under construction

st. john's catholic church
source materials

Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied or were created at a later date by a participant in the events being studied (as in the case of memoirs).  They reflect the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer.  Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period.

​A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon.  It is generally at least one step removed from the event is often based on primary sources.  Examples include:  scholarly or popular books and articles, reference books, and textbooks.

Univ. Cal. at Berkley definitions

PRIMARY SOURCES 

father a. c. rausch's report
of his years at st. john's (1881-1888)
transcriber & location of original document unknown

history by remembrance
mary duder's collection of
personal histories from church members
collected circa 1953-1962

This history notes Father Petrus as the current pastor, and thus John Duder's observation that it must have been written between 1953 and 1962.

NAMES CITED:

Note: not all cited were members of the congregation
​
Father Joseph Blacha 
Annie B  lacklaw
Bert Blacklaw
Josie Blacklaw
Chatraw family
Vincent Clema
Father Jeremias Cronin 
Father Paul Donovan 
Frank Duder
John Duder
Julia Duder
     (Sister Mary Sigfrieda)
Mary L. Duder
John Dufek
Father John Flynn
Father James Gilroy 
Gondringer famiily
Nick Goodenkauf
Pete Goodenkauf
Catherine Grof
Theodore Grof
Oval Howe’s grandmother
Pete Huffman
Peter Jasa
Father J.A. Keen 
Mary McBride
Father William T. McKenna 
Rev. James McNalley
Father Philip Maley
Dominic Mertes
Jim Mertes
Lena Mertes 
Anna Miller (Sister Kristine)
Joseph Miller
William Miller  
Peter Muller
Bishop O’Connor
Father P. J. O’Learn 
Father Gregory Petrus
Sue Phillips
Father P. F. Quiligan 
Father A. C. Rausch
Rudolph Raitora
Father Alois Reimbold 
Father Joseph Ress
Jake Reuter
John Reuter
Joseph Reuter, father & son
Frank Sochor
Father O. N. Turgeon 
Father Edward A. Valasak
Joe Zelenka

1992  -- father vAlasek on the murals of 1952
A letter and an interview

A "DP" - displaced person. 
​"RI" - Russian immigrant. Emil Biro not Bori

additional primary source materials

1950 - a christmas mass at 4 a.m.

January 11, 1950 Beatrice Daily Sun

1966 -a weekly church bulletin

july 4, 1968 argus

the last parishioners

​Members of St. John’s Catholic Church when it closed in 1968, According to records residing at St. John's as of 2017.  There is a list of parishioners at the time of closing and a second list of those who voted for the church to be given to the Historical Society, which contains a few additional names.
​
Kenneth Albers family (Pawnee City)
Carl Bernadt family
Richard Blecha family (Humboldt)
Melva Burger family
Gordon Clement family
Martin Cumro family
Michael Donahue family (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Duder family
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Ely
Myron Kent family
Mr. and Mrs. Art Klein
Miss Mary Kozak
George Kreifel, Jr., family
Henry Kressman family (Pawnee City)
William Marfice family
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mertes
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Miller
Mrs. Delphine Miller
Wilbur Miller family
Paul Mullins family
Edwin Oenbring family  (Pawnee City)
Vernuss Oenbring family  (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Petrashek family
Floyd Prine family
Eugene Puhalla family
Kenneth Rethmann family (Pawnee City)
Robert Sitzman family
Patricia Stevens
Ernest Thomas  family (Pawnee City)
Gary Vrtiska family
Charles Wenzl family
Willard Wenzl and family (Pawnee City)

1970 donation of the property
​to the table rock historical society

a letter from george e. miller to father weber advocating donation

1992-1994 renovation

2000-2009

2013 RESTORATION 

dedication speech by kim vrtisk

history summarized for the 2013 re-dedication

secondary sources