pipe shades are hand-carved in basswood and are finished with a clear coat to retain the white color. Figures of the four Archangels and the symbols of the twelve Apostles are carved into the pipe shades.

Permission to place this cache was granted by Senior Pastor: Rev. Steven K. Gjerde.