Sow the Seed
By Emy Goodman

The Reverend John M. Ansorge had the distinction of serving his entire ministerial career at one church, Zion Lutheran Church of Manning. A new graduate of Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, he became Zion's first resident pastor September 4, 1904, and went on to serve the members of Zion until his death in 1955.

During his fifty year ministry he brought hundreds of people to faith, led the congregation through times of difficulty, transition, and great celebration, and, through it all, this devout servant stated "All glory to the Lord."

A native of Illinois, Pastor Ansorge was the son of a pioneer Lutheran missionary. He grew up near Fort Dodge attending Lutheran parochial school. His first year of high school was completed at Walther College in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1896. In the fall of that year he entered Concordia College at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in the sophomore high school class, completing his preparatory training for the ministry in 1901. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 1904 and was ordained and installed in the newly organized Zion congregation in Manning on September 4, 1904. The Reverend Herman W. Saeger officiated at the installation service.

When Pastor Ansorge came to Manning all services were conducted in German. In a news clipping Pastor stated, "I had difficulty at first introducing English services to the church. One Christmas, when we tried it, only three people showed up."

After three years of Manning bachelorhood, Pastor Ansorge met and married Gertrude Heinke, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, on June 26, 1907. Through the years Pastor was voluble in praise of her, stating "Next to the Lord, it was my wife who helped most to put me over the top. She's been one of the organists and a Sunday School teacher from the day she set foot in Manning. The little kids call her 'Bum', some youngster's version of Grandma, and the big ones, the old choir gang, call her 'Ma'."

Four sons and one daughter were born to the couple. Pastor Ansorge had the privilege of ordaining three of their sons in the Lutheran ministry, Karl, Max and Arthur, all of whom are deceased. Their fourth son, James, Jr., chose a career in business and lives in Colorado. "He never urged us to go into the ministry," remembered James, Jr. "He said that if we didn't really want to be pastors, we wouldn't make good ones anyway." One daughter, Luella, lives in Omaha.

Pastor Ansorge stated that Zion was a "baby" when he started out, and he recalled that "going to church was the thing not to do in Manning" when he first stepped off the Milwaukee Road coach. Women hid their hymn books under their clothing to escape scorn. He said, "Most of the time there wasn't a man around to ring the bell. My wife did it." But soon the ball started rolling and fifty years later, the records of Zion reflected 1,232 baptisms, 1,124 confirmations, 449 funerals, and 345 weddings.

He said, "I have baptized, confirmed and married people and then have baptized, confirmed and married their children."

During his fifty year ministry he saw Zion grow from a tiny church in 1904 with a handful of members, to the fourth largest congregation in Iowa District West in 1954, comprised of 800 communicant members and 1,100 souls.

Pastor Ansorge placed great faith in pastoral calls as the means of increasing church membership. He made 900 calls at his peak year and had an annual average of 500-600 calls. The "dessert" of the ministry, according to him, was making sick calls and instructing adults in the Christian faith.

In addition to his pastoral work to the congregation, he served the district in various ways. He served as field secretary and vice president of the Iowa District Walther League, served on the board of the Home Finding Society of Fort Dodge, and the board of Missions for Iowa District West.

Serving a fifty year pastorate at one church is a rare event. Looking back, it is evident that Zion was his life's work. Through Zion's first 50 years, Pastor Ansorge, by the grace of God, established the firm foundation upon which this church has continued to grow and serve God's people.

Upon the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary at Zion, Pastor Ansorge put down as the lesson he had best learned during his fifty years: "The Gospel always bears fruit. When they called the roll at my first convention in the district, 'Ansorge - Manning,' I heard someone say, 'I pity that kid!' Manning was supposed to be a tough assignment. I decided I would stick it out for three or four years until I got a chance to move, and I thought I'd be glad to go. But whenever a call to another parish came, I didn't want to leave. And just yesterday, after a funeral, I was thanked again for preaching the Word of God in Manning."

"When I was ordained," he went on, "I made a promise that I would preach the Word of God, both Law and Gospel. I tried to be faithful to that promise.

Sometimes I knew that what I said wouldn't be liked, and it went hard with me. But the Lord said we should be witnesses unto Him. Well, the results shows that it has not been in vain. All glory to the Lord."

