History I
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Immanuel Lutheran Church
1004 W. Broadway
Viroqua, WI 54665
608-637-3983
office@immanuel-lc.org
Show Map
1004 W. Broadway
Viroqua, WI 54665
608-637-3983
office@immanuel-lc.org
Show Map
On December 15, 1904 eight laymen
and Pastor L.C. Jacobson met at the John
Skarstad home to organize and name
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.
They affiliated with the Hauge Synod. Rev. L.
C. Jacobson was called as its first pastor.
They entered parish relations with Franklin,
Zion and Hauge West Prairie congregations.
During the first seven years the
congregation met in the homes of the
members. In 1911 a lot was purchased on
South Center Street and the original church
was built. It was dedicated July 23, 1911, by
Rev. M.G. Hanson, President of Hauge
Synod. In 1921 a 14’ x 50’ addition was built
and a full basement was added.
The parish served the Lord continually
during those years growing under the
leadership of the Rev. D.T. Borgen, who was
with Immanuel for twenty-five years. The Rev.
Peder Nordsletten came to Immanuel and
guided her through the recovery years until
the congregation felt it should have an
expanded ministry.
On January 6, 1960 the congregation
voted to sever its parish ties with the country
congregations and form a one point parish.
A parsonage was purchased and pastor
called.
A parish study committee was organized
in 1965 to evaluate the needs of Immanuel.
It was decided in 1967 to move ahead with a
building program and a drive was
undertaken. It was decided to relocate due to
the condition of the structure and the land
costs downtown. Architects of William
Schafer and Associates of Minneapolis were
chosen to design and supervise the
construction. It was decided to build on a
cooperative basis by hiring a supplier,
Schoenrock Sons, Inc. and his crews who
specialize in building churches that wish to
reduce the cost of construction by helping in
all phases of the construction. Pastor C.D.
Jacobson resigned in June, 1968 and held a
Final Service and groundbreaking ceremony
the same day.
Immanuel’s construction proceeded and
seminarians from Wartburg Seminary of
Dubuque, Iowa, supplied men for the
worship services. In the fall, more
permanent arrangements were made with
Seminarians Gaylord Odegaard and Charles
Sheppard to teach confirmation and preach.
and Pastor L.C. Jacobson met at the John
Skarstad home to organize and name
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.
They affiliated with the Hauge Synod. Rev. L.
C. Jacobson was called as its first pastor.
They entered parish relations with Franklin,
Zion and Hauge West Prairie congregations.
During the first seven years the
congregation met in the homes of the
members. In 1911 a lot was purchased on
South Center Street and the original church
was built. It was dedicated July 23, 1911, by
Rev. M.G. Hanson, President of Hauge
Synod. In 1921 a 14’ x 50’ addition was built
and a full basement was added.
The parish served the Lord continually
during those years growing under the
leadership of the Rev. D.T. Borgen, who was
with Immanuel for twenty-five years. The Rev.
Peder Nordsletten came to Immanuel and
guided her through the recovery years until
the congregation felt it should have an
expanded ministry.
On January 6, 1960 the congregation
voted to sever its parish ties with the country
congregations and form a one point parish.
A parsonage was purchased and pastor
called.
A parish study committee was organized
in 1965 to evaluate the needs of Immanuel.
It was decided in 1967 to move ahead with a
building program and a drive was
undertaken. It was decided to relocate due to
the condition of the structure and the land
costs downtown. Architects of William
Schafer and Associates of Minneapolis were
chosen to design and supervise the
construction. It was decided to build on a
cooperative basis by hiring a supplier,
Schoenrock Sons, Inc. and his crews who
specialize in building churches that wish to
reduce the cost of construction by helping in
all phases of the construction. Pastor C.D.
Jacobson resigned in June, 1968 and held a
Final Service and groundbreaking ceremony
the same day.
Immanuel’s construction proceeded and
seminarians from Wartburg Seminary of
Dubuque, Iowa, supplied men for the
worship services. In the fall, more
permanent arrangements were made with
Seminarians Gaylord Odegaard and Charles
Sheppard to teach confirmation and preach.
In December, Student Pastor Sheppard
accepted a call to Immanuel and became
interim pastor until his graduation and
ordination in June, 1969. He was installed
later that month.
The congregation moved into the facilities
on Advent Sunday, November 30th and have
worked to complete and furnish this structure
to God’s Glory. May his divine guidance be
remembered as He led us in these years of
service.
Pastors that have served Immanuel are:
Rev. L.C. Jacobson, 1904-1912; Rev. J.J.
Jacobson, 1913-1919; Rev. D.T. Borgen,
1920-1945; Rev. Peder Nordsletten, 1945-
1960; Rev. James Homme, 1960-1963;
Pastor C.D. Jacobson, 1963-1968; and
Pastor Charles Sheppard.
The following former members are
serving the church in the ministry: Rev.
Luther Borgen, Racine Wis.; Rev. T.N.
Borgen, Black Earth, Wis.; Rev. William
White, Westland, Mich.
Looking backward, Immanuel has much
to be thankful for: more than sixty-years—
God has visited us with the Gospel of His
son; His Word has been proclaimed by
faithful messengers; the Sacraments rightly
administered; the sorrowing have been
comforted, the weak strengthened and the
fainthearted encouraged. Only Eternity will
reveal the blessing that has come to the
members of Immanuel through the labors of
those who have gone before.
Looking forward, we are faced with an
even greater challenge in a world filled with
problems, futility and frustration. It is the
challenge for us who have been so blessed
to pass this blessing on to our descendants
and others in our community that need the
message of the Gospel.
This history was taken from the
November, 1964 bulletin written by T.N.
Borgen, whose devotion and faithful service
to Immanuel is remembered as a witness to
his faith and the mission of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Current Information was edited in.
Taken from the Dedication Service Folder
Sunday July 19th, 1970
accepted a call to Immanuel and became
interim pastor until his graduation and
ordination in June, 1969. He was installed
later that month.
The congregation moved into the facilities
on Advent Sunday, November 30th and have
worked to complete and furnish this structure
to God’s Glory. May his divine guidance be
remembered as He led us in these years of
service.
Pastors that have served Immanuel are:
Rev. L.C. Jacobson, 1904-1912; Rev. J.J.
Jacobson, 1913-1919; Rev. D.T. Borgen,
1920-1945; Rev. Peder Nordsletten, 1945-
1960; Rev. James Homme, 1960-1963;
Pastor C.D. Jacobson, 1963-1968; and
Pastor Charles Sheppard.
The following former members are
serving the church in the ministry: Rev.
Luther Borgen, Racine Wis.; Rev. T.N.
Borgen, Black Earth, Wis.; Rev. William
White, Westland, Mich.
Looking backward, Immanuel has much
to be thankful for: more than sixty-years—
God has visited us with the Gospel of His
son; His Word has been proclaimed by
faithful messengers; the Sacraments rightly
administered; the sorrowing have been
comforted, the weak strengthened and the
fainthearted encouraged. Only Eternity will
reveal the blessing that has come to the
members of Immanuel through the labors of
those who have gone before.
Looking forward, we are faced with an
even greater challenge in a world filled with
problems, futility and frustration. It is the
challenge for us who have been so blessed
to pass this blessing on to our descendants
and others in our community that need the
message of the Gospel.
This history was taken from the
November, 1964 bulletin written by T.N.
Borgen, whose devotion and faithful service
to Immanuel is remembered as a witness to
his faith and the mission of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Current Information was edited in.
Taken from the Dedication Service Folder
Sunday July 19th, 1970