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St. John's Pastor Biographies |
The Lord answered, ' Who then is the
faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants'..." -
Luke 12:42
Pastors who served at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN
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Rev. James Beversdorf contracted as part-time Pastor of Visitation at the February Voter's meeting 2001. Rev. Beversdorf was Called as part-time Pastor to First Lutheran Church in Hanna, Indiana in 2003. His contract at St. John's was discontinued at the November 2003 Voter's meeting. He continued at St. John's until January 31, 2004.
Pastor Ronald A. Brauer was born on March 6, 1953 in Aurora, Illinois, and was baptized on April 19, 1953, with confirmation into the Lutheran faith on March 19, 1967. He graduated from Emmanuel Lutheran School in 1967 and from Aurora East High School in 1971. His undergraduate work was completed at Concordia Teachers College, River Forest in November 1974, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Physical Science.
Pastor Brauer served his Lord as a Lutheran Elementary teacher in schools at Rocky River, Ohio; Gaylord, Minnesota; Fremont, Nebraska; and Rochelle, Illinois. While in Rochelle, he worked ten years as a wastewater laboratory technician for the City of Rochelle and assisted at a funeral home. In June 1998, Pastor Brauer began his studies toward the Master of Divinity Degree at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He completed his vicarage and was ordained at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chariton, Iowa, on July 7, 2002. Other church work experiences included parish organist, choir director, Bible class teacher, VBS superintendent, work with youth, and service on the church council. He served the Iowa District East as a member of the District’s Worship Committee.
Pastor Brauer married his wife Sandra on June 25, 1977 in Aurora, Illinois. They have two children, Michelle who will be a sophomore, and David, who will be entering 7th grade. Pastor Brauer’s hobbies include stamp collecting, post mark collecting, and woodcrafts.
A Call was extended to Rev. Brauer by the St. John's Voter's Assembly on Sunday, June 13, 2004. Rev. Brauer accepted the Call and was installed at St. John's on Sunday, June 27, 2004. He was Called to become Administrative Pastor as of March 2, 2008.
October 25, 1903, a Call is extended to Rev. Paul Eickstaedt. On December 13, 1903, Pastor Paul Eickstaedt was installed as Pastor at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN. Rev. Paul Eickstaedt died on May 29, 1930.
In 1976 Mr. Robert Junkin is assigned to serve as Vicar of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, LaPorte, IN for the school year. Rev. Robert Junkin accepts call as Assistant Pastor in 1977. Rev. Robert Junkin receives call to Portage, IN in 1979.
Rev. Karl Koch contracted as Intentional Interim Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, La Porte, IN as of July 1,2001, so that the congregation could reevaluate it's mission, vision, methods, and structure. His contract was discontinued as Intentional Interim Pastor as of June 30, 2003, after Rev. David Young was called to serve as Administrative Pastor, with installation on July 6, 2003.
Rev. Richard Krenzke, Assistant Professor at VU, becomes Part-time Assistant for St. John's Pastors in 1968.
On July 10, 1867 Rev. G. Kuechle is installed as pastor of St. John's Evangelical German Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN. In 1872 Rev. G. Kuechle is called to Milwaukee, Wi, where he remained until his death.
On April 26, 1901 Rev. George Link, Sr. is called to assist his ailing son at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN
On August 10, 1890, Rev. George Link, Jr. is called as successor to Pastor Niethammer. On April 26, 1901 Rev. George Link, Sr. is called to assist his ailing son at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN. On October 4, 1901 Rev. George Link, Jr. resigns due to bad health.
Rev. James Link Rev. James Link contracted as part-time Pastor of Visitation in December 2000. He accepts a call in January 2001 to Wisconsin to start a Mission church.
Rev. Donald Love accepts call as Associate Pastor of Youth, Singles & Young Adults; he is installed on Sunday, February 14 (Valentine's Day!) He is called to Minnesota in February 1995.
In 1957, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church calls Rev. Edward A. Meyer, son-in-law of Pastor Reinke, called to serve as Assistant Pastor at St. John's. On September 15, 1957 an open house is held to welcome the new Pastor, Rev. Edward Meyer, and his wife. Rev. Edward A. Meyer is called to be Associate Pastor in 1966 and Head Pastor in 1967. He is honored for 20 years in the Ministry & 15 years at St. John's in 1972. In 1982, Rev. Meyer is honored for 30 years in the Ministry & 25 years at St. John's. In 1986, Rev. Meyer announces he will retire at the end of 1987. He retires at the end of December 1987.
