History

One hundred twenty-five years ago area of Hancock County was sparsely settled. The early settlers of this area faced many hardships. The winters were severe, and during violent snowstorms they often hung lanterns on the chimney tops to serve as guides for those who had the misfortune of being out in the storm. The nearest grain mills were located in Belmond and Clear Lake. The land had to be broken for planting corn, and many of the early pioneers were robbed of their corn harvest by cranes. These early settlers also faced the task of building their homes and other necessary buildings. These were the problems and conditions that confronted the early settlers.

Most of the early settlers were German immigrants. Some of them came from a German settlement at New Knoxville, Ohio. Others came directly to Hancock County from their native land. It is to be noted that at this time, the Methodist Church had already begun do some pioneer work and had held meetings in various homes. However, many of the early immigrants had received their spiritual training in Reformed and Lutheran Churches, so it was only natural that they desired to organize a church of their own faith. In 1878, Rev. Lienkaemper of Waukon, Iowa, came to this community and preached several times. It was then that these early pioneers realized their need for a minister of their own faith. As a result, an urgent message was sent by Mr. Henry Kaetter to Rev. A. Muehlmeier, housefather of the Mission House Seminary in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, asking that he might provide them with a minister.

Rev Frederick Mosenbach
1878-1884

The request was granted, and student Frederick Mosebach declared himself willing to serve in this new field. The call that Rev. Mosebach accepted contained the following clause: "That you may be relieved of temporal cares, as far as possible, we do obligate ourselves to pay you for your support an annual sum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) as well as providing room and board, so long as you shall continue to be our pastor." Rev. Mosebach arrived in August 1878, after being licensed and ordained by the Sheboygan Classis of the Reformed Church in the United States. He made his home with the Henry Kaetter family and he preached his first sermon on Sunday August 22, 1878, to a small audience in a schoolhouse that formerly stood near the present site of the church. In the afternoon of the same day, the Sunday School was organized with both young and old having a part in the organization of the Sunday School.

Many families in the community were contacted and on October 6, 1878, our church was organized and named, "The Friedens Reformed Church." The first consistory consisted of Elders, Henry Kaetter and Val Josten, and Deacons W. Stienecker and J. Wentz. The first members consisted of the families of Henry Kaetter, Val Josten, Fred Ax, C. Stromer, Wm. Becker, F. Bock, A. Barz, P. Meyer, Jac. Meyer, E. Upmeier, F. Greiman, Julius Priebe, J. Bush, J. Blumer,Sr., J. Wacker, J. Goll, J. Schuldt and H. Kaetter, Jr. In the fall of the same year, our church joined the Minnesota Classis of the Reformed Church in the United States. The first confirmation class was confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1879.

As families joined the church, the schoolhouse became too small for a place of worship. In a special meeting in the spring of 1879, a majority of the members voted to build a church and parsonage on the five acres of land where our church and parsonage stand at the present time. Subscriptions were asked for, but as a result of a crop failure, money was scarce. Therefore, the infant congregation sought and received help from people in Ohio and Wisconsin. Five Hundred and forty dollars ($540.00) were received and proved to be sufficient to build both church and parsonage. The people were so anxious to have a place of their own in which to worship, that in May of the same year the corner stone of the first church building in Hancock County, Iowa, was laid. Nearly all the members worked to erect the new church. Toward the end of August of the same year, the church was completed, debt free and dedicated on the September 6,1879.

Friedens Reformed Church
(presently known as Peace Reformed)
built in 1879 was the first church in Hancock County

The Parsonage
The total cost of building both the church
and the parsonage amounted to $540.

Rev. Mosebach's successor was the Rev. John Matter, who arrived in June, 1884. His stay was short, and he left again in October 1885. He was followed by Rev. Henry Treick, graduate of the Mission House Seminary. Rev. Treick began his active ministry on November 22, 1885. On March 16, 1887, the congregation decided to build a parsonage 16 x 24 and an addition of 12 x 14. Work on building the parsonage was begun and completed in the fall of the same year. In 1889 a branch church was organized in Garner and was named "The Zion Reformed Church." The church was erected the same year. Four years later, in 1893, at the request of members in the Klemme vicinity, preaching services were held in a schoolhouse there. In 1895 a congregation was organized and a church named "Immanuel Reformed Church" was built. The charge of Rev. Treick now consisted of three congregations: Peace, Zion, and Immanuel. He conducted two services each Sunday, equally dividing his time among the three congregations.

