Presidents – WELS Historical Institute

1850-1860 WELS President Johannes Muehlhaeuser

1850-1860 President Johannes Muehlhaeuser

Personal, Presidents, The Founding Fathers

1850-1860 President Johannes Muehlhaeuser Biography References Related content: The Early Presidents Collection The Office of the President of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Papers …

1860-1864 and 1867-1889 WELS President John Bading

1860-1864 and 1867-1889 President John Bading

Personal, Presidents, The Founding Fathers

President John Bading Johann (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."…

1864-1865 President Gottlieb Reim

Personal, Presidents, The Founding Fathers

1864-1865 President Gottlieb Reim

1865-1867 WELS President Wilhelm Streissguth

1865-1867 President Wilhelm Streissguth

Personal, Presidents, The Founding Fathers

President Wilhelm Streissguth 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…

1889-1908 WELS President Philip von Rohr

1889-1908 President Philip von Rohr

Personal, Presidents

1889-1908 President Philip von Rohr

1908-1933 WELS President Gustav E. Bergemann

1908-1933 President Gustav E. Bergemann

Personal, Presidents

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 President John Brenner

Personal, Presidents

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,…