The Town of Herman (where Trinity is located) was mostly forest as late as the 1840s. In 1846 and 1847, settlers came to the area from Germany. It was recorded by Pastor Kitzerow that a Mr. Belitz, a former teacher in Germany, and a Mr. Erbe were the first to conduct services in the German language.

In the summer of 1849, Rev. C. August T. Selle of Chicago made an exploratory trip to the Sheboygan area where he mentions visiting Fond du Lac, Calumet and New Holstein. There is no mention of Town of Herman in Rev. Selle’s visitations. However, Rev. S. L. Dulitz of Milwaukee did conduct services in the Town of Herman in 1850.

In October 1851, Rev. Friedrich Lockner, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Milwaukee, baptized several children during one of his mission trips to the areas northwest of Milwaukee.

In 1852, Mr. Henry Luecke worked to bring the Lutherans in the Town of Herman together in worship. There were twenty-three names on the charter at the end of the year.

On June 2, 1853, a congregational meeting was held where a parcel of land was purchased from Mr. Mathaeus Roth, one of the charter members, to place the first house of worship. In 1854, the first house of worship was built and dedicated on the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.

On December 23, 1855, a congregational meeting resolved to build the congregation’s first parsonage. This parsonage was destroyed by fire in 1879. It was immediately replaced and then expanded over the next few years.

On May 30, 1858, Trinity resolved to apply for membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (now known as the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod).

The beginning of the congregation’s constitution dates as far back as August 1854. Pastor Beyer presented a draft of the constitution on January 19, 1859. This draft was carefully discussed in a series of meetings and adopted on May 26, 1859.

In 1885, Pastor Karth’s first year at Trinity, a new church building was erected. Most of the labor was donated by church members. Pastor Karth himself built the pulpit, altar and baptismal font (all of which were still in use until the remodeling of 1960). On the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity, 1886, the new church building was dedicated to the glory of God. In 1896, a new organ was purchased for the congregation. It was dedicated in June of that year.

The first half of the twentieth century saw a series of changes for the church. On April 6, 1913, the congregation decided to purchase a new, single-manual pipe organ. On April 26, 1925, the congregation resolved to introduce English services starting with one English service per month. In the spring of 1928, every building on the church grounds were wired for electricity. In 1940, the original church building, built in 1854, was razed to build a new garage. In 1944, the congregation elected to have a full basement placed under the church building. On March 11, 1948, Pastor Kitzerow passed away, having served Trinity as her pastor for almost twenty-three years. After Pastor Kitzerow passed away, Trinity tried unsuccessfully to call another pastor. On June 28, 1948, the congregation decided to build a new parsonage. The parsonage was dedicated on June 12, 1949.

On April 1, 1951, it was decided that stained glass windows complete with outside storm windows should be installed in the sanctuary. Later that year, new plumbing and an automatic oil burning furnace was installed in the basement. In 1960, an extensive remodeling was done for the entire church building. The length of the building was extended the length of two windows. The interior received new pews, a pulpit, lectern, communion rail, altar cross, pipe organ and other fixtures. A lighted cross was donated by a church member and added to the front of the church.

The Schramm residence, located next to the congregation, was purchased and donated to allow the entrance from County Highway FF to be paved. In order to do this, the school house, which had stood on the north side of the church for ninety-four years had to be razed.

On October 21, 1962, the congregation decided to discontinue German services. At the same meeting, Sunday School was set for 8:45am and worship at 10:00am. In 1974, a second Sunday morning service was added with Sunday School and Bible Study between the two.

June 1976 saw the completion of the Christian Growth Center where the offices and preschool classrooms are now located. In 1986, a new garage was added to the parsonage. In 1989, pew cushions were purchased and installed. In 1994, the narthex was added complete with restrooms, Sunday School rooms and an elevator. In 1997, a septic mound system was added for the church, school and parsonage. A new sign was also added to the west entrance after the previous sign was taken out by a bulldozer during the reconstruction of State Highway 32.

1990 saw the beginning of Trinity Preschool for three- and four-year-olds. 1999 saw the institution of the Vicarage program and the first Vicar, Eric Goodwin, was installed on August 4, 1999.

2003 saw the 150th anniversary of Trinity Lutheran Church. Much of the preceding year was involved in bringing about the celebration.

In 2005 the sanctuary was remodeled.

Rev. Otto Eisfeld (1853-1854)

The first pastor called to Trinity was Rev. Otto Eisfeld, an 1853 graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He was ordained and installed at Trinity on Trinity Sunday, May 22, 1853 by Rev. O. fuerbringer of Freistadt, WI. Rev. Eisfeld lived in Sheboygan and served as the sole pastor of the triple-parish formed by Trinity, Howards Grove; Trinity, Sheboygan and Trinity, Town Wilson. Unfortunately, Rev. Eisfeld died of sunstroke while attending a Synodical convention in St. Louis on June 28, 1854.

