"For many years, a number of Lutheran Christians lived in this vicinity. They desired to remain true to the faith of their fathers and to their church, the Ev. Lutheran Church." They belonged to a church that was looked upon by all as a Lutheran church. The members made an effort to call a man of their faith. Finally some members left this church and applied to Rev. Adam Detzer, Pastor at Des Plaines, who was affiliated with the Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States to come and hold services for them and also organize an orthodox Lutheran church. He gladly came and preached to them.

At the end of January 1876, a congregation was organized under the name of Ev. Lutheran Immanuel Church. The members gladly forfeited their rights to the other church and pledged toward building a new house of worship.

In March 1876, building began on a two-acre tract on what is now Chestnut Avenue. Although roads were almost impassable, the members gladly gave their time and used their horse teams to haul the necessary materials.

On April 22, 1876 the cornerstone was laid for the church. Trustees were elected. Dedication took place on June 25, 1876. The congregation members were not in a position to furnish their new church with a complete line of church furniture. However, they felt assured, that it was a tabernacle of the Lord, in which the Lord dwelled. "Songs of praise and thanksgiving rang forth within the walls of the church on the day of dedication."

It was also resolved to build a parsonage and school. This was quite an undertaking for so small a congregation to carry out. But, they were sure the Lord would bless their efforts. It was now essential to have a resident pastor to carry on the church work successfully. Rev. John Zimmermann accepted their call.

After many years of waiting and praying, they now had a truly Lutheran church and a Lutheran Pastor of their own. They had a shepherd in the real sense of the word to lead them. The joy was short lived for Pastor Zimmermann was forced to resign due to ill health. For the next several years pastors of neighboring congregations preached for services.

In October 1879, Rev. H. W. Wehrs accepted their call. He remained at Immanuel for the next 40 years.

·        In the course of time two lighting fixtures were purchased, a reed organ placed into the church, and primitive benches were replaced by new comfortable pews in church and benches in the school.

 The 1900's

·        The 25^th anniversary was celebrated with special services and invitations to neighboring congregations in 1901.

·        An additional two-acre tract was purchased for cemetery purposes in 1903 for the sum of $525.

·        In 1909 a $500 addition was built to the rear of the church to accommodate the new pipe organ costing $1,180 and dedicated the Sunday after Pentecost.

On May 25^th 1913, the congregation celebrated the 50^th anniversary of Rev. Wehr’s installation into the ministry. During his 34 years at Immanuel he also taught school beside his ministerial duties. The congregation recognized his faithful service by resolving to lighten his burden by calling his son, Rev. Edward Wehrs as assistant to his father. He was installed July 6, 1913.

·        During Rev. Edward Wehrs pastorate the congregation joined the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States.

·        Members also felt there was need for English worship services. English services were introduced once a month.

·        A choir and young people’s society were organized.

·        Sunday School was held on Sunday afternoon.

The 1920's

The year 1921 was a year of transition for Immanuel.

Rev. Edward Wehrs accepted a call to Big Falls, Wisconsin. Rev. A. H. Werfelmann came from Lindenwood, Illinois, and became the new pastor in the Fall.

·        Once again the congregation decided to move ahead with more building. A two-story parsonage was completed by November 13, 1921, for a cost of $11,000 and the school was enlarged and remodeled to provide a second classroom for a cost of $3,000.  

      It was also decided to call our first teacher in conformation to the requirements of the new State of Illinois Course of study and the curriculum was expanded. Fred Weber, graduate of Concordia in River Forest was installed in August 1921. The school had an enrollment of 80 pupils. Mr. Weber taught the four upper grades while Pastor Werfelmann taught the four lower grades. It was not until 1926 that another teacher was engaged. Miss Edna Hellberg was hired to teach the lower grades and Pastor Werfelmann was relieved of his school duties to devote full time to ministerial work of the growing congregation.

Increased worship attendance made the little frame church inadequate.

• In the Spring of 1922, the church was damaged when the chimney on the west side of the building blew down through the roof. The damage was quite severe and the need for a new house of worship was underscored. 
   

• Another section of land was purchased in 1920, for $1,065, for the construction of a new church building and a teacher’s residence.
   

• Committees were organized to explore the options for construction plans and funding.  A contract was awarded to Mr. John Schrambeck of Chicago to build a new church for a cost of $55,000 to $60,000.  The new church was built on a tract on the north side of Chestnut Avenue purchased in 1917 for $500.

