1850-1860 WELS President Johannes Muehlhaeuser

1850-1860 President Johannes Muehlhaeuser

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Johannes Muehlhaeuser was born in the German state of Wuerttemberg, probably on August 9, 1804. (This is the date on his gravestone; however, some sources list his birthyear as 1803.) As a young man, he relocated to Switzerland, where he worked…
1860-1864 and 1867-1889 WELS President John Bading

1860-64 & 1867-89 President John Bading

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Johannes (John) F. Bading was born on November 24, 1824, in Rixdorf near Berlin, Germany. As a teenager walking on Berlin’s Sebastian Street, he saw above a house door the Mark 16:15 motto "Preach the gospel to all creation." It triggered…
1864-1865 WELS President Gottlieb Reim

1864-1865 President Gottlieb Reim

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Gottlieb Reim was born on November 4, 1828 in Obertürkheim, Württemberg to Hieronymus Jakob and Barbara Reim. He initially trained to work as a cobbler, but at the age of 22, he enrolled in the Basel Mission School—completing his studies…
1865-1867 WELS President Wilhelm Streissguth

1865-1867 President Wilhelm Streissguth

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Wilhelm (William) Streissguth was born at Lahr, grand duchy of Baden, on April 10, 1827. He pursued his studies at Lahr and Ludwigsburg, and finally, in the Mission Institute and the University of Basel. He was ordained into the holy ministry…
1889-1908 WELS President Philip von Rohr

1889-1908 President Philip von Rohr

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Philip von Rohr was born in Buffalo, New York, on February 13, 1843, to recent immigrants from Prussia. His father, Heinrich von Rohr, was a former captain in the Prussian royal guards. Yet, he had resigned his commission due to his strong…
1908-1933 WELS President Gustav E. Bergemann

1908-1933 President Gustav E. Bergemann

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Gustave Ernst Bergemann was born August 9, 1862, to Ludwig Bergemann and Wilhemine nee Schulz of Hustisford, Wisconsin. After being instructed and confirmed by Pastor Philip Koehler, he entered Northwestern College on November 14, 1879. In…
1933-1953 WELS President John Brenner

1933-1953 President John Brenner

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John William Otto Brenner was born on July 11, 1874, at Hustisford, Wisconsin, the son of teacher Karl F.G. Brenner and his wife Barbara, nee Werner. He received his elementary school education at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Fond du Lac,…
1953-1979 WELS President Oscar J. Naumann

1953-1979 President Oscar J. Naumann

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Oscar J. Naumann on June 24, 1909, was born in Wood Lake, Minnesota to Rev. Justus and Maria (nee Scherf) Naumann. When Oscar was 10 years old, his father died unexpectedly at the age of 51. The eight Naumann children (Oscar was #7) were raised…
1979-1993 WELS President Carl Mischke

1979-1993 President Carl Mischke

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Carl Herbert Mischke was a “son of the soil” from South Dakota and served the Lord faithfully as the ninth president of WELS. Pastor Mischke was born on October 27, 1922, in Hazel, South Dakota. On July 6, 1947, he was united in marriage…
1993-2007 WELS President Karl R. Gurgel

1993-2007 President Karl R. Gurgel

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Karl R. Gurgel the oldest of five children, was born on February 24, 1942. His father was long-time Wisconsin Synod pastor, Karl A. Gurgel who served the synod as chairman of the synod’s Mission Board before it was divided into the Board…
2007-present WELS President Mark G. Schroeder

2007-present President Mark G. Schroeder

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Mark G. Schroeder was born on September 5, 1954, the youngest of eight children, all of whom became pastors or teachers. The son of Professor Erwin M. Schroeder and Selma nee Diersen, President Schroeder grew up on the Watertown campus where…