MEMORIALS AND THE MEMORIAL FUND

The Monthalia United Methodist Church Memorial Fund had its beginning in May of 1955, after several individuals wished to make a donation of money to the church as a memorial for close friends and relatives. Initially this fund was started as a building fund but was changed to the Memorial Fund a short time later, and so the Memorial Fund began to grow.

Some gifts are given for a specific group such as the Men's Chorus or the Mixed Choir, but generally the gifts are given to the Memorial Fund with no designation as to what the gift is to be used for.

Items have been purchased or contributions have been made toward the purchase of items such as: songbooks, pianos, air conditioners for both the parish hall and the parsonage, a pulpit chair given in memory of Reverend William G. Birkner, carpet in the parish hall, folding chairs, tables for the parish hall, the public address system, payment on the sanctuary piano, and purchase of some parsonage furniture.

In 1961 a substantial amount of money was given toward the remodeling program of the sanctuary. A new piano was purchased in 1983 for the parish hall, paid for in its entirety out of the Memorial Fund.

There have also been gifts and individual memorials made through the years. The communion table was hand-made by Reverend William Buehrer, a former pastor. Under the table a card is affixed with the following inscription:

This table was bought by Miss Ida Tieken and presented to the Monthalia Methodist Episcopal Church in 1934. It was dedicated for the purpose of the Holy Communion by Reverend O.F. Kattner, pastor in charge, and Reverend William Buehrer, who was the builder of the table.

Reverend Buehrer also built the baptismal font which is still in use today.

The large pulpit Bible was given in memory of Mrs. Carolina Fink by her sons John and Albert. The clock in the sanctuary was given in memory of Lela (Pape) Lindemann by her husband Alton. A picture of Christ, which is hung over the sanctuary piano, was given in memory of Pvt. Henry Stehle by his parents John and Bertha. The offering plates were given in memory of Walter Afflerbach by his wife Margaret. The visitor's register in the church narthex was donated by George C. Seydler. Mr. Seydler also donated one of the large pulpit chairs. A side chair was given in memory of Reverend A.F. Foerster by the WSCS. A lighted cross in the apse area was given by Arnold and Jessie Siepmann in memory of their parents. The organ and piano lights were given in memory of Mary Ellen Fink by the Niebuhrs. The choir director's stand was given in memory of Mary Ellen Fink by her family. One of the flower stands in the sanctuary was given in memory of John and Elsie Froehner by their daughters Luella and Marie. The other stand was purchased by the J.O.Y. Circle in memory of Martha Hornung. A set of Maas Cathedral Chimes was given in memory of Otto and Emilie Froehner by their sons Elmar, Erwin, and Arlie. A picture of Sallman's Head Of Christ was given from the home of Reverend and Mrs. O.F. Kattner by their children Estelle, James and Frances. A communion service was given in memory of Henry and Louise Willmann by Marion and Lois Willmann. The candle holders on the communion table were given by Jessie Siepmann in memory of Arnold Siepmann, Jr. An Advent candle holder was given in memory of Richard and Ida Schauer by Monroe and Marie Schauer. A wood carving of the Last Supper was given in memory of Arno Schieberle by Peggy and Sid Burns and family.

Six stained glass windows were placed in the church during the remodeling program in 1961. Inscriptions on the windows are:

In Loving Memory of our Grandparents August - Wilhelmina Gandre.

In Loving Memory of Clara Urbantke Kattner by Her Husband and Children.

In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Froehner by Their Children.

In Memory of Willie F. Gandre by His Wife Emilie.

In Loving Memory of My Mother Erna Raeke Froehner.

In Memory of Williebald F. and Matilda Niebuhr Lindemann.

Three painted glass windows were also installed at the same time with the following inscriptions:

In Loving Memory of Hilda Schieberle by Her Brothers.

In Loving Memory of Aunt Kate McKee by the Edwin Froehners.

In Memory of Amanda Froehner Stulken by George Stulken.

Mr. and Mrs. Brewster contributed $500.00 toward the purchase of pew cushions, kneeling pads, choir curtains, and upholstery of chairs with the church paying the balance of the cost. One hundred pew Bibles were given in memory of Walter and Hilda Raeke by their children James and Bernice. A church sign was given in memory of Elmar Froehner by his wife Estelle and their children Shirley and Stanley. A set of double doors installed at the entrance of the narthex was given in memory of Marion Willmann by his wife Lois. A single exterior door was given in memory of John Fink by his wife Rosa and their children Rosemary and Clarence. A wall clock was placed in the parish hall in memory of Elenora L. Gandre by Leonard and Ruby R. Gandre. A set of paraments was given in memory of Elmar Lindemann by his wife Esther and James Raeke. A memorabilia cabinet was given in memory of Albert and Nettie Fink by their children Marvin, William, Allan and Annette. A communion table picture in the parish hall was given by Milton and Gertrude Lindemann.

A stately pulpit was constructed for the church by Benno Froehner about the time that the new church was built in 1913. The exact construction date is not known. The materials used were of the same type as were used to build the altar rail in the church. This included the molding, trim, lumber and the varnish stain; thereby having a pulpit that blended in with all the surrounding area.

Through the years many hymnals and song books were given in memory of various individuals by a number of donors.

Three trees were planted by Edgar and Theresa Wilke and their family in memory of Jimmy Tuch who was killed while serving in the armed forces. A Spanish oak tree was planted in memory of Paul T. Philippus by his children Ruth, Paul, Jr., Gilbert, and Mary Blanche. Two trees were planted by Roger Johnson in honor of Dr. Walter Sievers and Theo Siepmann, who in turn gave the trees in memory of Reverend William and Alma Sievers. A money gift was given by the Golden Friendship Sunday School Class to assist in defraying the cost of the roof built over the narthex doors.

There are possibly items that have been overlooked or identity is not known that have been omitted in this article. It is with regret that these omissions may occur, but this was not done intentionally by any means. Sincere thanks and appreciation go out to the many people who have honored loved ones by giving in their memory to the Memorial Fund and the many material gifts given to the church.

May God continue to bless their memory and all the donors for their many gifts.