1940-63
Missouri and Wisconsin-Synod Lutheran students attending "Oshkosh
State College" alternately meet at Martin Luther and Bethlehem
Congregations for fellowship. Pastors Herold Kleinhans and Paul
Lueders are assisted by Adolf Froehlke and later Dr. Roger Dennis,
laymen from Martin Luther Congregation. The group is affiliated with
the national Lutheran student organization Gamma Delta in 1956. Two
years later the group hosts a fall regional convention attended by 180
students from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
For many years Martin Luther Congregation hosts an annual dinner for
students in fall. (Note: At this time Bethlehem is affiliated with
the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; today it is a member of WELS.)
1963-1981
Lutheran Collegians, a national WELS student organization, organizes
as the Synodical Conference dissolves. Oshkosh is a charter chapter.
Other active groups include Mankato, Minn., Evanston, Ill., and the
large campuses in Wisconsin. Annual conventions are held on campuses
throughout the Midwest.
1966-1970
Martin Luther Congregation calls vicars (seminary student interns) to
assist Pastor Herold Kleinhans. Their duties include work with the
Lutheran Collegians.
Fred Fedke 1966-1967
Kenneth Edenhauser 1967-1968
Terry Deters 1968-1969
Roy Rose 1969-1970
1969
Pastor Marvin Radtke and Oshkosh resident Eugene Schroeder, both
members of the Northern Wisconsin District Mission Board, spearhead
efforts to acquire a student center for the Oshkosh students. When
funding is approved their first choice is the "20th Century Club," on
the northeast corner of Algoma Boulevard and Wisconsin Street -- today
it is a student apartment building. When that purchase falls through,
the Mission Board acquires the original Chapel, which was built as a
private residence in 1886(?). It is called "Wisconsin Lutheran Campus
House." (At this time the university is known as Wisconsin State
University - Oshkosh.") It initially is purchased as a meeting place
for Lutheran Collegians, but soon takes on a new role as a campus
church.
1969-1977
The ministry is served in a variety of ways by these individuals:
1969-1970
Vicars Roy Rose (Martin Luther Congregation)* and Bob Diener (Grace)*
1970-1971
Vicar Douglas Engelbrecht, called specifically to the campus ministry*
1971-1975
Pastor Robert Christman, who also served Faith Congregation
1975-1977
Pastor Daniel Habeck, Martin Luther Congregation, as a "vacancy
pastor"
1976-1977
Vicar Mark Porinsky, assisting Pastor Habeck
* - supervised by Pastor John Ruege, Sr., then at Faith and
Immanuel Congregations
None of these arrangements proves successful, although the work that
is done does demonstrate excellent potential.
1977
Pastor Bob Diener, North Branch, Mich., accepts the District Mission
Board's call to return to Oshkosh and the ministry. He also is called
as an institutional chaplain, to serve the patients at Winnebago
Mental Health Institute. (Although people joke that the two
essentially are the same job, the reality is they are radically
different from each other, and the dual call proves unworkable.
Pastor Elwood Habermann ultimately is called as a fulltime
institutional chaplain, and in 1980 Pastor Diener begins to focus
exclusively on student work.) A new parsonage at 2260 Ontario St. is
purchased.
1979
The Chapel assumes production of Handout, later named Lightsource, the
WELS national periodical for college students. Pastor Diener serves
as its editor for eleven of its first twelve volumes, from December,
1979, through June, 1990. Harv Miller of Miller Printing Company ably
assists in the production of Lightsource and many other campus
ministry print media. The 10th anniversary of the Chapel's dedication
is marked on November 11.
1980
Administration of the WELS campus ministry program is shifted to its
Board for Home Missions and a new Campus Ministry Committee. Pastor
Diener is a member of this new committee. In the fall of 1980 the
local administrative board began studying the future facilities needs
for the ministry.
1981
The Chapel's first Travel-Canvass-Witness team goes to Orange Park,
Florida, during the January semester break. Since that time our teams
have participated in 31 projects for 25 churches in 9 states. For the
first four years the team uses a 28' motor home owned by Del Kollmann,
a member of Faith Congregation. In spring we host the second WELS
national college-student rally, "A New Song," attended by 160 college
students from across the nation. In fall the Chapel enters the
computer age, thanks in large measure to the efforts of Dr. Henry
Winterfeldt.
1982
Our annual Lenten outreach program begins, focusing on the midweek
service; Mary Dorn Lippert writes the "theme song" for the series.
These materials are sold and used nationwide. The name of the
ministry is changed to "Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel and Student Center"
to better reflect the purpose of our ministry and the building itself.
(The other Lutheran ministry in Oshkosh further confuses matters by
renaming itself "Campus Ministry House.")
1983
In spring UW-O and Chapel alum Nancy Oelke returns to campus to talk
about her work in the WELS' Central African Medical mission. The 640
Wisconsin St. house is purchased for future expansion. The rooms are
rented to students until the building is demolished in 1988.
