Our History
Christ Lutheran Church began in early 1963 as a mission congregation of the American Lutheran Church. Early in 1962 Mrs. Best, Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Dombrow had met with Pastor Lawrence Siersbeck of St. Mary’s Lutheran Church in Kenosha to discuss the feasibility of establishing a church in the Salem area. Shortly thereafter, ten acres of land was purchased from the Effie Hartnell farm. Mr. John Holland of Deerfield, Illinois was hired as architect, and the bid of Mr. Charles Yandre of Kenosha was accepted as the contractor. Construction was begun in November 1962.
In December 1962, Pastor Alvin Pinke was called by the ALC to be the congregational organizer. He accepted the call on January 1, 1963 and he and his family moved into the newly completed parsonage. He began the work of formulating a church with the assistance of parish worker Helen Ploege over a three-month period.
On Sunday, April 28, 1963, the first service was held with 316 in attendance. The first Sunday school session was held on Sunday, May 5, 1963 with 90 children and 20 adults in attendance. An adult confirmation class was held on May 12.
A meeting was held on June 11th at the church with Rev. Myron Lindblom to determine how a congregation should be organized. On June 19, 1963, forty-three people met with District President Myron C. Austinson. This group voted to be named Christ Lutheran Church, to accept the constitution, to elect a nine-member council, to join the Southern Wisconsin district of the American Lutheran Church, to approve the ALC mission agreement, and to call Alvin Pinke as the resident pastor.
The first formal reception of members was on July 21 with 143 people received, of which 75 were confirmed members. The first Holy Communion service was July 28. The first marriage service was that of William Mapes and Carla Dankert, August 24.
On September 15, 1963, the church building and parsonage were dedicated. Among the speakers were Rev. Herbert Hanson, executive assistant to the district president, Dr. Lawrence Siersbeck, and Mr. J. C. Johnson of Eau Claire.
In 1965 the American Lutheran Church established our sister mission congregation, Messiah in Twin Lakes. At this time, some of our members who lived near Twin Lakes transferred their memberships to the new church, but many of them continued close ties of friendship. Throughout the ensuing years, the two congregations have labored together to spread the gospel and do the work of God.
Pastor Pinke continued to serve here until December 1968 when he left to accept another call. On March 25, 1968, Judge Chester H. Christensen, an ALC licensed lay leader from Janesville, began an interim pastorate here. On December 22, 1968, Pastor Louis G. Von Trott was installed and served until June of 1970. Pastor Lawrence Siersbeck of St. Mary’s Kenosha filled the interim position until January 10, 1971 when Pastor Philip A. Borleske became pastor.
The congregation continued to grow and develop in its work. On September 21, 1975, Christ Lutheran joyfully celebrated its transition from subsidized mission to self-support status. This step was made possible by a Retooling Grant from the ALC Mission Board and by many generous donations, including one special gift from Norway Lutheran Church in Wind Lake. We were pleased later to pass on these funds to another local mission congregation to assist them in becoming self-supporting. On October 3, 1976, ground was broken for church building additions, and on March 27, 1977 the narthex and classrooms were dedicated.
In November of 1978 Pastor Borleske left to accept a call in Janesville. Pastor Henry Krikau was the interim Pastor until Rev. Wayne Landgrebe was installed as pastor in June 1979. Henry Krikau again served as interim pastor from September 1980 until January 1981 when Pastors Linda and Loren Schumacher began their shared pastorate at Christ Lutheran Church.
In May 1981, cushioned wooden pews were purchased with memorial funds to replace the metal folding chairs used in the sanctuary. These pews were dedicated in August 1981. In August 1987, Pastor Kermit Solem accepted the call to be pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. Together with his wife Bonnie and three children, they became part of a significant period in the history of Christ Lutheran Church.
During that period of time, some exploration of other uses for land was done but nothing materialized. A more important adventure lay ahead for Christ Lutheran Church, a much-needed addition for worship and Sunday church school space.
A Capital Fund Drive was successfully completed and groundbreaking was held in June of 1992. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Kermit and Bonnie Solem and family left Christ Lutheran Church to become missionaries in the country of Cameroon for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
While the building program was in process, Pastor Dean C. Marin and his wife Marie came to Christ Lutheran Church in November of 1992. In January 1993, the first worship service was held in the new sanctuary. Pastor Marin served the congregation until June 2000 before leaving to go into semi-retirement.
From July 2000 through February 2001, the Reverend Carol J. Hegland served as interim pastor for the congregation. Pastor Cindy Aasen was called to serve as temporary pastor from March 2001 until July 2001. The Reverend Eric Silberschmidt accepted the call to be pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in May 2001 and was installed during worship services on July 22, 2001. Pastor Eric Silberschmidt left July 1, 2021. On October 1, 2021 the Reverend Grant Quever served as Interim Pastor through August 2023. Reverend Jane Fryda is serving as Bridge Pastor since January 2024.
