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Our Story

ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN, WHITE LAKE- 1917-1967

Main figures in our early history

  • August Buettner and family of Shawano moved into the area in 1911 to log a landing camp for the railroads.
  • In 1911 Karl Arnt family, from Milwaukee, moved in and built a home on the Wolf River just north of Langlade.
  • In 1912, the Charles Lambacher family, from Chicago, moved in and later built a small log cabin in what is now the south village limits of White Lake.
  • In July 1916, Yawkey-Bissell Lumber Company began a large saw mill and homes for workers at White Lake.
  • The Julius Dehorns arrived in White lake in August 1916.
  • The John Bargholdt family arrived in November.
  • Hans DeHorn family, Julius Neuman and others arrived in January 1917.

August Buettner's Pastor, Rev. Selle, encouraged him to make a survey of the White Lake Area for the purpose of gathering families for worship services. The first service was held June 7, 1915 at the Buettner home and was also attended by the Arndt and Lambacher families. Later the services would be held at the town hall. This building later became a cheese factory and the structure still stands today.

In other events, a sawmill in Parrish closed down in 1915 and many members of Rev. Engelbrecht's parish moved to White Lake. Apparently he informed Rev. C.D. Griese of Polar of this. Rev. Griese and Mr. Holmes, also of Polar, visited some of the families on December 26, 1916. This included the Hans DeHorn family.

Student William Lohman was sent to White Lake in August 1916. He stayed in the Buettner home and conducted services in the Bargholdt, and possibly other homes until June 1917. From then until August 1918 they were served by Rev. Selle, Rev. Stuth, of Shawano and student Hilpert of Galesburg, WI.

On October 15, 1917, a meeting was held and the congregation was organized. Plans were made to build a house of worship. The property was donated by Mr. W.W. Gamble, then President of the Yawkey-Bissell Lumber Company. A lot of canvassing by Mr. Buettner and student Lohman, mostly on foot, seeking donations to build the church. The building was designed by Martin Kurth of Shawano and built by a carpenter from Gresham.

The church structure was dedicated to the glory of God on December 9,  1918.

Pastors who served St. Matthew

  • 1915- Rev. F.F. Selle
  • 1917- Rev C.D. Griese, Rev. Rudolph Stuth, Rev. William Lohman
  • 1918- Rev. George Kaslowski
  • 1920- Rev Hilpert, Rev, Alfred Ramlow (Unknown date), Rev Edgar Witte (also 1921).
  • 1921- Rev Arthur Oswald
  • 1922- Rev Breihan
  • 1923-1938- Rev Martin K. Zimmerman
  • 1938-1943- Rev. Roland Dede
  • 1944-1949- Rev Henry Simon
  • 1949-1953- Rev. Lothar Tornow
  • 1953-1956- Rev. Lewis Nelson
  • 1956-1957- Rev Richard Baldes
  • 1958- 1963- Rev. P.R. Jank
  • 1963-1968- Rev. Donald Schoewe

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