History of Trinity

A Brief History of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, Iowa

50th Anniversary Booklet (View Online) (PDF)

75th Anniversary Booklet (View Online) (PDF)

This page is under construction please send comments and suggestions to history@TrinityCreston.org

(watch for pictures of all Trinity's previous pastors, coming soon!)

(updated June 8, 2012)

1923

The Rev. F. Starke

July - Services held in the home of Otto Gaidies, 405 South Division.

1925

The Rev. Otto Lossner (1925-1938) - First Pastor

November - Pastor Lossner installed as mission pastor.

1928

January 3 - Received as a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States.

July 8 - Dedication of Church Building - Purchased / Moved to Broad Street

October 17 - Formal organization of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States.

1938

The Rev. Arnold Bertram (1938-1940)

1941

The Rev. W. E. Wagner (1941)

1942

The Rev. Wilbur H. Becker (1942-1944)

1945

The Rev. Edward Heinicke (1945-1948)

1948

First Parsonage

1949

The Rev. Marvin Matzke (1949-1954)

1952

March 29 - Church on Broad Street Destroyed by Fire

1954

March 28 - Church building dedicated - 800 N Sumner Ave

1955

The Rev. Norman Laesch (1955-1957)

1958

The Rev. Donald F. Ginkel (1958-1965)

Parsonage Built

1961

December 3 - Office, Narthex, Classroom Addition to Church Dedicated

1965

The Rev. Paul A. Faga (1965-1973)

1968

Trinity Becomes Self-Supporting (District Mission Subsidy Ends)

1974

The Rev. Henry Stoll (1974-1976)

1976

The Rev. Larry D. Troxel (1976-1982)

1978

June 18 - Celebration of 50th Anniversary - 50th Anniversary Booklet (PDF)

1982

The Rev. Glen D. Meyer (1982-1996)

1986

September - Trinity Lutheran Preschool is started as a mission for the children in the area.

1990

September 3 - Fellowship Hall Dedicated

1996

The Rev. David M. McKnight (1996-1999)

2000

The Rev. David Rubke (2000-2005)

2003

October - 75th Anniversary Celebration - 75th Anniversary Booklet (View Online) (PDF)

Summer - Outdoor Worship Center Built

2008

The Rev. Jonathan C. Watt (2008-2016)

September 7 - Installation, Rev. Jonathan C. Watt

Pastors attending: Jay Wheeler, Jerry Wagoner, Don Craig, Ray Smith, Larry Boye, John Schauer, Nathan Dudley and Bill Sabol

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2012

Electronic church sign was installed in Creston.

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2014

January 12, 2014-Closing service for First Lutheran Church in Mt. Ayr. They officially joined with Trinity to become one congregation with preaching stations in Creston and Mt. Ayr.

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2016

The Rev. John B Rutz (Installed September 11, 2016)

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2017

Spring- A set of three steel outdoor crosses was placed in front of the church in Creston.

A new outdoor nativity set was purchased and used for the first time.

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2018

In 2018, Trinity celebrated 90 years as a congregation. On November 18, 2019 a special 90th Anniversary Service was held followed by a dinner.

Several of Trinity's former pastors were able to attend and participate in the service along with a couple of sons of the congregation, who are now pastors. Those who were able to attend were Rev. Larry Troxel, Rev. Glenn Meyer, Rev. Donald Ginkel, former pastors at Trinity, and Rev. Michael Breach and Rev. Martin Herzberg, sons of the congregation. A 90th Anniversary quilt (pictured below) was made by Jean Kruse, Sue Larsen, and Joyce Kruse. Each diamond shape represented a piece of Trinity's history. Guest, Craig Kruse, nephew of Warren and Jean Kruse, provided special music for the day. Thanks be to God for 90 years of blessings!

L-R Rev. John Rutz (current pastor at Trinity), Rev. Michael Breach (son of the congregation, currently serving in Wheaton, MN), Rev. Larry Troxel (pastor at Trinity from 1976-1982), Rev. Martin Herzberg (son of the congregation, currently serving in Lahoma, OK), Rev. Donald Ginkel (pastor at Trinity from 1958-1965), and Rev. Glenn Meyer (pastor at Trinity from 1982-1996).