Our ministry at Christ Lutheran Church has greatly expanded and the gospel is being proclaimed in many ways. Our history has been one of many blessings. The future holds many opportunities for our church and area. With the strong faith in our Lord Jesus the Christ and people committed to his mission, Christ Lutheran Church will continue as a people in ministry of the gospel.
In December 1962, Pastor Alvin Pinke was called by the ALC to be the congregational organizer. He accepted the call on January 1, 1963 and he and his family moved into the newly completed parsonage. He began the work of formulating a church with the assistance of parish worker Helen Ploege over a three-month period.
On Sunday, April 28, 1963, the first service was held with 316 in attendance. The first Sunday school session was held on Sunday, May 5, 1963 with 90 children and 20 adults in attendance. An adult confirmation class was held on May 12.
A meeting was held on June 11th at the church with Rev. Myron Lindblom to determine how a congregation should be organized. On June 19, 1963, forty-three people met with District President Myron C. Austinson. This group voted to be named Christ Lutheran Church, to accept the constitution, to elect a nine-member council, to join the Southern Wisconsin district of the American Lutheran Church, to approve the ALC mission agreement, and to call Alvin Pinke as the resident pastor.
The first formal reception of members was on July 21 with 143 people received, of which 75 were confirmed members. The first Holy Communion service was July 28. The first marriage service was that of William Mapes and Carla Dankert, August 24.
On September 15, 1963, the church building and parsonage were dedicated. Among the speakers were Rev. Herbert Hanson, executive assistant to the district president, Dr. Lawrence Siersbeck, and Mr. J. C. Johnson of Eau Claire.
In 1965 the American Lutheran Church established our sister mission congregation, Messiah in Twin Lakes. At this time, some of our members who lived near Twin Lakes transferred their memberships to the new church, but many of them continued close ties of friendship. Throughout the ensuing years, the two congregations have labored together to spread the gospel and do the work of God.
Pastor Pinke continued to serve here until December 1968 when he left to accept another call. On March 25, 1968, Judge Chester H. Christensen, an ALC licensed lay leader from Janesville, began an interim pastorate here. On December 22, 1968, Pastor Louis G. Von Trott was installed and served until June of 1970. Pastor Lawrence Siersbeck of St. Mary’s Kenosha filled the interim position until January 10, 1971 when Pastor Philip A. Borleske became pastor.
The congregation continued to grow and develop in its work. On September 21, 1975, Christ Lutheran joyfully celebrated its transition from subsidized mission to self-support status. This step was made possible by a Retooling Grant from the ALC Mission Board and by many generous donations, including one special gift from Norway Lutheran Church in Wind Lake. We were pleased later to pass on these funds to another local mission congregation to assist them in becoming self-supporting. On October 3, 1976, ground was broken for church building additions, and on March 27, 1977 the narthex and classrooms were dedicated.
In November of 1978 Pastor Borleske left to accept a call in Janesville. Pastor Henry Krikau was the interim Pastor until Rev. Wayne Landgrebe was installed as pastor in June 1979. Henry Krikau again served as interim pastor from September 1980 until January 1981 when Pastors Linda and Loren Schumacher began their shared pastorate at Christ Lutheran Church.
In May 1981, cushioned wooden pews were purchased with memorial funds to replace the metal folding chairs used in the sanctuary. These pews were dedicated in August 1981. In August 1987, Pastor Kermit Solem accepted the call to be pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. Together with his wife Bonnie and three children, they became part of a significant period in the history of Christ Lutheran Church.
During that period of time, some exploration of other uses for land was done but nothing materialized. A more important adventure lay ahead for Christ Lutheran Church, a much-needed addition for worship and Sunday church school space.
A Capital Fund Drive was successfully completed and groundbreaking was held in June of 1992. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Kermit and Bonnie Solem and family left Christ Lutheran Church to become missionaries in the country of Cameroon for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
While the building program was in process, Pastor Dean C. Marin and his wife Marie came to Christ Lutheran Church in November of 1992. In January 1993, the first worship service was held in the new sanctuary. Pastor Marin served the congregation until June 2000 before leaving to go into semi-retirement.
From July 2000 through February 2001, the Reverend Carol J. Hegland served as interim pastor for the congregation. Pastor Cindy Aasen was called to serve as temporary pastor from March 2001 until July 2001. The Reverend Eric Silberschmidt accepted the call to be pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in May 2001 and was installed during worship services on July 22, 2001. Pastor Eric Silberschmidt left July 1, 2021. On October 1, 2021 the Reverend Grant Quever served as Interim Pastor through August 2023. Reverend Jane Fryda is serving as Bridge Pastor since January 2024.
Our ministry at Christ Lutheran Church has greatly expanded and the gospel is being proclaimed in many ways. Our history has been one of many blessings. The future holds many opportunities for our church and area. With the strong faith in our Lord Jesus the Christ and people committed to his mission, Christ Lutheran Church will continue as a people in ministry of the gospel.