Gloria Dei organizers meet on September 28, 1945 when seven Tomah-area residents met with Pastor Clearance Solberg of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sparta

The American Lutheran Church of Tomah was organized after many more meetings

The first sanctuary was a rented facility on the corner of McLean and Council Streets

The first church service was held on October 12, 1945, Pastor Solberg presiding.

Guest pastors from other congregations served the congregation until Pastor Norman A. Nelson was appointed to serve the congregation

Pastor Nelson's first official service was on May 26, 1946.

The first baptisms the new church were Sandra Kay Pedersen in June, 1946, and Bruce Yates in October, 1946.

The first funeral was that of John Ornes on July 23, 1946

The congregation was officially organized on July 11, 1946, as the "American Lutheran Church"

October 13, 1946, was the first anniversary of the new church with 30 families and a total 98 members

First annual meeting held on January 21, 1947, between Ruth L. Scholze and Ralph M. Harris

Groundbreaking for the new church was held on June 6, 1948, at the corner of Superior Avenue and Nott Street

The first service in the new church was on December 23, 1948, in the basement. It was officially dedicated on November 28, 1948

The first wedding in the new church was on December 23, 1948, between Jean Mork and Harold Eggleson

The congregation's five year anniversary celebration was on September 30, 1951, soon after pastor Nelson moved on to another congregation

Nineteen fifty-two marks the beginning of the Hunger Haven concession at the Monroe County Fairgrounds

On September 6, 1964, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new church to be built on Elizabeth Street

 January 19, 1965, the congregation voted to change the name of the church from "The American Lutheran Church in Tomah" to "Gloria Dei Lutheran Church"

The first worship service conducted in the new church was on June 13, 1965

 The first wedding in the new church was between Nancy Kollath and Tom Kilen on June 18, 1965

The cornerstone for the new church was laid in July and officially dedicated on September 12, 1965

The first pictorial directory was completed in 1965

In 1967, the tradition was started where women of the church decorated the church with ornaments called "Chrismons," gold and white crafts gathered throughout that summer, and are still used today.

Gloria Dei begins it's affiliation with Sugar Creek Bible Camp

Gloria Dei observed it's 25th anniversary on June 25, 1971. Part of the celebration included a confirmation reunion and ice cream social. Pastors Nelson and Skibsrud participated in the celebration

In 1973, Gloria Dei's internship program began training student pastors. A total of nine student pastors have participated in the program since inception

December 23, 1973, saw the dedication of the church's new pipe organ

In 1974 the Jellystone ministry of Gloria Dei begins

September, 1982, Pastor Carla J. Meier became Gloria Dei's first associate pastor and the first female ordained minister to serve our congregation

The congregation's second pictorial directory was completed in 1982

 In 1986 the 40th anniversary celebration included a congregational dinner and festival services with former pastors and interns

In 1988 Gloria Dei youth attend the National Youth Gathering in Kansas City

January 14, 1990, the new building addition was formally dedicated

In 1991 the ELCA youth attend the National Youth Gathering in Dallas

In 1996 Gloria Dei adds a director of volunteers to coordinate the many and varied activities hosted by Gloria Dei

July 9, 1996, first ordination occurs at Gloria Dei when Pastor Linda Vork becomes associate pastor and serves until February, 1998

Our Pastors

 Norman Nelson        1946-1951

L.G.C Pedersen       1951-1952

L.G.C Pedersen       1956-1957

Alvin Skibsrud       1952-1956

Raymond S. Quade     1957-1968

David A. Hoyme       1969-1980

Gary Liedtke         1981-1989

Carla J. Meier       1982-1985

Dennis Johnson       1986-1993

Robert Toso          1989-1999

Tim Robertson        1993-1995

Linda Vork Dutton    1995-1998

Martha Hampton       1998-2006

Richard Thompson     1999-2001

   William Rice         2001-Present

                                      Last Updated  03/06/2008