People > Notable Norkans > Rev. John Hoelzer
Rev. John Hoelzer
Johannes (John) Hoelzer was born on August 6, 1868, in Norka, the son of Johann Georg Hölzer (born 1840 in Norka) and Christina Jörg, who was born in Norka in 1845.
The Hoelzer family immigrated to the United States from Bremen, Germany, on November 1, 1886.
John married Margaretha Giebelhaus on November 2, 1890, in Nebraska. Margaretha was born in Norka on August 6, 1871. In 1900, John worked as a laborer for the railroad in Sutton, Nebraska.
In 1905, John completed his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary and served a congregation in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1906, he was called to serve a small congregation of 90 members in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he also preached at the Wellington Christ Congregational Church with 53 members.
Rev. Hoelzer was called to the First German Congregational Church in Loveland, Colorado, where he served from 1910 to 1916. He succeeded Rev. Adam Traudt, a fellow native from Norka, and was primarily responsible for increasing the size of the congregation from 26 to over 250 members. Rev. Hoelzer also led the effort to build a new $20,000 house of worship at 8th Street and Lincoln Avenue, dedicated in December 1915.
The Hoelzer family immigrated to the United States from Bremen, Germany, on November 1, 1886.
John married Margaretha Giebelhaus on November 2, 1890, in Nebraska. Margaretha was born in Norka on August 6, 1871. In 1900, John worked as a laborer for the railroad in Sutton, Nebraska.
In 1905, John completed his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary and served a congregation in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1906, he was called to serve a small congregation of 90 members in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he also preached at the Wellington Christ Congregational Church with 53 members.
Rev. Hoelzer was called to the First German Congregational Church in Loveland, Colorado, where he served from 1910 to 1916. He succeeded Rev. Adam Traudt, a fellow native from Norka, and was primarily responsible for increasing the size of the congregation from 26 to over 250 members. Rev. Hoelzer also led the effort to build a new $20,000 house of worship at 8th Street and Lincoln Avenue, dedicated in December 1915.
First German Congregational Church in Loveland, Colorado.
By 1918, Rev. Hoelzer was the German Superintendent of the Congregational Church.
In 1924, Rev. Hoelzer served as a General Missionary with the German Congregational Church and organized six congregations while visiting Argentina. He also did missionary work in Brazil.
Margaretha died on December 14, 1925. Rev. Hoelzer married Julia Graf on May 15, 1927.
In 1927, Rev. Hoelzer wrote an article about the earliest Volga Germans who settled in Sutton, Nebraska, which was published in the Illustrierter Kirchenbote Calendar.
On August 5, 1928, the Zion German Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, celebrated the 25th anniversary of Rev. Johannes Hopp's pastorate with three services held in his honor. Speakers during the day included Rev. John Hoelzer.
By 1930, Rev. and Mrs. Hoelzer lived in Denver, Colorado, where he served the German Clark Congregational Church.
Rev. and Mrs. Hoelzer came to serve the Hope Congregational Church in Bethune, Colorado, in 1935, remaining until 1938. The church observed its 25th anniversary during his ministry on August 29-30, 1936.
Rev. Hoelzer returned to serve the First German Congregational Church in Loveland from 1938 to 1939.
Rev. John Hoelzer died on February 24, 1944, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and was buried at the Grandview Cemetery.
In 1924, Rev. Hoelzer served as a General Missionary with the German Congregational Church and organized six congregations while visiting Argentina. He also did missionary work in Brazil.
Margaretha died on December 14, 1925. Rev. Hoelzer married Julia Graf on May 15, 1927.
In 1927, Rev. Hoelzer wrote an article about the earliest Volga Germans who settled in Sutton, Nebraska, which was published in the Illustrierter Kirchenbote Calendar.
On August 5, 1928, the Zion German Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, celebrated the 25th anniversary of Rev. Johannes Hopp's pastorate with three services held in his honor. Speakers during the day included Rev. John Hoelzer.
By 1930, Rev. and Mrs. Hoelzer lived in Denver, Colorado, where he served the German Clark Congregational Church.
Rev. and Mrs. Hoelzer came to serve the Hope Congregational Church in Bethune, Colorado, in 1935, remaining until 1938. The church observed its 25th anniversary during his ministry on August 29-30, 1936.
Rev. Hoelzer returned to serve the First German Congregational Church in Loveland from 1938 to 1939.
Rev. John Hoelzer died on February 24, 1944, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and was buried at the Grandview Cemetery.
The grave of Rev. John Hoelzer. Source: Find-A-Grave.com
Sources
Ancestry.com
Find-A-Grave
The Volga Germans website.
"From Saturday's Daily." The Weekly Courier [Ft. Collins, Colorado], March 21, 1906.
"From Friday's Daily." The Weekly Courier [Ft. Collins, Colorado], April 18, 1906.
"Will Dedicate $20,000 Church." Loveland Reporter, Number 57, December 10, 1915.
Hölzer, John, "The Earliest Volga Germans in Sutton, Nebraska" Illustrierter Kirchenbote Kalendar, 1927. Article published in the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Work Paper No. 16, December 1974.
Find-A-Grave
The Volga Germans website.
"From Saturday's Daily." The Weekly Courier [Ft. Collins, Colorado], March 21, 1906.
"From Friday's Daily." The Weekly Courier [Ft. Collins, Colorado], April 18, 1906.
"Will Dedicate $20,000 Church." Loveland Reporter, Number 57, December 10, 1915.
Hölzer, John, "The Earliest Volga Germans in Sutton, Nebraska" Illustrierter Kirchenbote Kalendar, 1927. Article published in the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Work Paper No. 16, December 1974.
Last updated December 9, 2023