Rev. John Beyer (1854-1861)

Shortly after Rev. Eisfeld was called to his eternal rest, Trinity called Rev. John Beyer who was the first resident pastor. While here, Rev. Beyer also served congregations in Maple Grove and Morrison. He served Trinity until 1861 when he accepted a call to Caledonia, WI.

Rev. Wilhelm Kolb (1862-1868)

Rev. Kolb had been pastor in Dodge County before accepting the call to Trinity. He was installed in April 1862 and served for six years before resigning due to health problems.

Rev. E. Aulich (1868-1874)

Rev. Aulich was an 1868 graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He was ordained and installed at Trinity on the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 1868 by Rev. A.D. Stecher. After six years, he accepted a call to Luxemburg, WI.

Rev. J.E. Wuebben (vacancy pastor, 1874-1879)

Rev. Wuebben, pastor from Town Mosel, served as vacancy pastor for Trinity from 1874 until his resignation in February 1879.

Rev. Johann Hild (1879-1885)

Rev. Hild accepted Trinity’s call and was installed by Rev. C.M. Zorn of Sheboygan on the Fourth Sunday after Easter 1879. He served until the summer of 1885 when he accepted a call to Altamont, IL.

Rev. Ferdinand Karth (1885-1898)

Rev. Karth was installed on the Second Sunday in Advent 1885 by Rev. F. Wolbrecht of Trinity, Sheboygan. He served thirteen years before accepting a call as Superintendent of the Orphanage at Wittenberg, WI. He would return to Trinity from time to time with the final time being December 26, 1910, when his mortal body was laid to rest in the church’s cemetery.

Rev. Gustav Voit (1899-1916)

Rev. Voit was installed on the Fourth Sunday in Lent 1899 by Rev. G.J. Burger from Sheboygan. During his ministry, the church was renovated and an addition was built onto the parsonage. He served until he resigned on September 17, 1916, and moved to Milwaukee.

Rev. Ottomar Schmidt (1917-1924)

Rev. Schmidt was installed in early 1917 after having served a parish in Texas. In the fall of 1924, he accepted a call to Arcadia, IN.

Rev. Walter Kitzerow (1925-1948)

Rev. Kitzerow was installed on the First Sunday after Easter, April 19, 1925, by Rev. E. Krause from Sheboygan. He served for nearly a quarter-century. During that time, he never missed a service or confirmation class because of illness. However, in late February 1948, he complained of not feeling well and the Lenten midweek service had to be cancelled. Less than two weeks later, he was called to his eternal rest on March 11, 1948.

Rev. John Portratz (1949-1973)

Rev. Portratz was called on August 22, 1949. At the time, he was serving the congregation in Town Easton, WI (near Wausau). he was installed on October 2, 1949 by Rev. Erich Keller. He served until he retired around his fiftieth anniversary in the ministry in 1973. As a retirement present, the congregation presented him with the money for a trip to the Holy Land.

Rev. William Lewis (1973-1977)

Rev. Lewis was called on July 1, 1973. He was serving Bethlehem, Milwaukee at the time. He was installed at Trinity on August 26, 1973. After graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, Rev. Lewis served the dual parish of Trinity, Millersburg and Calvary, Deep River, IA, then St. John’s, North Prairie, WI, Bethlehem, Wales, WI and finally Bethlehem, Milwaukee. While he served Trinity, several Bible study groups were organized, including Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ. In the summer of 1977, he submitted his resignation to accept a call to Brookfield, WI.

Rev. Darrel L. Bergelin (1979-2021)

Upon Rev. Bergeliln’s completion of his Seminary training, he was called to serve as pastor of the dual parishes of Grace Lutheran Church, Uniontown and Zion Lutheran Church, Longtown, MO. He was ordained on June 13, 1976 in Hilbert.

Pastor Bergelin was installed as Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Howards Grove on June 10, 1979. During his time at Trinity, Pastor Bergelin has served as Pastoral Advisor for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), Circuit Counselor for Circuit 13 and chairman of Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School. He has also been on the district board of directors for the South Wisconsin District (SWD) of the LCMS. Pastor Darrel Bergelin retired on August 31, 2021.

Here are brief biographical sketches of several men from our congregation who have been called into the Office of the Holy Ministry over the history of our church:

Rev. Gerhard Luecke

Born in 1906 to Carl and Sophia (Wehrmann) Luecke, it is believed that Gerhard Luecke is the first son of the congregation to enter the ministry. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity as well as graduated from the day school.

He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL, in 1936. His first call was to St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Later, he served at Fatih, Pittsburgh and Bethany, Pleasant Hill, PA (1939-1942).

He served as a chaplain during World War II. After the war, he received a call to York, PA, where he served until he retired on October 21, 1984. He died in 1991, at the age of eighty-five.

Rev. William Luecke

William Luecke was born on May 17, 1925, to Walter and Lydia (Woepse) Luecke. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity as well as graduated from the day school. In 1944, he graduated from Concordia High School in Milwaukee. He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1949.

His vicarage lasted for two years at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange, CA. He was ordained on September 18, 1949. Immediately he began serving at the Inner-City Mission in New York City. Illness forced an early retirement and he was called to his eternal rest on August 23, 1982.

