History of Immanuel
1932 - Under the guidance of Rev. Otto Lossner of Trinity Lutheran Church in Creston, IA, a few families began a mission congregation in Osceola. They met for worship services every other Sunday afternoon at 2:30, renting the (then) M.P. Church building. A number of these faithful Christians had to travel quite far on poor roads, and in the winter some came early with wood and kindling to start a fire to warm the church for worship.
​​​​
1946 - After 14 years of being a mission congregation, Immanuel Lutheran Church was founded. The name Immanuel ("God With Us," Matthew 1:23) was chosen in recognition that God continues to be truly with us in His Word and Sacraments. The Rev. Edward F. Heinicke led services for 19 adults and their children in the rented East McLane church building.​​
Rev. Edward F. Heinicke
​1948 - Rev. Heinicke accepted a call to Evansdale, Iowa. At this point, Immanuel discontinued being a dual parish with Trinity Creston and called their own resident pastor. Rev. Carl Lilie filled the vacancy, with Rev. Walter Pinnt accepting a call in 1950 to serve as missionary-at-large in the area before finally becoming our first resident pastor in 1952.
​​​
God blessed us richly through these years in many ways. Especially remembered are the fellowship events including family nights, and events for evangelizing and teaching the faith to little ones including Vacation Bible School. We were blessed to plant seeds and water them, yet it was God who gave the growth! (1 Cor. 3:6-9).
​​
1953 - Immanuel purchased a lot (for $1600) to be the future site for our own first church building. In 1954, Rev. Pinnt took a call to Indianola but continued to serve as vacancy pastor until 1955 when Rev. Alan Peck accepted the call to serve our congregation. The new church and parsonage were built in 1956 near Clarke Community Hospital.​​​
Immanuel's first church building
​​​Those years in our first church building, we were served by Revs. Raymond Wiegert (1959-1963), Leland Settgast (1964-1965), and Jack R. Baumgarn (1967-1976). Family nights continued, the Ladies Aid was active, and our Sunday School supported mission work in New Guinea.
1970 - We began a preaching station in Leon (which would later become our daughter/sister congregation Our Savior's Lutheran Church) with Sunday School and worship services held on Sunday evenings.
​
As we approached our 25th anniversary as a congregation, due to our growing size, discussion turned to the possibility of a new church building, which was eventually built in 1973 at our current site: 101 East View Place.​​​
Immanuel's current church building
​​​After he had served our congregation faithfully for nine years through a time of great transition and great joy, Rev. Baumgarn accepted a call to Faith Lutheran Church in Oakville, MO.
Rev. Jack R. Baumgarn
Following Rev. Baumgarn, we were served briefly by a series of pastors including Revs. Rodney R. Loose (1977-1979), Clifford F. Bira (1981-1983), and Gary L. Gustafson (1985-1986).
​​
Rev. Jay R. Wheeler (CTSFW) was installed on Mother's Day of 1987 and went on to serve our congregation faithfully for 34 years (retiring on Mother's Day of 2021). He also served many of those years as vacancy pastor at Our Savior's in Leon.
Rev. Jay R. Wheeler
During Rev. Wheeler's time at Immanuel we were blessed in many ways, not the least of which was the move to begin receiving weekly Communion. We continue to be blessed by Rev. Wheeler who still assists in various ways at Immanuel, especially including leading our Sunday morning adult Bible class.​
​​​​
After Rev. Wheeler's retirement, we were served for one year of vacancy by Rev. Daryl Tompkins. In 2022, we formed a dual parish with Our Savior's in Leon and received Rev. Aaron Wendorff (CTSFW) who serves as our pastor now.​
Rev. Aaron Wendorff
​As we approach our 80th anniversary as Immanuel Lutheran Church, we look back with thanksgiving for how God has been with us through all these years, and how He has raised up for us many godly pastors and laypeople to proclaim and cherish His saving Gospel. And we look forward to His continued ministry among us in the years to come.
​
For more information on the history of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, visit this site. To learn more about our congregation, including what we believe and teach, explore other parts of our website, especially the links below:
​​​​​​
More About Immanuel Lutheran Church...
What is the Gospel?