In the spring of 1896, Rev. Treick resigned to accept a call from the Reformed Church of Scotland, South Dakota. Rev. Treick recommended to the congregation that they extend a call to the Rev. John Gaterman, then a student at the Mission House Seminary.

Rev John Matter
1884-1885

Rev Henry Treick
1885-1896

Rev John Gaterman 1896-1906	After preaching a trial sermon, Rev. Gaterman was elected and accepted the call sent to him by the three congregations which he served for 5 years. Then in 1901, because it had grown to such an extent they felt that they could support a pastor of their own, Immanuel Church of Klemme, became an independent congregation.
	Rev.Albert Muehimeier was elected as pastor of Peace Refored Church this same year, and the congregation became a member of the Minnesota Classis. The charge now consisted of Peace and Zion Churches. At a special meeting held on the August 15, 1897, the congregation decided to build a new church. The church was completed and dedicated before Christmas of the same year. The dimensions of the church were 26 x 48, with an addition of 11 x 24. The entire cost of the building, including the bell and furnace, amounted to about $2,400.00. This sum was subscribed immediately so that no debt remained. On October 11, 1903, this congregation celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Two former pastors, Rev. Mosebach and Rev. Treick, were the guest speakers. In November 1906, Rev. Gaterman resigned to accept a call to Marengo, Iowa.	Peace Reformed Church 1897

Rev. R. Kirchhefer
1907-1914

The consistory then extended a call to Rev. R. Kirchhefer, which he accepted. Rev. Kirchhefer began his ministry in the spring of 1907 and preached the Word of God faithfully throughout his ministry; with sincere regret the congregation accepted his resignation in the spring of 1914. Rev. W. Wittenberg, an area resident lead the congregation faithfully until a call was extended to Rev. C. A. Schmid, from the Mission House seminary, who began his pastorate on July, 26, 1914. He served 21 years, the longest of any of the ministers.

In the years that followed, the church progressed nicely. In the fall of 1920 it was decided to introduce English services by alternating English and German services every other Sunday. In 1925 the congregation presented the pastor with a new Ford sedan. In 1926, the church was remodeled by adding two small additions and by raising the church three feet so as to have a basement large and dry enough to be used for Sunday School. Electric lights were also installed in the church and parsonage during the remodeling. The members supplied much of the manual labor, thus cutting the cost by a considerable sum. The remodeling, new furnace, and electric lights amounted to about $5,000. Once again the amount was raised through subscriptions, and the congregation remained debt free. The young people collected enough money among themselves to pay for the rug and carpets.

Rev. Calvin Schmidt
1914-1935

On Sunday, August 19, 1928, more than five hundred people attended the Fiftieth Anniversary of our church. One former pastor, the Rev. Treick, of Eureka, South Dakota, delivered the sermon. Rev. Kirchhefer, then located at Sutton, Nebraska, was unable to be present at this celebration due to illness. Other speakers for this occasion were Rev. KJ Stuebbe, of Waukon, Iowa, and Rev. H. Huenemann, of Forreston, Illinois. Rev. Schmid continued serving this congregation faithfully. On July 26, 1934, the congregation surprised Rev. Schmid and family by gathering in the church to celebrate his 20th anniversary as pastor of Peace and Zion Churches. It was with sincere regret that the congregation accepted his resignation in 1935 to accept a call to Berne, Indiana. During the vacancy that followed, the Rev. Calvin Grosshuesch of Klemme, Iowa, supplied our church faithfully. In December 1935, Rev. Wm. Huenemann, of Menno, South Dakota, took over the pastorate of the Garner Churches.

