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Sugar Creek Lutheran Church:  Through the Years 

1844  -  Norwegian immigrants who came to Wisconsin seeking farm land and an opportunity for a better life for their families held simple Sunday services in their homes.

1849  -  Originating from a Lutheran parish, Gjerpen, in Skien, Norway and longing for a church of their own, they were ready to become a congregation. On August 6, the first recorded service was held with Rev. Dietrichson from a neighboring church at Koshkonong preaching and serving Communion.

1851  -  A place of worship was erected on a little knoll in the present cemetery. The first church was only 18’ by 24’ and rested on 4 corner posts without a foundation.

1859  -  The congregation called their first resident pastor, Rev. H. A. Preus.

1881  -  The rural community known as Jacobsville was growing with more friends and relatives coming from Norway. The tiny church was becoming crowded, so it was voted to build the existing white frame church. The families now numbered 20, with approximately 100 members.

1885  -  The Ladies Aid was organized.

1905  -  A bell was purchased with money raised by events such as ice cream socials that the Ladies Aid sponsored. On Sunday mornings the call for worship could be heard from afar.

1907  -  A horse shed was constructed across the road from the church for the horse drawn buggies and wagons. The Jacobsville Christian Association was organized as well, which later became Luther League.

1913  -  An addition was made on the east end of the church for a chancel housing the altar and communion rail.

1918  -  The Brotherhood was organized.

1933  -  A basement was dug under the church. Now there was room for a kitchen and dining hall which also served as Sunday School rooms.

1935  -  A lunch stand staffed by church members was organized at the Walworth County Fair.

1944  -  Laurel Johnson from the congregation was ordained.

1949  -  Sugar Creek Lutheran sponsored the Lutheran Church in Williams Bay.

1950  -  The church was remodeled.

1955  -  Arthur Ree from the congregation was ordained.

1960  -  An educational wing was built, leading out from the basement and dedicated on October 30.

1967  -  After sharing a minister with Williams Bay Lutheran Church for many years, Sugar Creek Lutheran called Rev. Solberg to serve.

1971  -  Sugar Creek Lutheran began holding two services on Sundays.

1974  -  A Malagasy mission film called “The Book that Wouldn’t Burn” was sponsored, with the world premiere held at the Sprague Theater in Elkhorn.

1977  -  The thriving congregation made plans for the new brick church to be built, and ground was broken in July.

1978  -  The new church building was completed. The ceremonial parade carrying the altar pieces from the old church was unfortunately not the happy occasion it should have been. Rev. Peter Dzick, who had been called in February, was struck with a sudden serious illness, and a substitute minister presided. Many guest ministers served the congregation for several months. In November, Rev. Gerald Peterson (“Pastor Pete”) was installed. 

1979  -  The new church building was formally dedicated on May 27, along with a pipe organ given to the congregation.

1982  -  Shelley Bobb from the congregation was ordained.

1993  -  Under the guidance of Pastor Pete, Sugar Creek Lutheran continued to grow. An education building was erected above the Sunday School rooms to meet the increasing number of students. The acquiring of youth directors Deb Williamson, Summer Brandon and Amy Connelly facilitated the growth of the Sunday School. In 1993 Molly Doreza from the congregation was ordained.  

1997  -  The bell on the old church was repaired and electrified.

1998  -  A daycare center was established. Martin Kretzmann was hired as Director of Youth & Family Ministries.

1999  -  150th Anniversary.

2002-2011  -  Martha HarriSon served as Youth Director.

2011-2016  -  Summer Markham served as Youth Director.

2012  -  Pastor Gerald Peterson retired.

2014  -  After a two-year hiatus without a pastor, the congregation called Pastor Dick Inglett to lead the congregation.

2017-2020  -  Dawn Heath Fiedler served as Family & Outreach Coordinator.

2019-2021  -  Intern Lily Brellenthin (ordained in 2021) was mentored by Sugar Creek Lutheran at Faith Lutheran Church Walworth, continuing Sugar Creek’s Ministry Outreach.

2020  -  The world was hit with Covid-19, causing many companies, stores and churches to shut down.  Sugar Creek’s leaders initiated a plan to continue worshiping with the congregation in their automobiles while Pastor Dick stood on a hay wagon preaching over FM channel 98.8 to car radios.  Holy Communion was served in disposable cups on a weekly basis. 

2020-2022  -  Rachel Smith served in a part-time role as Ministry & Outreach Coordinator.

2021  -  Congregation began worshiping back in the sanctuary after a year of Covid-19, starting with the choice of a Sunday service in the parking lot or a second service in the sanctuary. The parking lot service was offered until April.

2021  -  Wednesday evening youth programming started back up with a full church service followed by dinner served every Wednesday night, boosting fellowship for up to 100 attendees.
 
2023-2025  -  Intern/Pastor Wade Crevier served at Sugar Creek Lutheran (ordained in 2025).

2023  -  Since the 1940’s, Sugar Creek has been known for our Food Stand at the Walworth County Fair. In 2023 we became the last remaining church serving food at the Walworth County Fair.

In Celebration of 175 Years of Mission and Ministry, two major events occurred: 
2024  -  Church met the $100K Challenge, an internal program designed to place $100,000 toward the broader community needs, including the start-up resources for a dementia program and funds to complete an open-air pavilion at Elkhorn Area Middle School.  

2024  -  Thanks to several very dedicated individuals and much hard work, Sugar Creek completed the installation of solar panels.  The solar panels are sized to optimally provide power to meet the electric needs of the church building.  Generous gifts from the congregation and available grant funds paid for the solar infrastructure, which will provide electricity for Sugar Creek Lutheran well into the future. Details on that project may be found HERE.