Over the course of fifty years Pastor Ansorge had the opportunity to share many special celebrations with the members of Zion. To name a select few: the 1921 dedication of the new church (on Second Street); the combined celebration in 1951 marking the golden anniversary of the church, the 30th anniversary of the building, and the dedication of the vast remodeling project; and the 1954 celebration of Pastor Ansorge's fiftieth anniversary in the ministry.

Another special observance hosted by the members of Zion was a 40th wedding anniversary surprise reception for Pastor and his wife in 1947 with over 350 attending. The Ansorges enjoyed 47 years of marriage and joint service to their Lord before Mrs. Ansorge died on November 12, 1954, two months after Pastor's 50th anniversary celebration. Approximately one year later, September 12, 1955, Pastor Ansorge suffered a fatal heart attack. A news account of his death stated, "Zion Lutheran has been called upon twice within a year's time to mourn the passing of two persons closely associated with the spiritual growth, development and prominence of their church."

The Reverend George B. Eschenbacher was installed as co-pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday October 3, 1954. The Reverend O.E. Weiss of Wall Lake, officiated.

Pastor Eschenbacher was serving St. John's Lutheran Church near Paullina, Iowa, when he accepted the call from Zion to serve as co-pastor with Pastor J.M. Ansorge who had just observed his 50th year in the ministry. At that time, Manning was the fourth largest congregation in Iowa District West, Missouri Synod, with some 800 communicant members.

A native of Brainerd, Minnesota, Pastor Eschenbacher was ordained into the ministry July 28, 1933. He served congregations at Bertha, Minnesota, and Hewitt, Minnesota, before moving to Paullina, Iowa, to serve the pastorate of the congregation and parish school in 1946.

He and his wife, Hulda, had a family of six children. When moving to Manning in 1954, three of the couple's daughters, Rosemary, Arlene and Janice, had already finished high school and moved from home. The couple's only son, George "Bud", was a senior in high school, Rebecca was in elementary school, and Melissa was five weeks old.

Within a year of Pastor Eschenbacher's service at Zion, Pastor Ansorge suffered a fatal heart attack, and Pastor Eschenbacher became Zion's only pastor. It was during this period of time that several parish workers and vicars were called to serve one-year terms at Zion to help in the administration of Zion's work. This was a time of significant growth and expansion for Zion. The confirmation class in 1957, for example, was made up of 44 members.

During his pastorate Zion's ministry to the blind, a ministry which continues today, first began. First work of the Zion Altar Committee also began during his pastorate when various ladies in the congregation were assigned to help with those duties.

In the 1960s, the members of Zion, after studying and planning, decided to build the present church structure. The mammoth undertaking was brought to completion under the guidance of Pastor Eschenbacher who presided over the dedication ceremonies held on February 17, 1963.

Another special celebration held during his service at Zion was a double anniversary observed October 5, 1958, when the members of Zion honored Pastor George B. Eschenbacher

In December of 1963 Zion accepted the resignation of Pastor Eschenbacher when he accepted a call to Sauk Center, Minnesota. Pastor Eschenbacher died October 25, 1985, in Little Falls, Minnesota, after 40 years in the ministry.

The Reverend Edward F. Heinicke was installed as Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 29, 1964. The Reverend Dr. G.W. Lobeck, President of Iowa District West-Missouri Synod, officiated. About 700 people attended the installation service.

After attending St. Paul's College, Concordia, Missouri, Pastor Heinicke graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1945. His first assignment was to district congregations in Creston and Osceola, Iowa. From 1948 to 1953 he was pastor at Evansdale, Iowa. He served congregations in Council Bluffs and Oakland, Iowa, for a number of years before accepting a call to Amarillo, Texas, in 1962. He was ministering to the church in Amarillo when he received and accepted the call from Zion.

He and his wife, Nadine, moved to Manning with a family of six children: Mark, 13, John, 11, Mary and Martha, 9, Peter, 8, and Rebecca, 5. The couple's seventh child, Phillip, was born in Manning.

During his 16 year ministry to the congregation of Zion, Pastor Heinicke was very active in the Missouri Synod, serving on several synodical committees. He was on the Board of Mission for the Blind and was chairman of the Braille Transcription Committee. He also served as editor of the monthly magazine, Lutheran Messenger for the Blind. Blessed with artistic abilities, he brought great beauty to several areas of the church through his mosaic artistry and his woodworking talents. Two major works that are part of his legacy to Zion are the altar and the mosaic in the entry of the church.

