Lutherans in Chassell

Many new workers and settlers moving into Chassell were Finnish-speaking evangelical Lutherans and initially, services were held in homes: The activity of the congregation was started in 1911 by Finnish immigrants, among them, John Jalkanen, David Kautto, and Elmer Savela as leaders. For many years clergy related to Suomi College, Pastors Johannes Back, John Nikander, and John Wargelin, provided pastoral services.

The first church council lists the following members: Rev. Johannes Back, John Rasku, John Takala, John Makinen, Anselm Beltonen, Matt Kallio, Gust Nikula, Sam Komula, John Jalkanen, Elmer Savela, and David Kautto. Services were held in homes, the Congregational Church was rented when more space was needed, such as for funeral services.

Sunday School and confirmation classes were conducted in several rural locations. Among the early volunteer teachers were Elmi Hill, Maria Holappa, John Ohman Sr., John Rasku, Gust Nikula and others.

Church Building

The first church was built 1911-12, on Hancock Street in Chassell and incorporated with the State of Michigan in 1912. In 1916, the building was enlarged, and a basement added to accommodate the Temperance Society's activity. "The church and the society cooperated closely to serve the constituency." This building was refurbished several times; but, was then damaged by fire on January 4, 1967. The building is now a privately owned abandoned warehouse.

The first parsonage was built in 1930 across the street from the church on Hancock Street in Chassell, and was occupied by the pastor and family until 1974, when the new parsonage was built next to the new church on US41 just North of Chassell.

Lakeshore Parish "Rantapiiri"

In 1930, Chassell became the center of the Lakeshore Parish, "Rantapiiri", which included nine congregations of the Suomi Synod: Chassell, Freda-Beacon Hill, Oskar, Jacobsville, Aura, Pequaming, L'Anse, Baraga, and Keweenaw Bay. Pastor David Elm was called to be the first resident pastor and to live in the new parsonage built for the parish on Hancock Street in Chassell, across the street from the church. Gradually, the several congregations of the parish made other arrangements for pastoral services, until 1963 when Keweenaw Bay merged with Chassell, thus ending the Lakeshore Parish.

Americanization

During the 1930-50 decades, the English language was adopted in the activities of the parish. Prior to that, the Finnish language predominated when the immigrants from Finland held leadership. Sunday School and confirmation classes were the first to adopt English. First the pupils and then the teachers found English more facile.

Confirmation Classes met for 2 full weeks in the summer; that class switched from Finnish to English in 1947.

An English-speaking Brotherhood was formed in 1956, to keep pace with the Finnish Brotherhood started in 1945. The Women's group had been active for many years, and during the Suomi-LCA merger became the Lutheran Church Women. The congregation adopted a new name in 1958, abandoning the Finnish generic name for evangelical Lutheran congregations. Pastor Henry W. Leino was, in 1954, the first USA-born pastor called on a regular basis to the parish. Fluent in Finnish, this marks a transition date in change.

The congregation was a member from the beginning with the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In the merger in 1962, the parish became a part of the Lutheran Church in America. This was a major leap in the process of Americanization.

The location of the new modern church built in 1970 on highway US 41, just North of Chassell, placed the facility of the congregation in a very prominent view and attractive to the community.

Pastor Patrick M. Bell, called in 1973, our first pastor from outside the Finnish tradition, began a new era of Americanized pastoral service in the parish. 

In 1973, our new parsonage was purchased and built by 1974, the Conn Organ was purchased in 1974 with Memorial Fund and LCW funds. In 1974, property near the parsonage was purchased and the lower parking lot was blacktopped.

In 1976 the old church memorial was erected and land North of the church was purchased.

In 1979, the church office was added.

In 1987, improvements were made: painted church, repaired the parsonage and resurfaced the parking lot.

As a salute to its Finnish heritage, Finnish worship and guild still convened once monthly until the 1990s. At these services, Finnish was used in the formal declaration, but even there, English was the language of pre and post conversations.

