St. Paul’s House of God has been the living body of Christ for 75 years . . . as of August 24, 2013.   Our joy is in God Who has made His home with us!

In 1929, ten people gathered for worship in the school building near the intersection of Green Bay and Brown Deer Roads. These worshipers and this service represent the beginning of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Rev. Erich Keller, serving as missionary-at-large for the South Wisconsin District, had canvassed the Brown Deer area in February of 1929 and had organized a Sunday School which met for the first time on March 10, 1929 with six students. The first service conducted on July 28, 1929, was the second fruit of the mission effort. Although the congregation numbered only ten that day, the seed of the Word was planted. Services were held semi-monthly.

The mission was served by Rev. Keller until March of 1930 when Rev. A. J. Groethe of St. Peter’s (then on Mill Road) became pastor. Rev. Keller returned to shepherd this flock from June, 1932 to September, 1933. His second period of leadership was marked by two important milestones. The Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time in January of 1933 and in April of 1933 the first confirmation class was organized, with ten persons enrolled, all from un-churched families.

Pastor Keller was succeeded by Rev. John Pingel, who served from September, 1933 to January 1, 1935. He, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Lester Oberheu, who served from January to May of 1935. These men served under temporary calls, supervised by Rev. Keller, who continued to serve as missionary-at-large for the South Wisconsin District.

In May of 1935 the Brown Deer group formed a parish with St. Peter’s of River Hills and Rev. Albert Eggert, the pastor of St. Peter’s, began to care for the mission. The mission continued to grow and incorporated on August 24, 1938 when nine voting members acted to form St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and to affiliate withThe Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

When Pastor Eggert’s pastorate ended with his death in the fall of 1940, the Lord provided St. Paul’s with a faithful shepherd, sending Rev. Richard Haendschke to them in March, 1941. Pastor Haendschke’s ministry was blessed with a steady growth so that a larger, more suitable building was required. The congregation responded by building the church at 8705 North Green Bay Road. The cornerstone of that building was laid June 27, 1948, and the completed structure was dedicated on December 19, 1948.

With the blessing of the Holy Spirit the congregation in this new church enjoyed steady, substantial growth. The demands of leading this ever-growing flock led Pastor Haendschke to resign the pastorate of St. Paul’s in the fall of 1956. The Lord called him home in August, 1964.

Again the Lord provided a dedicated leader for St. Paul’s when Reverend James F. Reichmann accepted the pastorate on November 4, 1956. Pastor Reichmann was the first pastor to serve St. Paul’s on a full-time basis. Shortly after his arrival, the construction of a parsonage was begun enabling the pastor and his family to take up residence at 8516 North 54th Street in June of 1957.

An opportunity for witnessing was presented to St. Paul’s in the form of the suburban development in our area in the years 1955 and following. The growth of the community was reflected in the change of the congregational profile and the facilities for Sunday School were particularly strained. As the congregation formulated its plans to meet the needs of the expanded program, the blessing of Almighty God is easily discernible.

In February of 1959, a Building and Sites Committee was formed and through its efforts the congregation was able to secure the desirable three acre site on 47th Street in March of the same year. In May, 1960 the congregation voted to conduct a fund raising drive. This drive was initiated on September 18, 1960 and the membership pledged itself to contribute $87,000 over a four-year period. In January, 1962, St. Peter’s congregation of River Hills disbanded and greatly advanced the program of St. Paul’s by donating its property to St. Paul’s congregation.

The final blessing in this sequence was the sale of the Green Bay Road property to the Bethlehem Baptist congregation on October 15, 1962. This sale was the factor which permitted our congregation to proceed with the actual building and ground was broken on October 28, 1962. Under the terms of the sale, St. Paul’s enjoyed joint occupancy with the Baptist group until our new building was completed, enabling our parish program to continue without undue disruption.

The cornerstone of our church at 8080 North 47th Street was laid on January 13, 1963, and the completed structure was dedicated to the service of the Triune God on July 28, 1963.

We were fortunate to obtain the chapel organ from Concordia College-Milwaukee and to have Otto Eberle, a well-known Milwaukee organ builder, rebuild it in our chancel. The organ was dedicated to the glory of God in January of 1964.

Congregational growth, the need for handicap facilities, extra office space, classrooms, and restrooms again demanded an expansion of our church property. And on August 8, 1993, ground was broken for an addition on the north side of our church building. The dedication of this new structure took place on March 13, 1994.

A heart attack in March of 1994 curtailed the activities of Pastor Reichmann and in January of 1995 he announced his retirement date of June 30, 1995. The congregation bestowed the title “Pastor Emeritus” upon him at the May 22, 1995 voters’ assembly meeting.

The Lord again guided His flock and sent Reverend LeRoy Hass to be our vacancy pastor after Pastor Reichmann retired. He served St. Paul’s from September, 1995 until January, 1996. After serving in the parish ministry for 40 years, Pastor Reichmann was called home to his eternal rest in December, 1996. Pastor Reichmann will always be remembered as a devoted pastor, shepherd, and good friend to his members, and one who considered it a privilege to have been one of God’s messengers here at this place and at this time.

The guiding hand of God was again evident when a call was extended by our congregation to Reverend Douglas Curt Breite to become St. Paul’s second resident pastor. His acceptance in December, 1995 made the transition from the vacancy position to a full-time pastorate uncomplicated. Pastor Breite was installed on January 14, 1996. We were again truly blessed with a faithful servant of God and one who feels that all aspects of his ministry are important.

When Pastor Breite accepted the call to be the Administrative Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, effective November 15, 1999, we were again grateful to have Pastor Hass serve our congregation, this time from February 1, 2000 until Rev. John Todd Kelling accepted our call and was installed at St. Paul’s on March 11, 2001.

In 2005-06, the nave was completely remodeled, the floors and pews were refinished, padding was added to the pews and a new Allen organ was installed.  Dedication took place in January, 2006.

After more than seven years as our pastor and spiritual leader, Pastor Kelling accepted a call to St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Wisconsin, and preached his farewell sermon at St. Paul’s on Sunday, May 18, 2008.

Rev. Eberhard Klatt, a member of St. Paul’s, agreed to serve as our vacancy pastor until such time as a new pastor is installed.

We again turned to our Lord in prayer for guidance while we searched for our next  pastor.  Our prayers were answered when Reverend David B. Paape accepted our call and was installed on Sunday, December 7, 2008 as the fourth resident pastor of St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Brown Deer, Wisconsin.

 May the Word and Sacrament administered here enrich and strengthen us for joyous lives of faith and service in the years to come..