In 1938 all the churches of the Reformed Church in the United States were asked to vote on whether or not they wished to join the newly organized Evangelical and Reformed Church. Therefore, on April 3, 1938, a special meeting of Peace congregation was called to vote on the following question: 'Is this congregation willing to change its name, charter, and constitution and join the new Evangelical and Reformed Church." The majority voted "no" to this question.

Rev Wm Huenemann
1935-1943

At the annual meeting in 1941 the congregation voted to have German Services held only on the last Sunday of every month. Rev. Huenernann, even though his health was failing, continued to serve God faithfully, declaring His Word to the people of Garner. He was called to his eternal home on July 28, 1943.

Rev. Robert Stuebbe
1944-1951

Following Rev. Huenemann's death the Garner Churches were served by Rev. H. Achtermann of Hampton, Iowa; by Rev. Calvin Grosshuesch of Klemme; and also by various students from the Mission House Seminary. On November 14, 1943, a special meeting of the congregation voted to extend a call to Robert Stuebbe, a senior at Mission House Seminary. Rev. Stuebbe became pastor of the Garner Churches on July 1, 1944 and faithfully served both Peace and Zion Churches for almost seven years. On December 18, 1950, with regrets of the congregation, Rev. Stuebbe resigned, and on April 1, 1951, he preached his farewell sermon. Rev. H. Huenemann, Lynden, Washington, was contacted and was asked by both churches to supply during the vacancy.

Rev. Huenemann accepted and arrived here shortly after Rev. Stuebbe had moved. During the following year, several calls were sent to various ministers but were declined. After receiving several letters from the Iowa Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, a congregational meeting of the Peace Reformed Church was called on August 20,1951. At this meeting the majority voted not to cooperate with the Iowa Synod or go through its channels in securing a minister. In the spring of 1952, Zion Church, Garner, extended a call to Rev. Carl Mohr, then a senior in the Mission House Seminary. Rev. Mohr accepted the call and became pastor of the Zion Church. Thus Zion Church became an independent congregation, affiliating itself with the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

After preaching a trial sermon on March 3,1952, Rev. Chester Ploeger of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, accepted the call on June 7, 1952 and took over his duties as pastor on July 15, 1952. In October, 1952, the case of the Peace Reformed Church, plaintiff, versus the Iowa Synod, of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and certain officers, defendants, was held in the Hancock County District Court, Garner, Iowa. The Peace Reformed Church sought to quiet title on certain real estate and to restrain defendants from interfering with management and administration of the church property. In December 1952, Judge M. H. Kepler rendered a decision in favor of Peace Church. From the years 1952 to 1959 the congregation lost all affiliation with the previous classis, because of the merger, and became an independent congregation.

In the spring of 1959 the active elders and the Rev. Chester Ploeger, pastor of the congregation, attended the annual session of the Eureka Classis, Reformed Church in the U.S. being held at Menno, South Dakota, and requested to be received as a member congregation of the Eureka Classis. The Eureka Classis granted the request, and the congregation was accepted, thus joining the small number of churches that did not go along with the merger. During the years 1952 through 1964 when the Rev. Ploeger served as pastor, Peace Reformed Church thus enacted again a full affiliation with its mother denomination.

Rev Chester Ploeger
1952-1965

New Parsonage
built 1955

In 1954 the consistory called a special meeting of the congregation to discuss the possibility of building a new parsonage and after several months of planning, a new parsonage was built in 1955. With the help of many members in the church and the contractors, the new parsonage was completed in the fall of 1955 at a cost of approximately $27,000. The old parsonage which had been west of Highway 69 across from the present church property was vacated, and the pastor and his wife moved across the highway into the new home. In the spring of 1956 the old parsonage was sold and removed from its present location, In 1956 the property where the old parsonage stood was sold to the state of Iowa for a roadside rest area.

In 1955 the cemetery was enlarged to make room for future graves. The lots were laid out and marked, and young evergreens were planted around the border of the cemetery.