Pastors serving this church:

Johannes Back -Installed
Juho K. Nikander  -Installed
John Wargelin  -Installed
Alfred Haapanen 1920s (Interim)
Hugo Hillila  (Interim)
Antti Lepisto  (Interim)
Alex Tamminen  (Interim)
Emil Paananen  (Interim)
David J. Elm 1930's-1944  -Installed
Matti Luttinen 1944-1946  (Interim)
Frans Yrjo Joki 1947-1954  -Installed
Henry W. Leino 1954-1958  -Installed
Dr. Holmio 1959 (Interim?)
Rev. Giles Ekola/Eckola 1960-1961 (Interim)
Ralph J. Jalkanen (Interim)
Arnold Stadius 1962-1963 (Interim)
John M. Junttila 1964-1966  -Installed
Arnold Stadius 1967 (Interim)
John M. Junttila 1968-1973
Patrick M. Bell 1974-1976  -Installed
Rev. William L. Kleinbrook 1977-1978  -Installed
James Clark  (Interim)
David Strang  (Interim)
Rev. Roy R.J. Tahtinen 1978 to 1979 (Interim)
Mark Kukkonen  (Interim)
George W. Wieland 1979 to 1985  -Installed
E. Olaf Rankinen 1986-1989  -Installed
Otto Sotnak March 1990-1995  -Installed
Kenneth Gibson: 1995 to Dec 1999  -Installed
Jan 2000 to Mar 2001 Interium Pastor: Rev. Peter Vorhes,   
  also, including guest Pastors: Rev. Bucky Brown-Beach, Rev. Robert Langseth, ...; 
 W. Ted Koehl: -Installed March 25, 2001 to August 2008.      
Pastor Ted Keohl     Pastor Ted and Fran

From Aug 2008 thru Dec 2009: Interium Pastor in charge was Jimalee Jones; Service Pastors included Rev Robert Langseth, Pastor Peter Gunderson, ....
Ronald Strobel -started January 3; Installed on 14 February, 2010

Need to incorporate this info from Jack R. with the above history:
This history is a collection of information from several previous articles which I found which gives a glimpse into the years in which Holy Trinity Lutheran church of Chassell has served its members and added it’s contribution to the life of the community proclaiming a “changeless Christ to a changing world.” who is the cornerstone upon which the church is established.
The land on which Chassell lies was given by the state of Michigan in 1855, to the St. Mary’s Canal company as part of a grant-in-aid for construction of the Portage waterway. In 1867, John Chassell purchased the site for farmland who then sold it to Sturgeon River Lumber Company in 1881. Chassell became a woodworking and farm center, the waterway being an asset. In 1902, the Worcester Lumber Company bought the forest lands, built new mills, laid forest railroads, and built new homes in the village. Among the new settlers moving into Chassell were Finnish-speaking evangelical Lutherans.
The activity of the congregation was started in 1911 by Finnish immigrants and organized by the Rev. John Back in 1912 with 12 charter members present and became incorporated with the state of Michigan.Before the first edifice was constructed, services and funerals were being conducted in homes.In1916 the church was enlarged and a basement added to accommodate the Temperance Society’s activities.Up to 1930, pastors Juho Nikander and John Wargelinalso served the church. The church and the society worked closely to serve the constituency.In the early 1930s, the congregation elected to combine with the Evangelical Lutheran churches of Freda-Beacon Hill, Oskar, Jacobsville, Aura, Pequaming,Lanse, Baraga and Keewenaw Bay to form the Lakeshore parish or “Ranta piiri” as it was called then.These combined churches selected Chassell as the center of the parish and a full time pastor, Pastor David J. Elm was called and in 1931 a parsonage was built.
During the 1930 to 50 decades, the English language was adopted in the activities of the parish though the Finnish language predominated with the leadership of the immigrants in earlier years. The Luther League, church choir, Lutheran Woman’s guild, and a Finnish speaking brotherhood was organized.
From 1942 to 1945,Pastor Matt Luttinen became supply pastor until Pastor F.Y. Joki was called.and served until 1954. Pastor Henry W. Leino. the first USA born pastor was called to the parish in 1954..Fluent in Finnish, this marked a transition change.An English speaking brotherhood was formed in 1956, to keep pace with the Finnish Brotherhood started in 1945.The Women’s group remained active and during the Suomi-LCA merger became the Lutheran Church Women.
The congregation adopted a new name in 1958 abandoning the Finnish generic name for evangelical Lutheran congregations.Thustoday we are Holy Trinity Lutheran church.
From 1958 to 1963 we were served by supply pasters, Giles Ekola, Ralph Jalkanen and Arnold Stadius. In1962,theparish became a part of the LCA or Lutheran Church of America. Pastor John Junttila was called in 1963 who served until 1973. At that time, the Lake Shore Parish was dissolved with only Keewenaw Bay merging with Holy Trinity.Thetragedy of a fire which damaged the interior of the church occurred in 1967 and for 3 years the church used and purchased the Congrgationalchurch.
Probably the most momentous decision of our congregation was made to build a new church.The size of the undertaking can only be matched by the quality of the individuals and the pastoral guidance whodevoted so much of their time to accomplish this construction program, always praising God for His many blessings. Generous gifts of land by church member Miriam Sauvolain memory of her husband and additional property was given adjacent to the church by Waino and Ilene Junttila.Thus ,our new location here. IN 1970, the first service was held. Pastor Patrick Bell came to serve us and a new parsonage was built.

