Join us for our 100th Anniversary Celebration!
Sunday, August 4th, 2024
3:00 P.M. - Open House
4:00 P.M. - Service
5:00 P.M. - Dinner & Program

Click here to RSVP or to share a memory of your time at Our Redeemer!

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church was established on August 3, 1924 at a meeting organized by "Rev. (Walter H.C.) Mehlberg of the English Lutheran Church for the purpose of organizing a congregation in the Village of Kingsford Michigan" with the original name being "The English Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer." The church's original building was on the corner of Maple Street and Emmet Avenue unitl 1967 when completion of a new buliding on Breitung Avenue was completed

The Rev. Walter H.C. Mehlberg (right) was the founding pastor of Our Redeemer in 1924. He was pastor of Our Redeemer until 1926 when he was replaced by Rev. Werner Schmidtke. He also served as pastor of Mount Olive in Iron Mountain (now WELS) until 1930. At that time, he accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, IL where he served until his retirement in 1966. This photo is of Pastor Mehlberg and his son Don and grandson Steve during his time in Illinois. (Family photo)

An advertisement from The Iron Mountain Daily News, December 23, 1967, inviting the community to the new Our Redeemer Building on Breitung Ave. The original building on Maple St. is also pictured.

In celebration of our 100th anniversary, Our Redeemer has commissioned a painting from Grand Rapids artist Edward Riojas to hang above our altar. This artist's sketch depicts Christ in His ascension with the words around His head: "Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the age." (Mt. 28:20) The painting will arrive and be hung in the church on June 8th, 2024.

Throughout its history, Our Redeemer has been served by fourteen called pastors:

• Rev. Walter H.C. Mehlberg (1924-1926)
• Rev. Werner Schmidtke (1926-1929)
• Rev. Chester L. Thalacker (1929-1941)
• Rev. Edwin C. Beversdorf (1941-1943)
• Rev. Harold E. Malotky (1943-1947)
• Rev. Aaron R. Schulz (1947-1953)
• Rev. Wilmar A. Steil (1954-1961)
• Rev. John M. Nickerson (1961-1965)
• Rev. Donald R. Gerlach (1965-1973)
• Rev. Paul M. Buenger (1974-1991)
• Rev. Dr. Martin E. Koeller (1991-2004)
• Rev. Chad M. Ott (2005-2011)
• Rev. Thomas R. Mackey (2012-2017)
• ​Rev. Matthew D. Ruesch (2017-Present)

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The original church building on the corner of Maple Street and Emmet Avenue where the congregation met until 1967.

The inside of the Maple Street church building.

During the 80s and 90s, it was customary for Our Redeemer to have two live trees in the sanctuary for Christmas. A smaller one in red lights and balls, was the "sin tree" with the red symbolizing our need for Christ's blood. The larger tree with white lights and balls was the "grace tree" that symbolized God's grace overcoming our sin.