As part of the congregational picnic July 27, 1980, Pastor Heinicke was honored at a special church service conducted by Reverend Donald Wuertz of Carroll, who thanked God for sustaining Pastor Heinicke for 35 years in the ministry. Pastor Heinicke stated that the highlight of his career was "being capable of proclaiming the good news of God's love through Jesus Christ." In gratitude and commemoration of his ministry, Zion members presented pastor and his wife with a cash gift specifically designated for a trip to the Holy Land.

In May of 1983 Pastor and his wife, Nadine, accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church at Worms, Nebraska. He later went on to serve as assistant pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1990, while vacationing in Texas, Pastor Heinicke suffered a heart attack and died there February 12, after 45 years of service to his Lord.

The Reverend Paul Krumm was installed as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sun-day, July 3, 1983. The Reverend Donald Wuertz, pastor of Carroll, officiated. Pastor Krumm came to Zion from the Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne Indiana, after receiving his Master of Divinity Degree on May 27, 1983. Originally from Adair, Iowa, Pastor Krumm briefly pursued a business career before beginning his preparation for the pastoral ministry.

He and his wife, Paula, a registered nurse, brought three young daughters to Zion: Sarah, age 8; Laura, age 6; and Angela, age 4.

During his three year ministry at Zion a variety of changes were initiated. Members were called upon to utilize time, talents and treasures to help renovate their house of worship which was 20 years old in 1984. In addition to the creation of a small chapel, church library and youth lounge, the church received a new heating system, fresh paint and carpet.

Pastor Krumm, with the assistance of Zion's first DCE, Paula Weiss, reached out to inactive members and Zion's youth. To better meet the needs of the congregation, Pastor Krumm and the Board of Elders established the Shepherding Program which, as it continues today, develops caring relationships between Zion's members. In addition to reaching out to people within the congregation, Zion's members were also encouraged to reach out to the community. One result of these efforts was an outdoor service followed by church picnic. Several new programs were also initiated during this ministry, including the opening of Zion preschool.

The Krumm family left Manning in October of 1986 when Pastor Krumm accepted a call to Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Krumm left the ministry in 1997.

The Reverend Merle E. Lebahn was installed as associate pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 2, 1986. The Reverend Richard Kapfer, President of Iowa District West, was officiant for the installation service.

Pastor Lebahn was ordained into the Holy Ministry in December of 1984, upon completion of his training at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. A native of Owatonna, Minnesota, Pastor Lebahn worked in retail business for 23 years before he began preparation for his service to the Lord.

He was installed as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Audubon, Iowa, January 6, 1985, and was later asked to take on the duties of Zion's associate pastor, in addition to tending the flock at Trinity. Thus, for a period of six months, he assisted Pastor Krumm with regular pastoral duties, giving special attention to home visits, hospital calls and nursing home devotions and visits.

In September of 1986 Pastor Lebahn and his wife, Judy, accepted a call to Bethel Lutheran Church at Lawton, Iowa. Now retired, the Lebahns reside at Apple Valley, Minnesota. Pastor keeps busy filling vacancies and helping at other churches. He states that he feels very blessed that he can continue to work in God's vineyard.

The Reverend Robert Riggert was installed as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, June 7, 1987. The Reverend Dennis Schultz of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ida Grove, Iowa, officiated.

A native of Bremen, Kansas, Pastor Riggert first earned a teaching degree from Concordia Teacher's College in Seward, Nebraska. He served as a teacher at a Lutheran school in Ohio while earning his Master's Degree in Education Administration. In 1973 he accepted a call to serve as principal and teacher at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he also worked toward his theological degree. He began full-time study in 1980 and in May of 1981 he received his degree from the Concordia Theological Seminary.

He was serving as chairman of the district's Family Life Committee and ministering to the rural congregations of Cylinder, Iowa, and Lone Rock, Iowa, in 1987, when he accepted the call to Zion. He and his wife, Diane, a teacher, brought four young Riggerts into the congregation: Jennifer, age 13, Jodi, age 11, Jonathan, age 9, and Julie, age 6.

