Brodhead Gospel Hall, Green, WI (OB) 1935-present

Early Correspondents

William King @ Rt. 3, Brodhead +1936-1950+
Chris Kneubuehl ?-2023 (d. 2023)

Families

DeVoe family

WiS 1975-4: "Our dear sister Mrs. Nellie O. DeVoe "went home" Feb. 23rd, aged 72. Saved and in fellowship a good number of years, she manifested a love for her Lord and God's people. Greatly missed."

Angus Alman DeVoe (b. 1896 Argyle, WI - d. 1960 Brodhead, WI), son of Charles E. DeVoe (1863-1915 Argyle, WI) & Lena Gurina Olson Gilbertson DeVoe (b. 1870 Clifton, Grant, WI - d. 1919 Argyle, WI). WWI Vet.
Nellie Olive Jacobs DeVoe +1975 (b. 1903 Argyle, Lafayette, WI - d. 1975 Monroe, WI), daughter of Levi Jacobs (1875-1930 Argyle, WI) & Leona Shultz Jacobs (b. 1877 Wiota, Lafayette, WI - d. 1955 Eau Claire, WI).

Gadow family

Orvel Gadow (1902-1945) was considered the "town drunk" in 1935, and was the first to be saved under the efforts of Mehl & Sheldrake, and was gathered out. This Letters of Interest tribute by Leonard Sheldrake speaks of his testimony. Spelling typos left in.

LOI 1945-5: Leonard Sheldrake, 3719 Penn. Ave., Kansas City, MO: Fruits from Open Air Work: "There is an empty space now in the hearts of the Christians in Brodhead, Wisconsin. The Lord came and took Orville Godow (sic), the seeming main pillar of the assembly there. He was quite a remarkable man. He had an untarnished testimony as a child of God. For nine years he had preached Christ in and around Brodhead. Before his conversion he was a sinner without religion.

Orville Godow was converted on the street corner through street preaching. The first Saturday night Orville heard Mr. Mehl and me, God awakened him. The next Saturday night, as we preached together, God saved him. He was a total stranger to us and did not tell us he was saved for many weeks. The first winter he read the Bible through three times and the next summer when we returned to Brodhead, Orville Gadow and Joe Clarkquist (who is now in Italy) were preaching together on the same corner. It thrilled us to hear them. Now Orville is gone. He was only 43. He leaves a wife and four children. At his funeral, Mr. Mehl and I preached to the largest crowd they ever had in the funeral home. Leading men of the town remarked what a tribute to Orville, a farm boy, that great crowd was. May the Lord Himself raise up others to continue Orville's work.

Orville's awakening and conversion were wholly the result of open air work. He was never in a tent or in a hall before conversion."

Franz Albert Gadow (b. 1871 Germany; emig. 1900; m. 1901 Green Co., WI; d. 1954 Brodhead, WI)
Amelia Lentz Gadow (b. 1880 Germany - d. 1951 Brodhead, WI)
- Orvel Carl Gadow, Sr. 1935+ (b. 1902 Green Co., WI - d. 1945 Monroe, Green, WI). Wife: Pearl Sophia Malcook Gadow (b. 1906 WI - d. 1978 Monroe, WI), daughter of Herman Malcook (1874-1948) & Helena Braun Malcook (1885-1907 Sylvester, Green, WI).
  - LaVerne O. Gadow (b. 1931 Green Co., WI - d. 2017 Holstenau, Germany)
  - Orvel Carl Gadow, Jr. (b. 1934 Spring Grove, WI - d. 2002 Janesville, WI). Wife: Joan Adele Roettger Gadow (b. 1936 Janesville, Rock, WI - d. 2014 Monroe, WI), daughter of Clarence Henry Roettger (b. 1912 Seward, Winnebago, IL - d. 1987 Pecatonica, Winnebago, IL) & Roberta Agnes Brown Roettger (b. 1912 Janesville, WI - d. 1984 Durand, Winnebago, IL).
  - Robert Raymond Gadow (1932-2018 Monroe, WI). Wife: Margaret Jean VanSkike Gadow (b. 1933 Spring Valley, WI - d. 2015 Janesville, WI), daughter of Robert Bradshaw Van Skike (b. 1902 Spring Valley, WI - d. 1946 Brodhead, WI) & Thelma Mae Nyman VanSkike-Roenneburg (b. 1905 Hume, Bates, MO - d. 1996 Monroe, WI). Thelma's 2nd husband was Harold Henry Louis Roenneburg (b. 1908 Decatur, Green, WI - d. 1977 Brodhead, WI).
  - Janet Mae Gadow Nenneman (b. 1939 Spring Grove, WI). Husband (1958): Ronald J. Nenneman. Ronald & Janet have served as longtime greeters at the Brodhead UMC.
- Alfred Frank Gadow (b. 1906 Spring Grove, Green, WI - d. 1954 Green Co, WI). Wife (1931 @ Green Co., WI): Alice Ruth Malcook Gadow (b. 1913 Monroe, Green, WI - d. 1994 Brodhead, Rock, WI), daughter of Herman Malcook (1874-1948 Sylvester, WI) & Lydia F. Hintz Malcook (b. 1883 Dakota, Stephenson, IL - d. 1967 Brodhead, WI).

