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St. Luke Parish
Location: 215 E Main, St. Lucas Map Founded: 1855 Current church built: 1914-1915 Parishioners: 244 families Heritage: German Patronal Feast Day: October 18 
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In 1848, when the Winnebago Indians were moved from the Neutral Ground to Minnesota, northeast Iowa was open for settlement. In the fall of that year, on a tip from a French missionary, three German Catholic farmers from Oldenburg, Indiana, made an exploratory trip to the Fort Atkinson area.
They were so impressed that six families prepared to move: George and Louisa Bachel, Anton and Francesca Stathel, Frank Joseph and Mary Ann Gaertner Huber, Jacob and Margaret Spielman Rausch, Andrew and Rachel Meyer, and Joseph and Catherine Spielman. They reached the Fort Atkinson area around May 1. In 1854, when their log church along the Turkey River burned, the settlers decided to build churches closer to their homes. St. Lucas, then called Statheltown, built St. Luke Church in 1855.
In 1870 a new brick church was built on a high point of the town, and Rev. Ulrich Frey became our first resident pastor. The parish school, which had begun with the parish, was taught by lay people until 1876, when Fr. Frey built a large frame school and convent and arranged for the Franciscan Sisters of La Crosse to take over the teaching.
Rev. Francis Boeding was our pastor from 1882 to 1928. He built a frame school in 1905 which was destroyed by fire in 1911. Local craftsmen built a brick school, which now houses a German-American Museum. The present church was built during Fr. Boeding’s term, from 1914-1915.
Rev. Francis Schuh was our pastor from 1928 to 1969. By 1941, Fr. Schuh had established the four-year high school, built a new rectory, a new convent, an addition to the school, and the gymnasium. A high point during his term as pastor was the ordination of three of St. Luke’s own native sons to the priesthood. That ceremony took place in the parish church in 1950. It is almost certainly the influence of strong pastors and hard-working sisters that has given birth to an unusually high number of vocations from the parish: 21 priests and 53 sisters.
Subsequent pastors have furthered the mission of our parish with distinction. Today, the church building is accessible to persons with disabilities, and our parish continues to take pride in its history as we plan for our future.
They were so impressed that six families prepared to move: George and Louisa Bachel, Anton and Francesca Stathel, Frank Joseph and Mary Ann Gaertner Huber, Jacob and Margaret Spielman Rausch, Andrew and Rachel Meyer, and Joseph and Catherine Spielman. They reached the Fort Atkinson area around May 1. In 1854, when their log church along the Turkey River burned, the settlers decided to build churches closer to their homes. St. Lucas, then called Statheltown, built St. Luke Church in 1855.
In 1870 a new brick church was built on a high point of the town, and Rev. Ulrich Frey became our first resident pastor. The parish school, which had begun with the parish, was taught by lay people until 1876, when Fr. Frey built a large frame school and convent and arranged for the Franciscan Sisters of La Crosse to take over the teaching.
Rev. Francis Boeding was our pastor from 1882 to 1928. He built a frame school in 1905 which was destroyed by fire in 1911. Local craftsmen built a brick school, which now houses a German-American Museum. The present church was built during Fr. Boeding’s term, from 1914-1915.
Rev. Francis Schuh was our pastor from 1928 to 1969. By 1941, Fr. Schuh had established the four-year high school, built a new rectory, a new convent, an addition to the school, and the gymnasium. A high point during his term as pastor was the ordination of three of St. Luke’s own native sons to the priesthood. That ceremony took place in the parish church in 1950. It is almost certainly the influence of strong pastors and hard-working sisters that has given birth to an unusually high number of vocations from the parish: 21 priests and 53 sisters.
Subsequent pastors have furthered the mission of our parish with distinction. Today, the church building is accessible to persons with disabilities, and our parish continues to take pride in its history as we plan for our future.
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Additional history on St. Luke Parish - Document 1, Document 2
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Cemetary Records - St. Luke: St. Lucas |
Christ Our Hope Cluster Office: 110 Commercial Ave, PO Box 205, Protivin, IA 52163, 563-569-8259