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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
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