Belle Plaine church to celebrate centennial

BELLE PLAINE — Belle Plaine’s First Lutheran Church will celebrate its centennial anniversary Sunday, July 27 with a special worship service and catered meal, both open to the public.

  Buy Photo

Participating in the 10:15 a.m. service along with Rev. Dean Duncan will be former First Lutheran pastors Rev. Dr. Richard Osslund, Rev. L. Daniel Johnson and Rev. Alan Wollenburg.

The First Evangelical Lutheran Church was officially organized July 26, 1925 as a mission congregation.

Attempts by pastors of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Luzerne, to establish a congregation in Belle Plaine were unsuccessful until 1924, when 10 people met for a service held in a home. The congregation later worshiped at the Driscoll Chapel, and in 1928 dedicated its new location on Eighth Avenue, the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church which it had purchased and remodeled.

The congregation worshiped there until the current church building on Sunset Drive was dedicated May 7, 1967. A parsonage was built next to the church in 1971.

A 7,000 square-foot addition housing a Family Life Center gymnasium, gathering room, youth and adult choir rooms, restrooms, storage area and outdoor patio was dedicated in 2002.

The First Lutheran Preschool, later Kids Kingdom Preschool, operated from 2003 until 2024.

Pastors who served the congregation during the last 50 years were Richard Osslund, 1971-1983; L. Daniel Johnson, 1984 — 1992; Mike Maddick, 1992- 1995 (deceased); A. J. Wollenburg, 1995-2000 and Dean Duncan, who has been the pastor since 2001.

The congregation welcomes the public to join them for the celebration. Anyone wishing to attend the meal must RSVP no later than Thursday, July 10. Call the church office at 319-444-2849 or email firstlutheranchurch1925@gmail.com to make a dinner reservation.