Trinity Lutheran Church History

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- Windows on the Past
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Windows on the Past
A Confirmation Project presented in 1987 (Updated in 2003)		(full document in .pdf)

Preface

“History is most fragile. Unless remembered and preserved it is soon lost forever. Sometime early in this century, stained glass windows were donated and placed within the walls of the nave and narthex of the Church. The donors have long since died. Only their names remain on the windows as a permanent legacy of faithfulness and witness.

Three of Trinity’s confirmation students have prepared brief biographies of the people of the windows. What kind of men and women were they? What did they do at Church and in their lives? Who are their living descendants? With those questions as a starting point, this book is a valuable addition to the congregation’s history. Since 1871, Trinity Lutheran Church has proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ to the Ishpeming area and to the world.”

~ Rev. Thomas A. Skrenes
Written in 1987

(Click on each window to read the history of its donor)

Window Number 18
Mr. and Mrs. Johan Olsen

Johan was a carpenter and worked for the mining company.

He was married to Eli, who enjoyed artwork, and was a pillar of the women’s group. Together they had ten children, nine girls in a row, and then the youngest child, a boy.

Rose Harris, was the ninth girl. A daughter, Marie, was the superintendent of the English Sunday School. Another daughter, Jennie, was the superintendent of the Norwegian Sunday School.

Johan and his family lived together on Bessemer Street. On Sundays the children would create quite a procession when they walked to Sunday School.