Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church

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Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish was established on Wisconsin Rapids’ west side in the summer of 1947, with Father Joseph B. Tetzlaff appointed as the first pastor. An organizational meeting was held in the convent chapel of SS. Peter & Paul Parish on August 12, 1947, with 32 members of the new parish in attendance.

Starting in September, Masses for the new parish were held at the Palace Theatre and later at the Wisconsin Theatre, both in downtown Wisconsin Rapids.

The St. Mary’s Women’s Club was organized on August 20, 1947, with about 45 women in attendance at a meeting at the SS. Peter & Paul convent.

Planning began for a church and school. Two tracts of land were considered, one at the corner of 17th Avenue and Chase Street, and the other on 10th Avenue South. A vote was conducted, and the 10th Avenue site was selected. In December 1947, property was purchased on the west side of 10th Avenue, along with the Nels Johnson home on 2nd Avenue. The Johnson home was used as a rectory and chapel for daily Masses.

In October 1948, Bishop John P. Treacy of the Diocese of La Crosse approved plans for construction of a two-story school. The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi came to teach in August 1949, and the Johnson home became their convent. The pastor moved into temporary quarters in the new school building. The school opened on September 19, 1949, with 155 students in attendance.

In April 1950, Bishop Treacy approved plans to build an attached church/auditorium. Construction was completed in May 1951. The basement of the new addition included a dining room and kitchen. It had been anticipated that the auditorium would one day become a gymnasium and that a dedicated church building would be constructed at the south end of the school. Those dreams, however, never materialized.

A rectory adjoining the church/auditorium was constructed in 1953.

In September 1951, Assumption High School was established. The high school was housed on the second floor of St. Mary’s School for three years, while the new school was constructed on Chestnut Street.

In June 1958, Father Tetzlaff was appointed pastor of St. Paul’s Parish in Mosinee, and Father Stanley Andrzejewski succeeded him at St. Mary’s.

In July 1959, Father James Eron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Eron, became the first priest-son to be ordained from the parish.

In July 1967, Father Andrzejewski was appointed pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Stevens Point, and Father Jerome Kamla became the third pastor of St. Mary’s.

The parish celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 13, 1972, with a Mass at St. Mary’s, followed by a social hour, banquet and dance at Assumption High School. John Ritchay served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Frederick Freking, Father Tetzlaff, Father Andrzejewski and Father Kamla were guest speakers. Tony Schultz presented a parish history.

Father Mark Doyle became the fourth pastor in October 1977, following 10 years in the U.S. Navy, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Under Father Doyle’s leadership, the church was extensively remodeled in the early 1980s, the grade school flourished, and a football field for grade school games was developed on the back portion of the parish property. The field was named in honor of the late Frank Walsh, a longtime benefactor of the parish.

Father Doyle retired as pastor in November 1998. Father Anthony Wolf, an associate at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse, served as parochial administrator until July 1999, when Father Dennis Lynch became the parish’s fifth pastor.

In the fall of 1999, Our Lady Queen of Heaven’s (St. Mary’s) School became part of the newly formed Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic Schools. The building was painted and furnishings were relocated to accommodate the new student body -- first- through third-graders in the WRACS system. A new middle school, for seventh- and eighth-graders, opened on the third floor of Assumption High School. Students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades attended classes at St. Vincent de Paul. St. Lawrence School was designated as an early childhood center for preschoolers and kindergartners.

Under Father Lynch’s leadership, a Parish Finance Council and a Parish Pastoral Council were formed in 2000.

Members of the Finance Council are: Father Lynch, Jerry Bach, Fran Eron, Jerry Gebert, Mary Ann Getzin, Dick Radtke, Mike Ritchay, Larry Turba, Al Wondzell and Kelly Rosekrans.

Members of the Pastoral Council are: Father Lynch, Lisa Eichsteadt, Tom Enwright, Jim Huber, Pam Huebner, Cheryl Johnson, Tammy Salewski, Jan Suzda and Mike Tauschek.

Officers of the Parish Council of Catholic Women for 2000-2002 are: Mary Pierce, president; Elizabeth Musch, vice president; Janet Anderson, secretary; and Linda Tauschek, treasurer.

Other projects started by Father Lynch have included a parish pictorial directory, organized music for each of the weekend liturgies, a renewed religious education program, successful completion of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, computerization of parish records, and a new parish Web site on the Internet (www.olqueenofheaven.com).