Pastor Riggert provided guidance and encouragement for several of Zion's newly begun projects. The pre-school continued to take root and grow. Sunday School attendance also grew. He and DCE Paula Weiss continued to strengthen Zion's ministry to youth. Evangelism efforts continued to be fruitful. Christian education programs expanded, bringing the start of semi-annual small group adult Bible study sessions which delve into Life Light lessons. Zion's Care Committee organized and the challenge to meet the growing needs of Zion's ministry to the elderly continued.

During Pastor Riggert's ministry Zion observed the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the church.

In April of 1997 Pastor Riggert announced that he had accepted a call from the Board of Directors of Iowa District West to serve as Executive Director for Education and Youth Ministry. He and his wife continue to make their home in Manning and worship with their fellow members of Zion.

The Reverend Curtis Dwyer was installed as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, August 4, 1996. The Reverend Richard Kapfer, President of Iowa District West officiated the Rite of Ordination and Installation.

Pastor Dwyer came to Zion following completion of his training at the Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri, in May of 1996.

The resignation of DCE Paula Weiss coupled with the needs of a congregation the size of Zion, resulted in the decision to call an assistant pastor. Technical skills are one of the strengths that Pastor Dwyer brought to Zion, allowing the church to keep pace with the computer age.

He and his wife, Renee, have one son, Alexander, who was one year of age when they came to Manning. Renee is a computer technology specialist.

Pastor Dwyer continues his Holy Ministry at Zion, serving God's people at Manning with the guidance of Senior Pastor Daniel Vogel.

The Reverend Daniel J. Vogel was installed as senior pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 19, 1997. Officiant for the service was The Reverend Dr. Richard Kapfer, President of Iowa District West.

Pastor Vogel originates from Breckenridge, Minnesota, the son of a Lutheran minister. After earning a degree in social work in North Dakota, he was a mental health worker in Colorado and South Dakota before preparing for the Holy Ministry at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He served his vicarage at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Miami, Florida, which involved him in Spanish and Hispanic ministry. He served a second year of vicarage at the Hispanic Mission at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Tampa, Florida. Upon graduation from the seminary he was assigned as a Missionary-at-Large to organize a Hispanic Ministry at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Perrine, Florida. He served Mt. Olive until 1986 when he accepted the call to serve as bilingual pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Miami, Florida, where he served God's people for eleven years before accepting the call to Zion Lutheran Church at Manning.

He and his wife, Paula, a teacher, brought their family of five sons and one daughter to Zion: Jonathan, 14, Timothy, 12; Phillip, 9; Daniel, 8; Matthew, 5 and two year old Katherine. Pastor Vogel continues his ministry to the members of Zion with the assistance of Pastor Curt Dwyer.

Pastor G.C. Hattendorf of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lincoln Township, served the members of Zion from December 1963, when Pastor G.B. Eschenbacher left Zion, until November of 1964, when the vacancy at Zion was filled by Pastor Edward F. Heinicke.

Pastor Charles Haake of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Carroll, Iowa, served the members of Zion from October of 1986, when Pastor Paul Krumm left Zion, until May of 1987, when the vacancy at Zion was filled by Pastor Robert Riggert.

Apr. 1984 - Jan. 1996

The needs of an active congregation once again necessitated the hiring of additional staff for Zion in 1984. The subsequent arrival of Director of Christian Education, (DCE) Paula Weiss brought assistance for Pastor Krumm and special blessings to the education and youth programs of Zion.

A Minnesota native, Paula received her degree from Concordia College in St. Paul. In addition to her educational duties of teaching and leading Midweek classes, adult Bible studies, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, she assisted with pre-school, provided leadership for Zion's youth group, and also shared her musical talents with Zion. She worked with the adult choir, helped with organist duties, led and encouraged Zion's young members, and often directed the children in musical presentations.

Additionally, during an eight-month pastoral vacancy, 1986-87, she assisted vacancy Pastor Charles Haake with the many needs of Zion's active congregation.

During Paula's ministry at Zion, an unexpected bonus was the work of "Clara the Clown" who, without words, seemed to know exactly how to relate to youngsters and how to bring a smile to people of any age.

A son, Joel, was born to Paula and her husband, Dick, during her 12 year service to Zion. While in Manning the couple also welcomed a teenage foster son, Joe Myers, into their family. The needs of a growing congregation called Paula and her family to Alexander, Arkansas, in January of 1996.