Congregation History
Martin Luther began on July 22, 1917 with the installation of Pastor E. Arnold Sitz. Eight families formed the new Lutheran church. In October 1917 an existing church, parish hall, and parsonage were purchased. The early years were a struggle with pastoral changes and families coming and going. In 1918 Pastor Sitz resigned due to poor health and was replaced by Pastor Martin J. Nommensen who served until 1923. By 1928 the church was self-supporting and had one hundred seventy-eight communicants.
Pastor Herold Kleinhans served Martin Luther for almost fifty years, from 1924 to 1971. His pastorate was a time of growth, causing the church to plan expansion to a new location. In 1954 the property where the present church and school stand was purchased. Construction of the new church began in 1959 with dedication in December 1960. After Pastor Kleinhans' death the congregation called Daniel E. Habeck. In 1985 the church installed Pastor Stephen B. Sauer as an associate pastor; he served until 1993. In 1994 Pastor Jeffrey A. Berg was called as co-pastor and acting principal to the growing Christian Day School. In 2004 Pastor Nathan Ericson was called as co-pastor at Martin Luther and also as Pastor for the Campus House at the University in Oshkosh.
The Christian Day School was started in the church basement in 1991. Construction of the current thirteen-room school, gymnasium, office space, extended narthex, and elevator began in 1995 with dedication in September 1996. The building of the school was the result of the members' desire to feed the lambs of the Lord and reach out to the community with the Word of our Lord.
In 1999 the Christian Day School had a student enrollment of one hundred twenty-five. The congregation thanks the Lord for the opportunity to be the second Wisconsin Synod church in Oshkosh with a Christian Day School. The rapid growth of the school provides the church with a mission to expand God's truth to the north and west of Oshkosh. The current school staff is Mr. Steve Hennig, Principle, Teacher of grades 5&6; Mr. Nathan Schulmeister, Teacher of grades 7&8, Mrs. Lois Werner, Teacher of grades 3&4; Mrs. Amy Busse, Teacher of 2nd Grade; Mrs. Naomi Strusz, Teacher of 1st Grade; Mrs. Connie Frederickson, Kindergarten Teacher; Mrs. Karen Berg, Pre-K Teacher; and Mrs. Becky Korthals, Special Resource Teacher.