1940-1950 Pastor Harold Stoeffel, Member of English Lutheran Church of La Crosse, and official of the Northwest Synod (ULCA) explore possibilities of a new mission in South La Crosse. 1954 June - Synodical Mission Developer, Rev. Dwight Shelhart arrives to start his 19th mission. October 12 – First worship service held in the barracks at 2223 Ward Ave. November 14 – Ground breaking for a house chapel at 3124 South 27th St. 1955 – 1965 1955 March 6 – First service held in house chapel. March 20 – Organization Day, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church comes formally into being with 239 baptized members. April 24 – Call extended to Seminarian J.L. Mattes to become first pastor of the congregation. July 27 – Pastor Mattes is installed by Rev. Wayne Wickoren. September – Senior Choir was formed. 1956 April – Boy Scout Troop 22 organized. 1957 August – Purchased parsonage at 3240 South 26th St. 1958 March – New site purchased for church on Mormon Coulee Road. 1959 March – Architect Carl Schubert & Assoc. employed for church construction drawings. 1960 June 26 – Building contract awarded to Peter Nelson & Assoc. to construct first unit at 2633 Birch St. October 16 – Cornerstone laying with Reverends Dar Vriesman and Donald Sondrol. November – House chapel sold 1961 February 12 – First services in new building with Pastor Stoffel, special guest. Membership exceeds 500. 1962 April – Property purchased from South Lanes. 1964 November – New parsonage built at 2602 Leonard St. 1966 – 1975 1967 May – Ordination of Terry Morehouse. 1968 Membership exceeds 1000. 1969 Men’s Golf League organized. 1972 September – Internship program begins; Seminarian James Sassman. LLM Drive begins. 1973 September – Second intern arrives, Seminarian Dennis Peterson. 1974 September – Third intern arrives, Seminarian Michael Obinger. 1976-1985 1977 November – Handbells purchased. Bell Choir formed. 1978 Parking area purchased. 1979 December – Congregational meeting approved LLM Drive and Church Building Proposal. 1980 January – Kratt, Myers Assoc. hired as architects to design Sanctuary. 1981 July – Fourth intern arrives, Seminarian Mark Chelgren. 1982 January 3 – Ground breaking for new Sanctuary; Mikkelson Construction, Westby, contractor. September – Fifth intern arrives, Luther Mathsen. December 5 – Dedication of new Sanctuary. 1984 All mortgages refinanced with AAL. 1986-1995 1986 Membership exceeds 1500. 1987 June – Dedication of new Rodgers organ. 1988 January – ELCA merger official of LCA, ALC, and AELC. May – Women’s Golf League organized. June – Storage building constructed. 1990 Address changed from 2633 Birch St. to 4141 Mormon Coulee Rd. 1991 December – Pastor Merill O. Herder secured as part-time Visitation Pastor. 1992 June (28th) – Eric Silberschmidt ordained. 1993 February – Pastor Judd W. Larson called as part-time Associate Pastor. June – Purchase of lot for parking. Membership exceeds 2000. 1994 Building plans approved and construction begins for expansion of fellowship hall. 1995 Fellowship Hall construction completed and renamed The Mattes Center. 1997 June 29 – Pastor Mattes’ last day upon retirement. Interim pastor called, Pastor Glenn Leaf. November (2nd) – Cindy Hutson ordained. December 31 – Pastor Herder retires as part-time Visitation Pastor. 1998 May - Roger A. Hjelle called as Senior Pastor. August 15/16 – Pastor Hjelle installed at Good Shepherd. November 29 – Pastor Ken Melby begins as Visitation Pastor. 1999 Rotational Sunday School program implemented. 2000 April – Capital Fund Campaign to reduce indebtedness begun. 2001 May – Pastor Melby retires as Visitation Pastor at Good Shepherd. August 5 – Heather E. Lampert issued a call. September 2 – Pastor Lampert ordained and installed as Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd. 2002 Membership exceeds 2500. 2003 The Capital Campaign reduces the indebtedness by $356,000. 2006 Parking lot paved. Columbarium and Prayer Garden dedicated. Parsonage converted to Christian child care center. 2007 August - Pastor Lampert leaves to accept call in Middleton, WI. November - Mary Bielke begins as Interim Associate Pastor. 2008 April - Meredith McGrath issued a call. June - Pastor McGrath begins. August - Pastor McGrath installed as Associate Pastor of Good Shepherd. |
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