·        Groundbreaking for the church was celebrated with special worship services held on February 28^th 1926, with the cornerstone laying on April 25^th and dedication on November 28^th.

The 1930's

Pastor Edward Wehrs passed away on August 8, 1930, and his body was brought back to rest in Immanuel’s cemetery. In 1931 Pastor Werfelmann accepted a call to Zion Congregation in Hinsdale. He later held the office of the President of the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

Rev. Paul E. Meyer, who was serving in Lewistown, Montana, was installed as the next pastor on June 19, 1932.

·        He was instrumental in organizing the Ruth Sewing Circle.

·        The 60^th anniversary of the congregation founding and the 10^th anniversary of the new church were observed in 1936.

·        The afternoon service was a "Confirmation Reunion Service."

·        The church was re-roofed; and a year later, the interior was painted and decorated for the first time.

·        In December 1941 the new Lutheran Hymnal and the new order of service were introduced.

Pastor Meyer accepted another call in 1943.

The 1940's

Rev. Gehard F. Raedeke came to Immanuel after serving congregations in South Dakota. He was installed on November 28, 1943.

·        During Pastor Raedeke’s years of service several new organizations were formed: Men’s Club, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Men and Women’s Bowling Leagues and the Parents’ and Teacher’s Society.

·        Special fund drives were initiated in 1944 to take care of the church and property.

·        A special service to honor Fred Weber’s 25^th anniversary as a Lutheran teacher was observed in September 1947. He contracted a serious illness several months later and passed away.

In February 1948, Edgar Abraham and family came from Brookfield, Illinois. Mr. Abraham was installed as principal and upper grade teacher of the school.

·        Enrollment increased to require a third class consisting of Kindergarten and First Grade. A second male teacher was called to teach intermediate grades and assist in the work of youth societies and an athletic program. Enrollment had reached 96 pupils.

·        In November 1949, a new thank offering to God allowed the congregation to build a new school at the time of the Diamond Jubilee.

·        The first Parent-Teacher League was organized.

The 1950's

Work on the new school began July 5, 1951. The old two-room school was sold and moved. This made it necessary to hold classes in the church basement for the 1951-52 school term.

Completed in early 1952, the new school addition was attached at the north east corner of the church extending eastward at a cost of $90,000. It provided space for six classrooms, a library, office, a large "all-purpose" room and lavatories.  The old school is now an apartment building on Chestnut and Lehigh.

·        The Altar Guild was organized in 1953.

Mr. Abraham took a call to Kansas and Mr. Walter Stahlke became the school principal.

Rev. Raedeke accepted a call to Young America, Minn. Pastor Erwin C. Rodehorst was our new pastor.

·        The last regular German language service was conducted on March 20, 1955.

Early one morning, an electrical fire happened in the front section of the church basement. Pastor Rodehorst went to his front door to see who was banging on it. A man passing the church had noticed the fire. The damage effected the large stained glass front window in the narthex, the pipe organ and there was smoke damage throughout the church building.

·        Thus began a remodeling program for a new pipe organ, new rose window, new narthex, two office areas, Mother’s room, new semi-interior entrance stairway with cloakroom and storage areas under the stairway entrance, and redecorating the sanctuary.

·        In the Fall of 1957 another classroom was opened to handle enrollment.

·        A public address system was installed in church as a memorial to a departed member.

·        Dedication of the renovated church was in 1958.

Rev. Alfred F. Nicolaus served as assistant pastor from June 1959 – September 1959. Rev. Paul E. Meyer passed away and was buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery.

The 1960’s

From June 1960 – November 1961, Rev. Gotthold G. Elbert was our assistant pastor.

Mr. Stahlke asked to be relieved of regular organist and choir director duties. With 20 previous years of experience, Mr. Theodore Preuss filled this position .

Pastor and Mrs. Rodehorst moved into the new parsonage at 244 Montgomery Lane, Glenview. Mr. and Mrs. Frank (Immanuel school teachers) moved into the former parsonage.

·        The Sunday School enrollment was up to 361 children. 

·        In 1961, the Lutter property to the west of the church became available for purchase and the congregation razed the house in 1967 to make a parking area on the west side of the church.

Mr. Walter Stahlke resigned in August 1961 to work in a sister congregation.

Mr. Floyd Leoschke accepted a call to be the new school principal.