In 1958, Janet Gadow was employed by the Pierce Music Co. in Brodhead. Clinton Stephen Pierce (b. 1895 Decatur, WI - d. 1985 Brodhead, WI) served as mayor of Brodhead, as well as president of the Wisconsin Phonograph Operators' Association, and with his wife Marie, the Pierce Music Co. (+1930-1952+) that provided jukebox rental to schools, youth centers, etc. for $20/mo with servicing every two weeks replacing records. Information as per 1952 hearing opposing a proposed taxation bill. A picture of the store can be found at BrodheadHistory.org.

Clinton's grandfather, Stephen Clark Pierce (1825-1887) was born in Moretown, Vermont. Before relocating to Brodhead, in 1850 he and his brother Cpl. George Morris Pierce (b. 1828 VT - d. 1886 Thunder Bay, ON) operated a hotel in a gold rush camp in what is now the Sacramento metro, known as Georgetown (Growlersburg), El Dorado, California, founded year prior. The nearby Mamaluke Hill produced over $5M in gold, speculated to be the "richest hill in California for its size", as per Sierra Nevada Geotourism. A fire in 1852 burned the "tent city" to the ground, but they rebuilt brick & stone buildings fitted with fireproof iron doors, according to EDCGov.us. It is also worth noting that there was an exclusive brethren assembly in the Sacramento Valley as early as the 1870's, including a TW brother named L.M. Johnson residing in El Dorado county in the mid to late 1940's in Placerville.

The American patriarch of the Pierce family was Thomas Pierce (b. 1583 Norwich, Norfolk, [[England|Eng. - d. 1666 Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk, MA). Charlestown is the oldest neighborhood in Boston. His daughter Judith Pierce (1627-1649) was born at Watertown, Middlesex, MA which, considering the city was not officially founded until 1630, that would suggest that Thomas Pierce was among its founders. On Ancestry.com, some historians of the Pierce family have traced the lineage back to before the time of Christ.

Gentz family

WiS 1974-12: Brodhead, WI: "Our dear sister Mrs. Fred Gentz "went home" Oct. 2, aged 64. Saved in the Fall of 1935, while reading John 3:36 at home. With her husband in happy fellowship in this assembly."

Fred Gentz +1974+
Mrs. Fred Gentz 1935-1974 (1910-1974)

Gritzmaker family

WiS 1970-8: Brod., WI: "The saints here lost two sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Gritzmaker on June 23rd, aged 82. She was saved in May 1949 at meetings of the late Walter Eltzes. Also on June 29th, our sister Mrs. Esther Kneubuehl, aged 59. She was saved in Dec. 1946 at meetings of the late Elgie B. Jamison. Titus 2:13."

Mrs. Mary E. Gritzmaker 1949-1970 (1888-1970)

Kederli family

WiS 1966-6: Brodhead, WI: "Our brother Fred Kederli was called home suddenly Apr. 27th, aged 60. Saved in 1935 through br. Sheldrake and Mehl, we believe. In fellowship in this Assembly."

Fred Kederli 1935-1966 (1906-1966)

King family

WiS 1973-5: Brodhead, WI: "Our dear sister Mrs. William King of this Assembly went home recently. We do not have date. Highly respected by the Lord's people, given to hospitality and faithful in the Gospel, much missed. Survived by her husband and a number of brothers and sisters, all professing. Titus 2:13." WiS 1977-10: Brod., WI: "Following a Gospel Meeting our brother William J. King was called home, one of the first to 'break bread' here about 40 years ago. He will be missed, local brethren took the service. Date of death given as July 27, 1977. His wife predeceased him in 1973, he keenly missed her."

William J. King 1935-1977
Mrs. William King +1947-1973 (d. 1973)

Kneubuehl family

WiS 1970-8: Brod., WI: "The saints here lost two sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Gritzmaker on June 23rd, aged 82. She was saved in May 1949 at meetings of the late Walter Eltzes. Also on June 29th, our sister Mrs. Esther Kneubuehl, aged 59. She was saved in Dec. 1946 at meetings of the late Elgie B. Jamison. Titus 2:13."

