Zion Evangelical Lutheran  Church in Hay Creek

Welcome to our web page on the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The church located at S14150Hay Creek Road, which is about 5 miles Southeast of Augusta or 25 miles Southeast of Eau Claire.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized in the home of Julius Sperber, November 21, 1918 by twenty families.  Two men who helped organize the congregation.  They are Mr. Rudolph Strauch and Mr. Emil Strauch. The late Mr. Theodore Bethke was also one of the early organizers.  Apparently, the new church building was completed the following year, for it it bears the date 1919.

There have been five Pastors installed through the years.
 

Reverend F. Geske	1918-1920
Reverend P. Buck	1921-1944
Reverend P. Jank	1945-1957
Reverend E. Collins	1958-1962
Reverend M. Sasman	1963-present

There are presently 38 communion members.

From the records we learn that the

First to be baptized was Elda Hedwig Bethke, Born December 4, 1918, and baptized in the T. Diamond Valley, Eau Claire County, in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Bethke.  The sponsors were Theodore Bethke and Augusta Sperber.  The Pastor was F.J. Geske.

First to be baptized in the church:  Edward Edwin Steinke, born August 9, 1920 in T. Bridge Creek.  Baptized: September 12, 1920.  Parents:  Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Steinke.  Sponsors:  Freidrich Steinke and Lorene Sperber.

First Confirmation Class (August 17, 1919):  Hedwig Lena Sperber (Parents: Gottlieb and Augusta Sperber), and Lorene Ida Sperber (Parents:  Julius and Ida Sperber)

First Communion to Christ Bethke, January 6, 1919 (F.J. Geske)

First Wedding:  Adolph Arndt (Age 28) and Augusta Sperber (Age 20)  November 17, 1920  (F.J. Geske)

First Funeral:  Emiele Gerth died June 14, 1920; born March 10, 1870 in Provinz, Germany; burial June 17, 1920 (Augusta) age: 50 years, 3 months, 4 days.  Husband: Ernest.  Seven sons and three daughters.
 

Since the church was built in 1919, it has no indoor bathroom facilities.  There is a his and hers outhouse located behind the church.

• Strauch, Bernice.  Personal interview.  October 26, 2000.
• Fiftieth Anniversary Bulletin.  October 26, 1969.