In the late 1930's and early 1940's, when thoughts of war encompassed most of the world, the work of the Lord was being carried on in a rapidly growing community in the Fox River Valley of Wisconsin. Trinity congregation of Neenah, WI., had been greatly blessed by this growth and thus it became evident to the pastors and members of the congregation, that, in order to best serve the needs of its members as well as the growing community; they would need to look at opening other congregations in the area. In 1941, Martin Luther Congregation was founded on the west side of Neenah and discussions to begin a mission on the south side were initiated. In the fall of 1947 these plans came to fruition as both Trinity Congregation and the District Mission Board began preliminary plans for this new mission on Neenah's south side.
It was during a meeting on November 17, 1947, that the congregation of Trinity approved the following recommendations:
"That we foster another new mission, this time to the south of Neenah, and ask the District Mission Board to canvass the field and begin services as soon as a nucleus for a new congregation has been found, and that a school be opened by the mission as soon as possible."
"That we encourage our members to affiliate themselves with both the south and the west side missions, should they live in these areas, but not to draw lines and tell anyone where to go."
On April 4, 1947, the "South Side Mission" held it's first service in the Neenah Recreation Building on Park Avenue. Thus the plans of Trinity Lutheran Church and Pastor Schaefer became a reality. Sunday, May 23, 1948, saw the official organization of Grace Congregation. A call was sent to Pastor W. Wichman of St. Paul Lutheran of North Fond du Lac. Also on this day, Grace Congregation voted to purchase ten lots at the corner of Cecil and Birch Streets for the price of $4,500. Shortly thereafter, working through the Synod Church Extension Fund, the parsonage at 507 Oak Street was purchased for $10,500.
Pastor Wichman accepted the Call sent by Grace and on July 25, 1948, was installed as it's first permanent pastor.
A mission congregation without a permanent home, though the present quarters were adequate, possessed a homeless atmosphere. In order to obtain it's own house of worship, in October of 1948, a planning committee consisting of Armin Gerhardt, Carl Williams, the pastor, and G.K. Kalfahs was named. Armin Gerhardt was later chosen to be the superintendent of the building committee.
After much consideration was given to various types of building and materials, the work of drawing up the plans and specifications necessary for approval by the State Industrial Commission was given to Al Harmon of the Durham Lumber Company. The architectural design was done by Peter Giovanni of Neenah, who without cost, provided the Planning Committee with a sketch, according to which the chapel was later built.
Excavation began on June 30th of 1949. Mason work was done by DKeyser and Rasmussen, Inc., the plumbing by Evans Plumbing and Heating Co., and the heating system by August Winter and Sons Company. When it became obvious that not all the carpenters work could be done by members of the congregation, Herbert Porath was hired as the builder to complete the project.
On December 11, 1949, at a total building cost of $20,269, Grace Lutheran Chapel was dedicated to the Glory of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Pastors for dedication services were Walter Pankow of New London, W.O. Pless of Fond du Lac, and Pastor Kuehl of Mandan, North Dakota.
In December of 1957, Pastor Wichmann accepted a Call to Grand Island, Nebraska. On July 13, 1958, Pastor James Berger was installed as the second pastor of Grace.
In answer to the crowded conditions at Trinity School, and in order to provide a Christian education for it's youth, Grace joined with Martin Luther Church in the joint operation of a school. April 14, 1959, saw Miss Verlaine Krueger accepting the call as our first teacher.
January 26, 1959, was set aside for the dedication of a new parsonage for Grace. March 24, 1959, was indeed a happy day as the people of Grace witnessed the burning of the church mortgage. So it was that Grace Congregation officially became self-supporting as of February 1, 1960.
Mindful of the fact that Christian education is a priceless heritage which no man can take away, 1960, saw the establishment of several committees whose goal it was to develop financing and initiate construction of a Christian Day School for Grace Congregation. In July of 1961, the congregation voted to build a three classroom school with an all purpose room, bathrooms and school office. Bids were met in January, 1962, and contracts were awarded in February. Ground breaking ceremonies took place on March 18, 1962. On September 2, 1962, members of Grace were privileged to dedicate their school building to the honor and glory of God. The addition of a school provided the space needed to carry out various congregational activities and permitted the chapel to be used only as a house of worship.
In March of 1963, Pastor Berger accepted a call to Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa. Two months later, on May 19, Pastor Alvin Kienetz was installed as Grace's third pastor.
On May 20, 1973, Grace was privileged to celebrate it's 25th Anniversary.
March 14, 1976, saw another milestone in the history of the congregation as members gathered to witness the burning of the mortgage on their school.
Pastor Kienetz took a Call to Ascension in Rochester, MN., in June of 1977. A call was issued to Pastor Richard Shimek and he was installed on August 7, 1977. In 1982 he resigned from the ministry to pursue another career. Pastor Richard Frost was installed as pastor on July 25, 1982, and is the current pastor of Grace.
The past fifteen years have seen a great deal of change for the members of Grace. Growth in the area of Cecil and Birch Street area was stymied and indications were that growth patterns would be to the west of Hwy 41. As a result it was felt that if Grace were to continue to grow it would have to look at re-establishing itself in the new growth area. On November 17, 1983, a meeting was held with the District Mission Board regarding the Synod's help in relocating Grace to the west side of Hwy 41.
Due to declining enrollments, 1984 saw the closing of our Christian Day School. It also saw the purchase of the property at 1390 Breezewood Lane, the side of our present parsonage and church; the establishment of a Building Committee; and efforts directed at the sale of the original chapel and school.
A decision was made to begin a funding drive for a new church building and twelve cottage meetings were held to obtain member input for the new building as well as begin a drive to obtain funds for the new church. On September 14, 1986, the old church property was sold for the use as a day care center. From December, 1986, until the completion of the new House of Worship, services, Sunday School, and Bible Study were held at Neenah High School in Conant Auditorium.
The congregation approved the plans for a new church on September 13. 1987. A decision to build on the back half of Breezewood property, as well as approval for the exterior and interior designs of the church was given. On January 31, 1988, a building cost of $475,000 was approved with the fund raising goal of $80,000 being set. Bids were sent out in July of 1988 with ground breaking ceremonies set for July 31, 1988. Bids for general construction, plumbing, heating, and electrical work were accepted on August 28, 1988. Church construction began on October 3 and the new church was dedicated on June 11,
1989.
Here is where more research needs to be done, to continue where this has left off. More information will be found about the last 19 years and added soon.