Shortly after arriving in Omaha City, Augustus Kountze writes a letter to his former pastor, the Rev. W. P. Ruthrauff of Canton, Ohio, asking him to send a Lutheran minister to Omaha.

In response to Kountze’s letter, Rev. Kuhns (1858-1870) arrives in Omaha City on November 19 as a missionary of the Allegheny Synod of Pennsylvania to the Nebraska Territory. Kuhns, a graduate of Gettysburg Seminary, is the first Lutheran Missionary in Nebraska Territory, and receives a salary of $500 per year plus whatever he could collect in the field.

After meeting in rented facilities, Emanuel’s dedicates its first building at 1210 Douglas Street on February 16. The building measures 35’ x 50’ and costs $5,000 to construct.

Rev. Billman (1871-1873) begins his pastorate at Emanuel’s and is later elected Secretary of the newly formed Nebraska Synod. Billman is a graduate of Wittenberg College and Seminary.

Rev. Baugher (1880-1881), a professor from Gettysburg Seminary, is called to Emanuel’s.

Augustus Kountze agrees to match pledges for the construction of the second church building. In gratitude, the congregation unanimously votes to rename the church in honor of Kountze’s father, thus becoming Kountze Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Kountze Memorial completes an impressive $50,000 building on the northeast corner of 16th and Harney Streets to meet the needs of its growing congregation. Due to financial hardship, the congregation never officially dedicates its second home.

The 33rd Biennial Convention of the General Synod is held from June 1-13 at Kountze Memorial bringing pastors and lay people from around the country to Omaha. This was the first National Synod Convention held west of the Missouri River.

Grace Lutheran, 1326 S. 26th, is founded as the second satallite church of Kountze Memorial by Luther Melancthon Kuhns, the first Nebraska-born Lutheran minister and son of Rev. Henry Kuhns. Rev. Luther Kuhns is the first of more than 20 known members of Kountze Memorial to enter the ministry.

St. Matthew, the first Sunday school mission, is founded at 14th and Center. In 1924, Kountze re-establishes St. Matthew as its fourth Sunday school mission, which would later grow into its own congregation at 60th and Walnut.

The congregation calls Rev. Hummon (1904-1911), a graduate of Wittenberg College and Seminary.

Kountze Memorial establishes a second Sunday school mission at 19th and Castelar that later becomes Gethsemane Lutheran Church. It was sold in 1948.

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.

Kountze Memorial has a long history of service to the nation in times of war. In WWI, the congregation displays the largest known church service flag in the country with 250 blue and 4 gold stars.

Kountze Memorial’s third Sunday school mission, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, at 42nd and Bancroft, is established by Assoc. Pastor, Rev. Weertz, and for many years is served by Deaconess Harriet Franklin. Pilgrim closed in 1971.

An Omaha World Herald article boasts that under Rev. Traub’s (1931-1959) leadership, Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church had grown to be the largest Lutheran church in the world.

Rev. Traub establishes the 4th chapter of the Order of Saint John at Kountze Memorial, inviting young men to serve at the altar as worship assistants. Young women would be accepted into the Order in 1986.

Kountze Memorial displays the largest known church service flag in the county, with over 700 blue stars and 29 gold stars.

Kountze Memorial dedicates a most beautiful Aeolian-Skinner Organ as a memorial to all those who served in WWII.

Kountze Memorial hosts the Central States Synod convention in May.

Under the leadership of Rev. deFreese (1962-1985), Kountze Memorial begins weekly television broadcasts of Sunday worship services and holds many large annual Rally Dinners. Rev. deFreese was called to Kountze Memorial from First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE.

The construction of an impressive four-story complex of 51 apartments at 2669 Dodge Street fills the affordable housing need for low-income senior citizens. The church names the building in honor of Rev. Paul deFreese.

A $250,000 gift establishes a fund for the purpose of outreach and later provides money for college scholarships and capital improvements. Today, our Endowment fund totals over $6 million.

For the first time, high school girls were invited to serve in the Order of Saint John. Under Rev. Wick, the lower parking lot was purchased and developed at a cost of $325,000.

During the last couple of years of Rev. Wick’s pastorate, a number of building renovations were undertaken including the kitchen, restrooms, fellowship lounge, and chancel areas.

The congregation holds the first Neighborhood Gathering, inviting those in the surrounding community to the church for fun, food, and fellowship.

Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, with close to 2,100 members, celebrates 150 years of worship and fellowship with one another, growth in faith, and service to the community. KMLC is the oldest continuous Lutheran church west of the Missouri River.

Since 1941, young people have served as acolytes in worship through the Order of Saint John, providing life, energy, and leadership to our worship experience. The Order of St. John is an integral part of our ministry and today has nearly 40 youth serving in its ranks.

Kountze Memorial embarks on a massive organ renovation, refurbishment and building expansion, allowing our most beautiful Aeolian-Skinner Organ Opus 1090 to serve the congregation and community for years to come.

Hundreds were on hand on Sunday, June 19 as our congregation broke ground on the new building that will include space for a free medical clinic, commons area, expanded parking, and green space. The ceremony began in the Sanctuary with remarks by Rev. Dean Bard, Interim Senior Pastor at Kountze Memorial, who remarked, “Today, we break ground and launch an historic initiative in response to our Lord’s call to serve people in need and minister to all people in Christ’s name.” Many of our partners in ministry were present, including representatives from Lutheran Family Services, Mosaic, and Dr. Lindsey Northam from Methodist Health System who serves as medical director for the new Methodist Community Health Clinic.