1984
In 1984 the Chapel Council's first formal request for new facilities
is made. At that time it is thought the entire facility will be
demolished and a new building erected on the current site. In the
meantime interior walls are removed in the first floor to create a
larger worship area. Bill Krueger, a carpenter at the university and
a member of Bethlehem Congregation, builds a new altar, lectern cross
and font to be used in the new Chapel. (Later he adds the pulpit and
credenzas.) The largest TCW team ever -- 24 students -- sets out for
a week of work for 4 congregations in Texas and New Mexico. The
Chapel Choir sings for services at Waupun
Correctional Institution -- an unforgettable experience!
1985
In fall we coordinate a huge tailgate party at a Brewers game,
attended by WELS students from across the state. "Christian
Perspectives," our on-campus speakers series, begins with two lectures
by seminary professors David Kuske and John Brug. The house at 512
Amherst Ave. is purchased. It is rented to students until it is razed
in 1987.
1986
A Chapel Council committee begins what is hoped to be the final
planning for a new Chapel. The Campus Ministry Committee approves a
new computer system to keep track of college students while at school.
Dr. Henry Winterfeldt, student Nancy Hackmann and Pastor Diener
develop the system and spend many long hours getting it up and
running. The Chapel discovers a good source of revenue in marketing
our Lenten series and other print media.
1987
We host the national rally, "RESCUE: Reinforcing Students' Concern to
Undertake Evangelism." The 512 Amherst Ave. house is demolished. The
new, larger parsonage at 1150 West 18th Ave. is purchased and
dedicated. Work also continues on planning for the new Chapel.
Northwestern Publishing House publishes Pastor Diener's The Basics of
Christianity course.
1988
The Chapel becomes the national headquarters for the student file.
While it is headquartered in Oshkosh the file secretaries include
Jenny Rothe, Earline Sickinger, Pam Miller, Lisa Diener, Chris Enter,
and Diane Schmudlach. The 640 Wisconsin Street house is demolished.
Plans are finalized for an expansion and renovation of the Chapel,
with groundbreaking tentatively set for November 20. "Celebrate," a
concert of Lutheran high vocal and instrumental groups, is held at the
Grand Opera House.
1989
Construction of the new Chapel occupied all of our time in 1989.
Student volunteers -- especially Kris and Kim Roeseler, Brian and
Randy Frey, Becky Ninmer and Bradley Loose -- spend literally hundreds
of hours painting, staining, cleaning and doing landscaping. AAL
branch 6 (Grace Congregation) provides funds and manpower to install
the parking-lot hedge, and Grace's banner committee provides a
beautiful banner for our dedication. A combined attendance of 300 at
the two dedication services makes for a memorable day. The ministry
is now known as "University Lutheran Chapel."
1990
The 1990 TCW team includes our first work in Spanish, as a team of 4
students canvass for the Hispanic mission in Miami, Florida. The
first of our annual pizza parties for participants in the WISAA State
Wrestling
Tournament is held. It proves to be an excellent way to introduce
high school students to the WELS campus ministry program. The year
saw 4 adult confirmations, one adult and one infant baptism.
1991
The Chapel sponsors a tour of Lutheran High schools by singer and
composer Phil Bluthardt, a member of Pastor Diener's former parish in
Michigan. A chapel alumnus and his wife donate a Kurzweil digital
piano to the Chapel. Oshkosh's famous "Cameron Oak," located directly
across the street from the Chapel, collapses during a freak windstorm.
Cheryl Gruse is hired to be the Chapel's first secretary. Malachi, a
Milwaukee area Christian rock band, appears on campus as part of our
outreach efforts.
1992
Family and individual therapist Joe Sargent, who works for Wisconsin
Lutheran Child and Family Service, begins holding regular office hours
at the Chapel. The Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors (OWLS) holds
a hostel at the Chapel following their national convention in July.
The Chapel multi-purpose room is repainted and new furniture is
installed -- a much appreciated improvement. The new look and cable
TV make the room a popular place for study and socializing.
1993
The Chapel hosts its third national campus rally in 13 years. "Real
Time" exposes students to opportunities to share their faith on campus
and in their future careers. The Saturday-night banquet at Grace
Congregation's new gymnasium and the inspiring closing service will
live long in our memories. Pastor Diener accepts appointment to the
board of directors of Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service.
Students take a fall bike ride on the beautiful Sparta-Elroy trail.
1994
The Chapel's students and pastor assist Pastor Jim Schumann and the
members of Faith Congregation in Fond du Lac in beginning student work
there. Others join in working to improve campus ministries throughout
the Northern Wisconsin District, with Appleton as the next targeted
area. The Campus Ministry Committee approves $45,000 for a major
renovation of the old part of the Chapel complex. A study is made of
the feasibility of adding a caretaker's apartment to the second floor
of the old part of the Chapel complex.
If anyone has extra information on the
history of the WELS University Lutheran Chapel please send it to the
web manager listed below.
webmaster: Scott Stratil
last updated: October
30, 2003
rcracer77@hotmail.com
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