Pastor Rodehorst received a third call from the Lutheran Hospital, Ford Dodge, Iowa. This time he felt he had stayed to see the congregation through difficult times and he could now move on to Fort Dodge. 

Rev. Richard G. Maassel assumed his pastoral duties.  

·        A Couples Club was organized in 1964.

In 1965 we undertook a new building program.

·        Building & finance committees were set up for a 90^th anniversary $400,000 building project.

·        The teacher residence was razed.

·        The building program began on March 27, 1966, September 11. The project included pastor’s office, school staff and library, gymnasium, nursery and kitchen.

·        Groundbreaking Service, April 16

·        1967 – Cornerstone Laying,

·        November 19, 1967 – Service of Praise,

·        January 7, 1968 - Dedication of the Church

·        March 31, 1968 – Dedication of the Entire Facility.

      Mr. Robert Moll became school principal.

·        A constitution committee began working on revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws, approved in 1972.

·        Twenty-six children enrolled in Immanuel’s parochial school from Grace Lutheran Church, Northbrook due to their school closing. A new building and finance committee was formed. Research in 1980 showed Glenview Public Schools had decreased 34% in the past 10 years while Immanuel enrollment had increased 34% during the same period.

·        The year 1976 was a year-long celebration of Immanuel’s 100^th anniversary; and also celebrating the bicentennial of the USA.  A special memorial service was held on the cemetery to honor veterans. During the mid ‘60s through the ‘70s this congregation was served by vicars. It was determined we needed a second pastor. Rev. Wilmer H. Reichmann accepted the call. Pastors Maassel and Reichmann served together until Pastor Maassel’s retirement in 1997.

·        Early in 1979 an evening Folk service was introduced.

November of 1979 - Mr. Moll applied for admission to the Pastor Ministry of the LC-MS.

The 1980’s 

In the Chicago area, there was a mass exodus to outer suburbs.  This trend effected the membership at Immanuel as well.  Thirty-five percent more Lutherans moved out than moved in. Our challenge was to re-tool our efforts to attract non-traditional Lutherans.

In March of 1980, Will Flandemeyer became our new Principal. Mrs. Cleone Flandemeyer taught in our school.

·        Immanuel "Fire" program made Evangelism visits through the community.

·        The "Lutheran Worship" hymnal was introduced as the congregation’s hymnal in 1982.

·        Social Ministry Program collects food items for Uptown Ministry and helps serve meals at the Uptown Mission. These ladies also collect food, clothing and household goods for the World Relief Drive; and also get together to sew quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

·        A new Theatre Guild is formed.

·        The dedication of the present narthex, library and pre-school classroom marked the congregation’s 110^th anniversary.

·        The stewardship program, "Each One-Reach One" challenge was initiated.

Pastor Reichmann said, "There is a good spirit and sense of unity in our church. Our challenge continues to be to get more of our members active in the work of the church."

Mr. and Mrs. Wil Flandemeyer left Immanuel for Evansville, Indiana, where Mr. Flandemeyer served as principal at Evansville Lutheran School.

Keith Wilharm is welcomed to the professional staff as our new principal. The congregation hired Denise Maassel for the Director of Youth Ministries position.

·        The music program was expanded by the purchase of two octaves of hand bells for a hand bell choir.

·        A flag processional and recessional of the American and Christian flags has been added to each worship service.

The 1990’s

Keith Wilharm accepted a call to Immanuel, Palatine in September 1991. Paul Trettin was assigned as full time principal.

·        The first annual golf outing kicked off at Glenview Naval Air Base with 80 golfers for a day of fellowship activities.

Pastor Maassel and Pastor Reichmann switched positions with the approval of the congregation; with Pastor Riechmann as the senior pastor.

• The Christian School Commission and the PTL ventured the first dinner auction event. There were several elements of success at the auction: fellowship of committee members, volunteers and guests, and $13,000 for the school and church budget.
   

•  Paul Trettin initated programs for WWII veterans to speak to students in grades 5-8, a memorial service in the church cemetery on May 24^th and plaque listing the names of WWII veterans at the west entrance to the church.

The year 1996 was a 120^th church anniversary celebration. Rev. Richard Maassel celebrated his 40^th anniversary in the ministry and his retirement. Pastor Reichmann accepted a call to Cedarburg, Wisconsin in 1998. During the pastoral vacancy,  Rev. Peter Zadeik served as our pastor.

The 2000’s

In 2000 Rev. David E. Barber accepted the call to be our Pastor. 

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