Christ Kneubuehl (1901-1945)
Esther Maass Kneubuehl 1946-1970 (1911-1970)
- Christ "Chris" Emil Kneubuehl 1946-1956; 1958-2023 (1933-2023); Wife: Georgina O'Donnell Kneubuehl 1958-present
  - Christ Kneubuehl
  - Tina Kneubuehl Burr
  - Thomas Kneubuehl
  - Heidi Kneubuehl Fry
  - Paul Kneubuehl
- Lorraine Kneubuehl Larsen 1946+
- Richard "Dick" Kneubuehl 1946+
- Betty Vetterli ?

Nafzger family

WiS 1987-10: Jack Saword, El Salvador: A Memorial to Gladys Lillian Nafzger (1927-1987)

"Our dear sister in the Lord, Glady Lillian Nafzger, was unexpectedly called Home to Higher Service on July 16th, 1987, upon having finished her course with joy here on earth. Her heart suddenly failed, upon submitting to chemotherapy for leukemia, which a doctor found she had little over a week before she passed away. Surely His ways are past finding out, nevertheless we can be sure that our heavenly Father makes no mistakes in all His doings. This experience, of a fellow laborer being taken from our midst here through the article of death, is another "first" in the short 18 year history of the work here, and we greatly miss her.

She was born in Brodhead, Wisconsin, on April 4th, 1927. She was Born Again on April 19th, 1939, at a Prayer Meeting at which the hymn, "O Happy Day" was sung and was used of the Spirit of God in her salvation. Two years later she was baptized and shortly after was received into assembly fellowship. Then in 1955 the Lord exercised her heart to go to Venezuela, to be a help in various aspects of the work there until 1966. In 1972 she felt led of the Lord to come to El Salvador. At first she helped out in the Christian School for missionary children, but later dedicated all of her time to personal evangelism, going door-to-door with the gospel message and in the distribution of gospel literature, which labors the Lord was pleased to abundantly reward, in not a few souls being brought to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

She was faithful in instructing these privately in the right ways of the Lord. Now a few of the 60 or so in the fellowship in the suburb of Santa Lucia are the fruit of Gladys' labors, and were greatly touched by her sudden homecall. She was a faithful witness, both by word of mouth as well as by her blameless and exemplary life. A goodly number came from the various areas she labored in, to pay their last respects and tribute here on earth to our dear sister and await the Day of reuniting with her.

Several local brethren took part at the funeral service held in the gospel hall here in the capitol. Her family in Brodhead requested that her body be sent home. We were able with the Lord's help to fulfill that desire. A funeral service was held in Brodhead where brethren Paul Elliott and Robert Orr were the speakers. Remember in prayer her family relations, especially those still out of Christ. May her faithful words of invitation and warning in the gospel to these over the years be used of the Lord at this time of deep sorrow to bring about repentance, conviction and conversion."

Gladys Lillian Nafzger 1939-1955; 1966?-1972? (1927-1987)

Zimmerman family

WiS 1988-2: Brodhead, WI: "Our dear brother, Gerald Zimmerman, age 84, passed into the Lord's presence on Dec. 11. He was saved in early November of 1935 through the preaching of the late brother, Frederick W. Mehl, in meetings held in Juda, WI. He and his wife, Jennie, who went home on May 10, 1971, were among the number who, in Dec. 1935, formed the Brodhead Assembly. Our brother maintained a steadfast course as to the truth of the assembly."

Gerald Lee Zimmerman 1935-1987 (b. 1903 Stephenson, IL - d. 1987 Brodhead, WI), son of Amos Orson Zimmerman (b. 1868 Stephenson, IL - d. 1942 Spring Grove, WI) & Emma Jean Benjamin Zimmerman (b. 1869 Pedee, Spring Grove, Green, WI - d. 1955 Spring Grove, WI).
Jennie Ronspies Zimmerman 1935-1971 (b. 1906 Sylvester, WI - d. 1971 Brodhead, WI), daughter of Edward Fredrick Ronspies (b. 1876 Sylvester, WI; m. 1925 Green Co., WI; d. 1907 Juda, WI) & Lydia F. Malcook-Hintz Ronspies (b. 1883 Dakota, Stephenson, IL - d. 1967 Brodhead, WI).

Sources

Letters of Interest
- 1945-5; 1947-3
Words in Season
- 1966-6; 1970-8; 1973-5; 1974-12; 1977-10; 1987-10; 1988-2

Who's Who at Brodhead Gospel Hall, WI

Contents