Church: Abbotsford – Christ Lutheran (New Pastor – 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Loehrke, Wolf, Matthews

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 26 Aug 1971

The Rev. Kenneth L. Loehrke was installed as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church at Abbotsford on August 19, 1971.

Services were conducted on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the church, and a reception for the new pastor followed in the basement.

The Rev. Loehrke assumed duties of his first pastorate since graduation from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, earlier this year.

A native of Mayville, the Rev. Loehrke attended Immanuel Lutheran School. He began preparing for the ministry by attending Concordia High School and Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee. He continued his education at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating with a BA degree.

He then studied the life of Martin Luther while residing in various areas of Germany. He was in Eiscaben, Luther’s birthplace, Eisenach, where Luther went to School, and the Wartburg Castle where Luther worked.

He then returned to the United States to study in the Concordia Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Loehrke served a year as vicar at St. Stephan’s Lutheran Church, Hickory, North Carolina under the Rev. L.A. Wolf. He was married to the former Valerie Matthews August 2, 1969 in Jeuneau.