“Mrs. Otto Wiese Church Organist for 43 Years” from the July 1, 1943 Door County Advocate
Mrs. Otto Wiese Church Organist for 43 Years
By FRANCES BADTKE
At the console of the new electric organ dedicated June 23 during Sunday morning services at Emanuel Lutheran church in Kolberg was Mrs. Otto Wiese, church organist, who has served the congregation for over 43 years, rarely missing a Sunday at the organ bench.
The organ replaces one which has been used continuously for 55 years, ever since the building of the church in 1908 and in which Kolberg Lutherans have been holding services since the early part of 1909, according to information gathered from old church records.
Church dedication services were held Dec. 13, 1908 even though the building, built from stone quarried less than half a mile from the site, was not completely finished. The bell was dedicated Jan. 17, 1909 and the organ was also purchased during the same period and installed in the choir loft where it has beautified services since that time.
The original organ was reed type organ which was electrified a number of years ago.
Rev. Eppling of Algoma served Kolberg congregation at the time of the church construction and was replaced on June 13, 1909 by the first permanent pastor, Rev. E. C. Hinnenthal who was to remain as pastor until his death in July, 1951. Presently serving the area is Vicar Robert Ehlers.
The first time the organ played the wedding march was for Selma Wilke, who was a June bride of 1909 when she married Louis Ahlers. Since then a lengthy procession of brides has walked down that same aisle to the music of the original organ.
There have been less happy times at which it served and the first funeral was for Johanna Bublitz, about 81 years old, who was the first person buried from the new church on March 27, 1909.
Mrs. Wiese learned to play he organ as a young girl in accordance with the wishes of her father, Robert Maedke. She was taught by Miss Alice Matzke, first organist at Kolberg. A few years after the church was built Miss Matzke moved out of this area and Mrs. Wiese, then Martha Maedke, took over the duties of church organist, in which position she has served the congregation faithfully until the present time.
After her marriage to Otto Wiese she continued to serve the church in the same capacity, missing only a very few Sundays, and these at times when she gave birth to a son. Mr. Wiese died a few years ago but the couple had two sons, Kenneth, who now lives in Springdale, Ark., and Gerhard, Maplewood.
MRS. OTTO WIESE, at the console of a new organ at Emanuel Lutheran church in Kolberg, has served the congregation for more than 43 years, rarely missing a worship service at the organ bench. —Frances Badtke
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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