Rev. Kermit H. Walk

Rev. Kermit Walk is the son of Gustive and Viola (Kuester) Walk. He was baptized at Trinity in 1933 and confirmed in 1946. He graduated from Howards Grove High School in 1950. He attended the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1959. He worked with the Mirror Company in Manitowoc until he was led to Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL. He vicared at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, MO. In 1966, he graduated and was ordained at Trinity by Rev. Portratz.

During his ministry, he served at Good Shepherd, East Troy, WI; Trinity, Glencoe, IL; Christ, North Lake, IL; and Faith, Westchester, IL.

On November 3, 1976, Rev. Walk married Edwina. Now, the Walks live in Illinois where Rev. Walk is enjoying his retirement.

Rev. Kenneth Henschel

Rev. Kenneth Henschel was born in 1930 to Melvin and Martha (Ebeling) Henschel. He graduated from Concordia High School in Milwaukee. He attended Concordia College and Seminary in St. Louis. He graduated on June 1, 1960. On July 15, 1961, he was ordained at Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, IL, where he served until called into military service. In 1967, he spent a year serving his country in Vietnam. Afterwards, he served three years in Germany, and then the Philippines, San Port, Montgomery, AL and Cape Kennedy, FL. After twenty-five years as a military chaplain, he retired. He passed away in 1986 of stomach cancer.

Rev. Marvin Henschel

Rev. Marvin Henschel was born in 1934 to Melvin and Martha (Ebeling) Henschel. He graduated form Concordia High School in Milwaukee in 1955. He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1960. During his ministry, he served in Kansas for four years, Watertown, WI for four years, and in Oklahoma for thirty-five years. He retired in January 2000, but still serves two congregations in Oklahoma City on a part-time basis.

He is married to Shirley Wegner from Trinity, Sheboygan. They currently live in Oklahoma City, and have three sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.

Rev. Kenneth J. Portratz

Rev. Kenneth Portratz came to Trinity as a sophomore in high school when his father was called as Trinity’s tenth pastor. He graduated from Concordia College, Mequon in 1954 and began attending Concordia Seminary, St. Louis that year. After his vicarage at Zion Lutheran Church, Schenectady, NY in 1958, he entered the teaching ministry. He taught at Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, IN, for two years and eight years at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. In 1967, he entered the Seminary Colloquy program. In 1968, he was placed at Peace Lutheran Church, Sussex, WI. He served there until 1970. He then served Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, WI from 1970 until his retirement in 1999.

Rev. Portratz married Eleanor Arndt on August 23, 1958. They have three sone and five grandchildren.

Rev. Roger Rohde

Rev. Rohde was born on May 3, 1951, to Walter and Valeria (Damrow) Rohde. He attended Concordia High School and Junior College in Milwaukee; Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne; and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He graduated in 1977. He was ordained in June 1977 at Trinity by Rev. John Portratz and installed at the dual parish of Immanuel, Jackson and Christ, Gordonville, MO in July of that year. He accepted a call to St. Paul’s, Bremen, IN in 1981 where he still serves today. He has served on the Indiana District Board of Christian Education (1985-1991) and the Indiana District Nominating Committee (1997-present). He has been Circuit Counselor of the South Bend Circuit, Pastor Counselor of the Indiana District LWML, LWML Zone Counselor, LLL Zone Counselor, Pastor Adviser of the South Bend Lutheran Mission Association.

Rev. Rohde married Jeri Ottensmann from Sheboygan and they have five children.

Rev. David Arthur Darrel Bergelin

David Arthur Darrel Bergelin was born in Springfiled, Illinois on April 10, 1976 to Rev. Darrel and Deede Bergelin. He became a child of God through Holy Baptism on April 20, 1976 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois. He was confirmed in the faith on May 6, 1990 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Howards Grove, WI. David received his elementary education from St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Sheboygan and graduated from Sheboygan Lutheran High School in 1994. David attended Concordia University-Wisconsin, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelors degree in History, minor in Education.

Following graduation from Concordia-Wisconsin, David taught theology at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. He enrolled at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in the Fall of 2000. His vicarage year was served at Zion Lutheran Church in Fallbrook, California. David graduated from Concordia Seminary with a Mastor of Divinity degree on May 20, 2005. David received a Call to serve as pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lexington, Illinois. Installation as pastor of St. Paul took place in October of 2005.

Rev. Douglas James Darrel Bergelin

Douglas James Darrel Bergelin was born May 5, 1981 to Rev. Darrel and Deede Bergelin. He was baptized on May 17, 1981 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Howards Grove. He was confirmed in the faith on May 7, 1995 here at Trinity.

Douglas received his elementary education from St. Paul Lutheran School in Sheboygan and graduated from Sheboygan Lutheran High School in 1999. He attended Concordia University Wisconsin, graduating in 2003 with degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Theological Languages. He then attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and graduated with a Mastor of Divinity degree in 2007. Douglas spent his year of vicarage at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa.

Douglas received a call to be pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, North Dakota. Installation was in August, 2007