Dietrich KROEHNKE

Dietrich served as a minister for the German Evangelical Church. He studied privately in the United States with Pastor H. Garlichs. He was ordained in America in 1849. His first service was to a church in Marthasville, Missouri. He also served as an assistant instructor and school superintendent for the church school program. In 1858 he began service in Rock Run, Illinois at St. Pauls Church. Dietrich served as a Vice President for the Northern District of the North American Synod of the German Evangelical Church. An obituary was provided by Eden Archives, that appeared in the church newspaper "DER FRIEDENSBOTE" on 1 September 1882 (p.132) and was as follows: On Friday afternoon, August 4,the members of St.Pauls Protestant Congregation in Rock Run, Illinois assembled, with visitors from Monroe, Freeport and other surrounding communities, to administer the last rites and burial to the beloved father, brother and pastor, D. Kroehnke. Pastor Dietrich Kroehnke, born October 14, 1808 in Drochtersen, Hannover, finally seccumbed on the night of August 2 to stomach disease resulting from his most recent illness, inflation of the abdomen. The Pastor passed away at the age of 73 years,9 months and nineteen days. In his native country, he studied theology and medicine but was unable to complete his studies due to a recurring suffering condition. In 1840 he immigrated to this country, settling in Missouri, first occupying himself with agriculture, and later directing the local and district schools. He continued his theological studies, encouraged by Pastor Garlichs, by studying with the Pastor's help in his home. He was later ordained by the Western Protestant Church to the Holy Priesthood, later becoming a member of the Society which had appointed him in 1849 to an administrative position and assistant teachership in our seminary. In the year 1841, Pastor Kroehnke married Lizet Wahlke, a young widow who brought with her two young daughters from her first marriage. But the happiness soon turned to sorrow; not only did two children from their marriage pass away, but in 1844 their mother died from a mental disorder of which her first husband also died. This time of misery and suffering became a blessing. By through his sorrow, came a belief in the Saviour of sinners. As such he worked until 1858 in our Seminary with great self denial, loyalty diligence and conscientiousness. After another near fatal severe bout with disease, he took the medical advise to move further north. This led him to accept a calling to the St. Pauls Protestant Congregation in Rock Run, Illinois, where he served loyally and diligently. The two daughters, brought into the marriage by the first wife of the late Pastor, stepped into Holy Matrimony in Rock Run; one with P.L.H. Buhrig, and the other with the undersigner. The Pastor then found another wife, the widow Wilhelmine Steinestel, born Miche. Of the two sons she brought into the marriage, one died at the age of twenty years a pupil in our teachers seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. The elder son had the pleasure of caring for his dear stepfather in his illness until the final end. The second marriage was blessed by God with two sons and a daughter. From these three children, two were taken by death. The daughter at age seven, and the son Daniel, who had studied for one year in our seminary, at the age of seventeen. Despite the pain over the loss of the two children, the Pastor and his wife were none the less happy about the earlier ordination to the Holy Priesthood of thier own son Johannes. God allowed the sleeping Pastor accomplish in his final weeks a special but difficult task, but with great pleasure, during the gathering of his sixth Community Conference. The Conference had a Mission Celebration in which the late Pastor so happily took part. With this his work was soon at an end. He spent approximately four weeks in his sick bed suffering with great patience, praising and glorifying the mercy of God. Two days before his death the dying said as he mentioned the highlights of his life, "My glory is as Jesus take the sinners, and my comfort is as he also took me." He preferred a simple eulogy to more elaborate and praising words. So ended a full and long life. The friends and relatives lost to eternal peace a devoted Father, valuable friend and minister, the congregation a caring soul, and the Synod a loyal member. Along with the son of the late Pastor and the undersigner the following ministers were assembled: C. Hoffmeister, Inspector Gobel, Hirtz, Roltting, Hausmann and J. Hoffmeister. In the house Brother Roltting performed the service. The church service at the altar was performed by Brother Hirtz. Brother Hoffmeister then read from John 14,1-5; Haack from Luke 12 and 37 and Inspector Gobel from Revelations 12 and 11. The burial was performed by Brother Hirtz. (The obituary was signed by C.G. Haack) 1850 Missouri Warren County 99th District Roll 642-421 Page 81 D Krochreke 41 School Teacher b. Hannover Germany Oddly, Dietrich’s two step daughters from his marriage to Lisette Holst Walke, Martha 14 and Maria 13 are not living with him, nor nearby. 