Our History

The Civil War had just reached its bitter climax when the Trinity congregation had its beginning. In 1864 Pastor William Heinemann traveled to what was known at the time as Cummings Corner, to worship with a small group of Lutherans of German descent. They gathered in a small frame building at the corner of what is now Oak Glen Cemetery. By 1883 the building became too small for the growing congregation. The group divided and some members moved to the east side of Lansing to form St. John's Lutheran Church. Trinity erected a new church in 1888 on the north side of Indiana Avene, a few hundred feet west of the present property. The church building was moved across Indiana Avenue in 1925. The church building served the congregation until it was torn down in 1968 to make way for the beautiful, modern church we worship in today. The Bell Tower was erected in 1997. Since its origin, Trinity Lutheran Church has baptized over 2700 adults and children, while more than 2800 people have been confirmed. Over 790 couples have been married at Trinity and more than 1000 saints have been buried. God has truly blessed his people!

Learn more about Oak Glen Cemetery: Lansing Journal Article Oct. 26, 2025
Collage of various church buildings and structures, including a traditional steepled church, a modern church with large windows, a church interior with a cross, and smaller historic church buildings.
A black and white sketch of Trinity Lutheran Church with a wooden exterior, set among large trees with bare branches. The building has a triangular roof and a small door, with a pathway leading to the entrance. A plaque below the sketch reads "TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 1867 - 1968."
An old black-and-white photograph of a Gothic-style church with a tall steeple, pointed windows, and wooden siding.
Black and white photo of Trinity Lutheran Church and Parsonage, built between 1925 and 1968, with a tall steeple and Gothic-style windows, surrounded by leafless trees and buildings.
An aerial view of a church with a unique triangular roof, surrounded by trees, grass, and a parking lot.

Trinity’s Pastors

  • Black and white portrait of an elderly man with a stern expression, short white hair, glasses, and a white beard, wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a bow tie.

    Rev. William Heinemann

    1864

  • Black and white portrait of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a suit, facing slightly to the right.

    Rev. Konrad L. Moll

    1864-1866

  • Historical black and white portrait of a man in 19th-century attire, including a bow tie and checkered coat.

    Rev. John Jacob Rauschert

    1866-1882

  • Black and white portrait photograph of a man with a mustache, wearing a suit, and looking to the side.

    Rev. Carl Moritz Noack

    1882-1884

  • Black and white portrait of a man with glasses, a mustache, and a beard, wearing a suit and a tie.

    Rev. Carl Dietz

    1884-1895

  • Black and white portrait of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a suit with a high collar and a bow tie.

    Rev. Frederick Brunn

    1895-1927

  • Black and white portrait of a man in a suit with glasses, short hair, and a serious expression.

    Rev. Herbert Harthun

    1924-1927

  • A black-and-white photo of a groom and a man shaking hands at a wedding, with a woman in a dress and a woman with glasses and short hair in the foreground, and a man with white hair in the background standing against a brick wall.

    Rev. Alex Guebert

    1927-1941

  • Black-and-white portrait of a young man wearing glasses, a suit, and a tie, smiling at the camera. He is sitting with an open book in front of him.

    Rev. Walter T. Rossnagel

    1941-1950

  • Black and white photograph of a young man in a suit and tie with glasses, smiling, standing in front of a wooden-paneled wall.

    Rev. Melvin Natterer

    1950-1951

  • Black and white portrait of a young man with neatly combed hair, wearing a suit and tie.

    Rev. Martin Strasen

    1952-1954

  • Black and white photo of a man in a suit standing indoors, with shields hanging on the wall behind him and a kettle or coffee pot on a table to his right.

    Rev. Wilbur W. Zielke

    1954-1970

  • Black and white portrait of a man with glasses, wearing a suit and tie.

    Rev. Parke Frederick

    1970-1976

  • A man in a suit and tie sitting at a desk with his hands clasped. He is wearing glasses and has a serious expression.

    Rev. Paul Brunner

    1977-1986

  • A black-and-white photo of a man sitting at a table with curtains in the background. He has medium-length hair, is smiling, and is wearing a light-colored blazer over a dark shirt with a dark scarf.

    Rev. Daniel Dahling

    1983-1987

  • A man sitting at a desk in an office, smiling, wearing glasses, a dark suit, white shirt, and a patterned tie, with an open book, papers, a telephone, and a small photo on the desk.

    Rev. Gary Schmidtke

    1987-1998

  • A young man in a white religious robe with a green stole stands smiling behind a wooden pulpit. Behind him is a large cross on a stone wall, with colorful projected images or lighting effects in the background.

    Rev. Kendall Schaeffer

    1989-1995

  • A man wearing glasses and a black clergy shirt with a white collar, smiling in a portrait photograph.

    Rev. Robert D. Koeppen

    Interim Pastor 1998-2001

  • A smiling man dressed as a priest, wearing a black suit and clerical collar, posing against a gray background.

    Rev. Paul C. Appold

    2001-2014

  • A man dressed as a priest standing near a pink podium, speaking into a microphone, with a candle on a stand beside him.

    Rev. John M.M. Holyer

    2014-2023

  • Man dressed as a priest with glasses, a clerical collar, and a cross necklace, holding a candle, against a cloudy background.

    Rev. Ryan Reese

    2024-Present