In 1971, Rev. Thomas Mroch accepted call as Assistant Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, La Porte, IN, & is installed on June 30. Rev. Thomas Mroch accepted call to Nebraska in 1975.
On February 7, 1873 Rev. Joseph F. Niethammer became pastor of St. John's Evangelical German Lutheran Church, LaPorte, IN. On May 7, 1890, Rev. Joseph F. Niethammer dies.
In August 1931 a Call is extended to Rev. Manfred E. Reinke of Ft. Wayne, which he accepts. October 11, 1931, Rev. Manfred E. Reinke was installed into office as head Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN. In 1958, Rev. Reinke marries Mrs. Helen Wangerin. In 1961, Rev. Manfred E. Reinke is honored for 40 years in the Ministry & 30 years at St. John's. In 1966, Rev. Reinke becomes semi-retired as part-time Pastor of St. John's. Rev. Manfred E. Reinke dies in 1969, and is buried in St. John's cemetary.
Mr. David A. Schoop assigned as Vicar (on a deferred vicarage) to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN in December 1979 under Administrative Pastor Rev. Edward Meyer. In May 1980, Rev. David A. Schoop accepts a call as Assistant Pastor and is ordained at St. John's on June 15. In 1982 Rev. Schoop accepts a call as Co-Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, La Porte. In 1987 the Rev. Schoop accepts a call as Administrative Pastor of St. John's beginning January 1988. He accepts a call to Calvary Lutheran, Sioux City, Iowa and leaves St. John's on March 31, 2001.
Pastor Robert Schroeter hired to assist St. John's part-time in 1970.
On July 19, 1857 was the first organization of St. John's Church as "A Christian Congregation of the Lutheran Confessions." Mr. Frederick Reinhold Tramm, a candidate of Theology, is the chairman of the meeting. On July 26, 1857 Theology Candidate Frederick Reinhold Tramm elected first pastor of St. John's Evangelical German Lutheran church, La Porte, IN. The pastor's salary is $200 per year, and by August 1863 it is raised to $300 due to an increase in membership. In 1867 Rev. Frederick Reinhold Tramm accepts a call to a pastorate in Michigan. In 1892 Rev. Frederick Reinhold Tramm returnes as assistant to Pastor George Link, Jr. On October 26, 1903, Rev. Frederick Reinhold Tramm dies.
Rev. Richard Ungrodt accepts call as Associate Pastor of St. John'c Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN in February 1989 & is installed in June. He requested a peaceful release to pursue CPE studies and a Chaplancy Ministry, which was approved to take effect May 1, 2001.
The Reverend David Mark Young was born on October 25th, 1963 to parents Virginia (nee Fitcher) and the late Richard M. Young, Sr. in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He was baptized into Christ and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood, Pennsylvania.
Upon graduation from Ridley High School in June 1981, Rev. Young attended Colgate University, Hamilton, New York on a football scholarship, where he majored in both Education and Sociology/Anthropology. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate in May 1985. After graduation, he married Kathryn Mary Bell on November 29, 1985, and began his career in insurance brokerage sales and management.
After a successful career in the field, he was led by the Holy Spirit to apply to Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Accepted by CTS, Pastor and Kathy moved to Fort Wayne with their three daughters, Amy Marie (born April 1, 1988), Rachel Virginia (born May 31, 1989), and Hannah Kathryn (born July 11, 1996), and began classes in February 1998. As a seminarian, Pastor Young did his fieldwork at Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, completed his vicarage at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Delaware (November 1999-November 2000) and preached at various churches. He received his Master of Divinity degree and graduated from CTS in May 2001.
He was called to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Eyota, Minnesota as sole Pastor. He was ordained and installed there on June 13, 2001. Rev. Young was Called as Administrative Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in June of 2003. He accepted the call and Rev. David M. Young was installed as Administrative Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church on Sunday, July 6, 2003. In February 2008, Pastor David Young received and accepted a Divine Call to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Blue Belle, Pennsylvania. He was installed at Blue Belle on Sunday, March 2, 2008.