1860 Illinois Stephenson Rock Run Series M 653 Roll 230 Page 384 D Kroknke 50 Preacher Germany Mina 37 Holland David 11 Missouri Adolph 10 IL John 6/12 Illinois From the 1870 Census Schedule of Illinois, Stephenson County, Rock Run Township, Line 15, Dwelling 322, Family 327: Kroehnke, Rev. D., Age 42, White Male, Minister of the Gospel Value of Real Estate $1200, Value of Personal Property $500. Born in Hannover, parents born in Hannover. , Mina, Age 39, White Female, Keeping House, born in Hannover, parents born Hannover. , John, Age 12, White Male, attending school, born in Illinois. (This must be Johannes Samuel) , David, Age 6, White Male, born Illinois. (This must be Daniel, instead of David, as the only David in the house would be David Steinestel, who was born before 1858 and would be at least 12 or 13 years old.) St. John's United Church of Christ, Monroe Wisconsin A dozen families became constituted as St. John's Church in August 1862. Today there are nearly 1900 members. This growth, made possible over the past century and a third by thousands of active and dedicated church members, was inspired by five evangelical-minded men under the leadership of Rev. Kroehnke of Rock Run, IL. The fruits of their labors have far surpassed the bounds of their hopes and imagination. Known as the founders of the church, they were: J.J. Tschudy, a man of books and learning who was registrar of deeds for many years; John Kaderly and Peter Spahr, two Monroe tailors; Samuel Schneider, a harness maker; and Andreas Lanz. The five men were selected as trustees at the first organizational meeting, along with Mrs. Jacob Weber and Henry Walter. The first church building, a little white frame structure, was dedicated on August 31, 1862. It was constructed on the present church site for a cost of $400.00. Records show the first church meeting, however, was held two years earlier in the home of Andreas Lanz (corner of 17th Ave. and 12th St.) There are no pictures of this first church, but windows were arched and the first known decorations were oak leaves. Rev. Kroehnke and several guest pastors officiated at the dedication. The first Holy Communion was held in the church on that Sunday in August, and so was the first baptism. The baptized child was Samuel Schuler, who spent his entire lifetime as an active member of the church. Following is a marriage record documenting where Dietrich was in 1853: Johann Philip Bohnenkamp and Maria Elisabeth Horstmann both of Franklin Co., Mo. married on 6 November 1853 by D. Kroehnke, Minister of the Evangeline Church at Franklin Co., Mo. the hand written index has Johann Bohnenkamp and the consolidated hand written index has Philip Bonenkamp. Pastor Garlichs: From http://www.fiegenbaum.org/genealogy/Album/Holstein_church.htmhttp://www.fiegenbaum.org/genealogy/Album/Holstein_church.htm The first church in Holstein was the German Lutheran Church on Charrette, established in February 1839 (Charrette Creek runs southward through the area to the Missouri River, and gives this region of Warren County - the Charrette Hills - its name). Herman Garlichs, the pastor of the church at Femme Osage, Missouri, served as the first minister in Holstein. He was a Reiseprediger or circuit minister, traveling regularly among the congregations under his charge. For several years he held services once a month in Holstein; on other Sundays, the services were led by local elders. A log building was raised in Holstein during the winter of 1839-1840. The first service in the new church was held on 2 February 1840 and a new constitution was adopted. A new constitution was drafted in 1848 when the Holstein congregation joined the Evangelischer Kirchenverien des Westens. The church in Holstein changed its name to the German Evangelical Church on Charrette. A fire on 2 January 1855 destroyed the log church. By the end of November 1855 a new brick church building had been erected, at a cost of $1,593.43. A memorial plaque bears the inscription Site of the first German Lutheran Church on Charrette Chartered Feb. 27, 1839 Name revised Feb. 1848 to German Evangelical Church on Charrette Log church destroyed by fire Jan. 1855 Replaced by brick church in 1855 This memorial erected by Immanuels U. C. C. 150th Anniversary Committee April 1990 1880 Census for Rock Run, Stephenson County, Illinois: pg 267C, District 185 Kroenke, David, head, 75, minister of the gospel, GER Kroenke, Catherine, wife, 55, keeping house, GER Kroenke, Daniel, son, 13, at home, IL

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