The old church being moved down Highway 69 to its new home in Belmond, Iowa

Members of the church began showing interest in building a new church and in the early part of 1962 voted to build. On May 27,1962, after the morning worship service, the Rev. Ploeger conducted the groundbreaking service for the new church. The laying of the cornerstone took place on Sunday, July 24. During the year the church was being built, the Belmond Bible Church purchased our old church which was moved off the foundation on March 12,1963, and placed on a new foundation on the north edge of Belmond.

Peace Reformed Church
1963

On March 3,1963, the congregation held its first worship service in the new building. The cost of the new church building came to $127,298.26. The dedication of the new church was held on July 14, 1963 with The Rev. Robert Stuebbe, former pastor of this church, leading the morning and afternoon services.

Rev Chester Ploeger
Pastor Emeritus

After faithful and fruitful ministry in the Lord for 13 years, the Rev. Chester Ploeger resigned the pastorate on June 30, 1965, to accept the Lord's call to His church in Menno, South Dakota. With sadness the congregation accepted his resignation. After his retirement from the ministry, Rev Ploeger moved back to the Garner area. On July 15,1990, at a special congregational meeting, Rev. Ploeger was elected pastor emeritus. He had supplied our pulpit between Pastors Hart and Grossmann and has also preached numerous times since. A history of our pastors' faithful preaching and teaching is exemplified by Rev. Ploeger's presence among us.

In the summer of 1965 the congregation extended a call to the Rev. William Warren who was serving a church in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Lord inclined the Rev. Warren to accept the call, and he began his ministry in September 1965. The Rev. Warren labored faithfully in the ministry of God's Word of sovereign grace until September 2, 1968, when he and his family moved to Hastings, Nebraska, to answer God's call to mission work in that city.

Rev Wm Warren
1965-1968

Rev Lloyd Gross
1968-1979

During the vacancy, ministers of area Christian Reformed churches supplied the pulpit of Peace Church. The congregation meanwhile voted to extend a pastoral call the Rev. Lloyd Gross who served as home missionary in our Minot, North Dakota, church. The Lord inclined Rev. Gross to accept the call, and he and his family moved to Garner on October 31, 1968 to begin labors in our midst.

In 1969 the Ben F. Greiman family donated additional land west of the church which now serves as a recreational area for the site of our annual July 4th congregation picnic. On June 30,1969, in a special meeting, the congregation agreed to enclose the outer entry way of the church and to erect a church sign, thus enhancing the usefulness of our church property. The total cost of this addition was $5,265. By 1971 the church building loan was completely paid off. The congregation invited the Rev. Chester Ploeger, during whose ministry the new church was built, to preach at a worship service of thanksgiving to God on January 30, 1972. In February 1979, the congregation approved repurchasing the park across the road from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Rev & Mrs Steven Work
1979-1986

Rev. Steven Work arrived in August 1979 and continued his ministry in Garner until July 1986. During those years a number of improvements were made to the church facilities.

From August to September 1986 Rev. Steve Demars served as supply to our congregation between pastors. Rev. Howard Hart, who had a special interest in our youth, arrived in October of that year. While he was here a sizeable ship's anchor adorned the parsonage lawn. He lifted that anchor in January 1993, when he accepted a call to Lincoln, Nebraska. During Rev. Hart's time at Peace, it was decided to use individual communion cups rather than the common cup.

Rev & Mrs Howard Hart
1986-1993

Rev Robert Grossmann 1993-2000	Rev. Robert Grossmann succeeded Rev. Hart as pastor in June of 1993. He began our church's radio ministry, "God's Word Lives." Rev. Grossmann was also instrumental in the beginning of a mission work in Minneapolis. He is remembered as an avid airplane enthusiast. Rev. Jeff DeBoer arrived in Garner in August of 2000 and continued as our pastor until July of 2007	Rev Jeff DeBoer 2000 - 2007
Rev Harvey Opp	Our current pastor Rev. Harvey Opp arrived in September 2007.

Although the trend of America's population is certainly away from rural areas and into cities, Peace Reformed Church in recent years has held its own in membership and in giving.

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