History
Founded in 1858 with just 14 residents and a mission to establish a Lutheran church in Omaha, Kountze Memorial has grown and evolved to become a beacon of hope, love, and service to the community. The church’s early beginnings paved the way for a series of community partnerships, allowing for the establishment of numerous satellite churches and Sunday School Missions throughout Omaha. True to its mission of spreading Christ’s love, the church has continually sought innovative ways to reach out to the community. Alongside regular traditional Lutheran worship, Kountze Memorial offers services, including a weekly food pantry, a free healing medical clinic, and counseling services through Lutheran Family Services Counseling, all of which reflect the church’s unwavering commitment to serve and care for those in need and in search of Christ’s love. With its rich history of faithful ministry and dedication to service, Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church looks forward to continuing to grow into Christ’s calling and serving its neighbors with love and compassion.
Cool Timeline
1911
1911
During Baltzly’s (1911-1931) ministry, Kountze Memorial becomes the largest Lutheran church in America, with over 5,000 members and a 1931 Confirmation class of 364. In 1919, Midland Lutheran College moves to Fremont, Nebraska, from Atchison, Kansas, with financial help from Kountze Memorial under the leadership of Baltzly. Baltzly is the first Kountze pastor to be born in Nebraska.
1913
1913
After the sale of Kountze Memorial’s first building, the church bell serves Zion Lutheran Church in Yutan, Nebraska, until their building’s destruction in the tornado. In 1915, the bell is returned to Kountze Memorial.
1915
1915
Rev. C. Franklin Koch is hired as the first associate pastor at Kountze Memorial. That same year, the congregation establishes a third Sunday school mission at Druid Hall on 24th and Ames. Two years later, the mission is dissolved, and its members establish the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer at 24th and Larimore.