He left us in 1977 when Pastor Wm. Kleinbrook was called and he served until 1979. He was followed by Pastor George Weiland. Our wonderful friend and spiritual leader, Pastor Olaf Rankinen came to serve in 1985 and carried us through until Pastor Otto Sotnak accepted a call in 1990 preaching the wonderful gospel and caring well for all the different ages of members. but in 1995 decided to retire. Pastor Ken Gibson accepted our call the same year and during his tenure, a huge remodeling and expansion of the building we have today, came to fruition,, which was again an example of leadership and a labor of love from the congregational members.The comforts of air conditioning and the installation of the Rogers organ plus increase in pew chairs for the overflow room was evidence of a continuing eagerness to worship here.PastorGibson left us in 1995 to accept a position at Wartburg Seminary. Through the history of the church, many pastors (interim)as well as regulars helped us to carry on God’s work and to grow spiritually. Two young men from our parish namely Alden Tormala who sadly passed away suddenly 1 year ago and Dale Kemppainen who also was a member entered the ministry. They heard God’s call in this church and the influence of Bible camp fellowship which was encouraged by the church.,led them to serve.
At the present time, we are blessed with our new church family, Pastor Ted and Fran Koehl who joined us in 2001. The growth of membership and fellowship that is happening today brings much joy to all of us and with their leadership and the work of the Holy Spirit, it will continue.Our Sunday School is increasing in membership and 8th and 9th grade classesare being taught under the tutorship of Pastor Ted by 2 of our men members, the youth program is active and recently several students with Pastor Ted and Fran spent a week in Whitehall, Ohio assisting poor families to repair and paint their homes. We recently acquired a church bus through the resources known to Pastor Gibson and it is serving the youth trips and other transportation needs. The church choir is
offering praises to God--,our ladies are busy quilting with over 200 quilts to be shipped out, Adult Bible class meets on Sunday Morning and has sparked the interest of more people.Pastor Koehl also serves the Atlantic Mine parish.May God give him strength to carry the work load that he has..Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Interim Pastors were::
Alfred Haapanen , Hugo Hillila,
Antti Lepisto, Alex Tamminen,Emil Paananen,James Clark, David Strang, Roy Tahtinen, Mark Kukkonen,Robert Manthei and Peter Vorhees.

This history is submitted by Jack Rossberg----------September 2003

Click here to see pictures of our Confirmation Classes starting in the 1920s.

  Click here to read about the early history of the Soumi Lutheran churches in America.