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Raymond Stroh - People of Faith

Ray Stroh became a charter member of Atonement Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois in 1966, and talks about that congregation's history from its inception in the late 1960s, to its decision to merge with two other Lutheran congregations in Springfield in 2015. Ray grew up in tiny Sibley, Illinois, in the late 1940s and 1950, and describes his childhood in intimate detail. Following graduation from Southern Illinois University, he spent a long career working as a personnel officer in a variety of Illinois state agencies.

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

Free Will or Predestination

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Childhood in Sibley, IL, college education and first job in Springfield

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Atonement Lutheran Church history from its creation in1960s to 1991

Interview Session 03 (Audio)

History of Atonement from 1991-2015 and blending w/other congregations


Photos

Caption
Ray at one year old in 1943, while he lived in Sibley, Illinois.

Where:
Sibley, Illinois

When:
1943

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
The Harry Stroh family in 1952, with Felcie, Maxine, Ray, Marlene, and Harry at Harry and Felcie’s 25th wedding anniversary.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Ray’s Confirmation Class at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sibley, Illinois on July 1, 1956.

Where:
Sibley, Illinois

When:
July 1, 1956

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Ray Stroh’s college yearbook photo, The Illio, in 1964. He was a senior at the Champaign campus that year.

Where:
Champaign, Illinois

When:
1964

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Raymond and Peggy (Whitacre) Stroh were married on June 12, 1966 in the Third Baptist Church in Marion, Illinois.

Where:
Marion, Illinois

When:
June 12, 1966

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption
The Strohs gathered at Ray and Peggy’s home in Springfield for Christmas in 1971. Marlene, Maxine (McIntyre), Harry, Felcie, and Ray.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1971

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Ray and Peggy Stroh in 1990, taken at Olan Mills in Springfield, Illinois.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1990

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption
Ray was the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Employee of the Month in June 1995. He worked as a Senior Public Service Administrator.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
June 1995

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Ray fishing at Lake Chetac, Wisconsin in June 1997. He and Peggy later bought a cabin on the lake.

Where:
Lake Chetac, Wisconsin

When:
June 1997

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Ray took annual hunting trips to the Ray Johanneson farm, near Lake Andes, South Dakota. He bagged three pheasants during the October, 2004 trip.

Where:
Lake Andes, South Dakota

When:
October, 2004

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Kevin Kulavic and Raymond Stroh at the 2007 Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner which was held in the rotunda of the State Capitol on March 5, 2007.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
March 5, 2007

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
This artist’s rendition of Atonement Lutheran Church was used for a brochure announcing the new congregation to the community in 1966.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1966

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator

Caption
Pastor Walter Ekeren served as Atonement’s first minister, from 1966 to 1969.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1966 to 1969

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
The original Atonement Lutheran Church chancel during the 1970s. Congregation members made both the cross and the candle holders.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1970's

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain. Atonement Church directory, year unknown

Caption
Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Schlueter, son Michael, and daughters Julie and Amy in the mid-1970s. Schlueter was the minister at Atonement from 1969 to 1976.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
mid-1970s

Ownership:
Atonement Church directory, year unknown.

Caption
Raymond and Peggy Stroh with son David and daughter Rebecca, circa 1976.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
Circa 1976

Ownership:
Atonement Church directory, year unknown

Caption
Pastor Bill Wake in 1980. He served as minister at Atonement from 1980 to 1989.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1980

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
A choir practice in the mid-1980s. The choir sang from the back of the church during services.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
mid-1980s

Ownership:
Atonement Church 1984 directory

Caption
This image of Atonement Lutheran Church was used on the cover of the 1998 edition of the church directory. The new addition, on the right of the building, was completed in 1982.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1998

Ownership:
(May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption
A composite photo from the Atonement Lutheran Church Directory, circa 1984. Pastor William Wake with children during a children’s sermon, and Barbara Boosinger with Sunday School children.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
circa 1984

Ownership:
Atonement Church 1984 directory

Caption
Gene Brodland teaching a Bethel Class. The Bethel Bible series was one of the spiritual foundations of the congregation.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Atonement Church 1984 directory.

Caption
The congregation gathers for a pot luck dinner after church sometime in 1984, one of the main social activities of the Atonement congregation.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1984

Ownership:
Atonement Church 1984 directory

Caption
Pastor Bill Wake with the congregation’s confirmation students for 1988. The group were confirmed on Pentacost Sunday.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1988

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Atonement’s Christmas youth program in the early 1990s. The annual program was one of the highlights of the Christmas season.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1990's

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 1993 directory

Caption
A Sunday School class from the early 1990s. Doug McFarland taught the class, with Anne McFarland, Kelly Herrington, Emily McFarland and Jill Herrington attending.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
early 1990s

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 1993 directory

Caption
Pastor Jon Berg, who served as the minister at Atonement Lutheran Church from September, 1992 until his retirement in the spring of 2015.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1993

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 1993 directory

Caption
Brenda Peck served as the choir director and organist during Pastor Berg’s long tenure with Atonement.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1993

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 1993 directory

Caption
A group of the congregation’s children and visitors at a youth event in Springfield in 1998.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
1998

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 1998 directory

Caption
Pastor Jon Berg as he appeared in the 2009 edition of the church directory.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
2009

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 2009 directory

Caption
Adult Sunday School class in 2009. Front, left to right, E. Brodland, B. Foster, K. Lesser, D. Ellertson, B. Kleen, G. Boosinger; back Pastor Berg, R. Stroh, V. Kleen, G. Brodland, M. DePue, M. Youngren, C. Danner, R. and B. Boosinger, and P. Ellertson.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
2009

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 2009 directory

Caption
The Tuesday morning ladies’ prayer group in 2009. From left to right are Lois Harris, Jeannie Boosinger, Pam Younggren, Sue Glintborg, Nancy Kiel, Evie Brodland, Cora Lee Guthrie and Sharon Gipson.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
2009

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 2009 directory

Caption
The Wednesday morning men’s prayer breakfast group in 2009. Seated from left to right are Ray Stroh, John Raschke, Brad Harris and Ken Hersemann. In the back are Roger Poszgai, John Staff, Harley Grim, Ray Stroh, Vernon Kleen and Mark DePue.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
2009

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 2009 directory

Caption
The choir in 2009 was led and accompanied by Brenda Peck with front row, Debbie Ellertson, Jeannie Boosinger, Gene Brodland and Vernon Kleen, and in the back, Betty Foster, Connie Frankenfeld, Betty Kleen, Pete Ellertson Herb Kiel and Brad Harris.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
2009

Ownership:
Atonement Lutheran Church 2009 directory




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