Augustana marks 150th

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On June 9, 1957, the Augustana Lutheran Church community gathered to lay the cornerstone for its current church at 207 N. Kelly St., Hobart, Ind. The church formed as the Swedish Lutheran Church in 1862. | Photo Provided

Anniversary Events

Jan. 29: Foundation Sunday: Service; ethnic potluck,
displays, etc.

Feb. 1: Mayor’s community breakfast

Feb. 2: Foundation Day
worship at old church on
Lillian Street

Feb. 12: Augustana concert

March 4: The Rev. Ronald Deck presents “My Days at Augustana”

April 8: Easter service

May 6: Mark Kloess presents “My Days at Augustana”

May 27: Confirmation Sunday

June 17: Rev. Keith Kriesel, former intern; confirmation anniversary; former pastors’ families attending; reunion potluck

July 15: Rev. Ted Steege,
former intern; Partners’
Sunday and church barbecue

Aug. 12: Rev. Adrianne Meier, former intern; planting of
anniversary tree, potluck

Aug. 18-19: Church booth at the Lakefront Festival

Sept. 16: Rally Sunday;
church worship and picnic at Lakefront Park; dedication of park equipment as church’s gift to the city

Oct. 28: Bishop William Gafkjen

Nov. 11: Rev. Scott Mauch,
son of the congregation;
time capsule opened;
display of items for new
time capsule; entertainment; congregational dinner.

Dec. 16: Santa Lucia service

Dec. 25: Julotta (Christmas dawn) Service, 6:30 a.m.

For more information: Call the church office, 942-3574

Article Extras

Maps

Updated: February 23, 2012 8:03AM

Today’s rapidly changing world includes many mobile jobs and mobile families. One constant locally has been Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

“The church began as the Swedish Lutheran Church in 1862,” said long-time church member and church historian Paula Isolampi. “There have been many locations — members homes and a log cabin, before the first church building was completed in 1873.”

That building on Lillian Street was sold in 1955 and the church met temporarily at Liberty School on Hickey Street before moving to its home at 207 N. Kelly Street in 1958.

Augustana was the first church to be built in Hobart, Isolampi added. It had 52 members when it was established.

“For our part in (the city’s) history, we have been honored by the Hobart Historical Society,” she said. “And we continue to grow — we currently have 850 members.”

Norman and Bernice Johnson are long-time church members.

Norman, 89, has a great memory of his childhood growing up in Hobart in the 1920s. His parents were founding members of the church.

“My dad Albert Johnson was custodian for the church on Lillian Street and I helped when he needed me,” Johnson said. “I remember when the Christmas services were held early in the morning at 6 a.m. I guess people liked an early start. We had to get up at 3 o’clock in the morning to start the (wood) fire that would heat the church.”

The Hobart resident said the church was more than just a religious meeting place.

“Members decided that we needed a Boy Scout Troop and I applied for the position of Scoutmaster. I was told I was too young at age 19,” he said. “But when I became 21, I was appointed leader and worked in that position for 20 years.”

Norma Berg, 95, has also been very active at Augustana as a member of various women’s groups. Her parents Anna and Gust Lindborg were natives of Sweden and joined the church after meeting and marrying in northwest Indiana.

The former school teacher was baptized, confirmed and married in Augustana. She feels there is much more to the church than the obvious.

“I love my church. It’s been a huge, special part of my life,” she said, “It’s also been part of a larger circle of social life for many people.”

Berg remembers when the services changed from Swedish to English when she was a youngster.

“We were glad to see this happen,” she said with a laugh. “We finally could understand what was going on.”

As for the longevity of Augustana Lutheran Church, most people feel it has continued in the community for so long because of the warm, welcoming atmosphere that hasn’t changed over the years, and that there are activities for all ages, with far-reaching benefits.

Case in point: the church’s youth group that goes on a missionary trip each summer.

“Kids are risk-takers and want new experiences,” said current pastor Rev. Charles Strietelmeier. “The church that gives them these new experiences will help them grow and will find them happy to be involved.”

A year-long celebration of the church’s 150th anniversary begins Sunday, Jan. 29, with Foundation Sunday. Activities continue throughout the year, with at least one scheduled per month.

Leaders of Augustana Lutheran Church

The following were born in Sweden

Rev. Andreas Andreen (1862-66)

Rev. Re Sjoblom (1866-69)

Rev. Jonas Petter Nilsson Nyquist (1869-70)

Rev. Anders Challman (1873-75)

Rev. Johan Vibelius

Rev. Peter Johan Sandeen

Rev. Johan Berndt Bennett (originally Bengston)

Rev. Aaron Lindholm

Rev. Oscar Vindician Holmgrain

Rev. Sven Emanuel Rydberg

Rev. George Axel Johnson (1900-04)

Rev. Magnus Johnasson Lonner (1904-06)

Rev. Gustav Lundahl (1908-17)

Rev. Edward Stark (1919-24), born in U. S. A.

Dr. Johan G. Dahlberg (1924-33), born in Sweden

Rev. E. H. (Erik Hjalmar) Karlson (1929-39), born in Sweden

The following were born in the United States

Rev. Wesley A. Samuelson (1940-48)

Rev. Theodore Charles Peterson (1949-51)

Rev. Roy Waldemar Johnson (1952-58)

Rev. Howard William Palm (1958-61)

Rev. Thor Matsen (1962-72)

Rev. Ronald L. Deck (1972-2000)

Rev. Mark Kloess, associate pastor, (1989-92)

Rev. Herbert Berry, interim pastor, (2001-02)

Rev. Charles R. Strietelmeier, 2002