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St. Paul Lutheran Church was established in Kouts in 1873. According to the church’s historical writings, the first Lutherans in Kouts met in the homes of fellow Christians. A pastor from a nearby community would conduct services about once a month, usually on a Sunday afternoon.
The first public Lutheran worship service took place in a dilapidated school house on the east end of Kouts in August of 1873. “The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s Congregation,” as it was officially called, was a branch started by Pastor W.J.B. Lange of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Valparaiso. When he resigned because of health problems, Pastor Phillip Schmidt of Wanatah took over the congregation. In 1880 the first church building was built, a wooden frame structure that stood until 1973.
In 1908, a new brick church was erected at the north corner of Rose
and Elizabeth streets, which still serves as the house of worship for
St. Paul. Since 1954, it has been completely renovated, without losing
its original charm. The old wooden church, on the south corner of Rose
and Elizabeth streets, was turned into a Parish Hall. It was torn down
in 1973 and a
new Parish Hall was built of brick, with numerous Sunday school classrooms on the lower level and a kitchen and fellowship hall on the upper level, in addition to administrative offices.
In 1995, land was purchased in Kouts and a brand new parsonage was constructed for our pastor and family. Also in the 1990s, the Parish Hall and church were both made handicap accessible.
Pastors who have served St. Paul’s:
Rev. Phillip Schmidt
Rev. W.J. Lange
Rev. Adolph Dunzing
Rev. Albert Baumann (1894-1899)
Rev. Otto Schumm (1899-1905)
Rev. Arthur Both (1905-1906)
Rev. Hicko Hicken (1907-1947)
Rev. Walter Schwane (1947-1954)
Rev. Luther P. Koepke (1954-1984)
Rev. Neil Andersen (1985-1993)
Rev. Kent Wartick (1993-1994 as vacancy; called & served 1996-2004)
Rev. Robert W. Hauter (2005-present)
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