Warren County Iowa Genealogical Society

Lacona Saint Mary of Assumption Catholic Church

Lacona Saint Marys of Assumption Catholic Church, 304 N. Washington Avenue, Lacona, Iowa 50139, phone (641) 534-4691, was dedicated in 1911.

The Catholic Church At Lacona, written by the Rev. Declan DOWER, copied from the History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard SCHULTZ and Don L. BERRY, The Record and Tribune Company, Indianola, Iowa, 1953, pages 119-151

The Catholic church in Lacona — Saint Mary of the Assumption — was dedicated to divine service on August 15, 1911. It was the first church so dedicated by the first bishop of the diocese of Des Moines, Austin DOWLING.

About a year previously the parish had been organized by severance of a number of families from St. Joseph's parish, Bauer. Until the new church became ready for use, those families worshiped at the home of Chris KONRAD, a local merchant. The Rev. Charles DOHMAN served the parish from his residence in Bauer for the first two years.

Among the original families were those of Chris KONRAD, Andrew KESSLER, Frank FEHRER Sr., Tine BAUER, John FEHRER, John SCHULTZ, P. C. KONRAD, Nick KONRAD, Ed BISHOP and John CARBIN.

The first couple married in the new church was Louis KELLER and Bertha OHNEMUS. The first baptism was that of Hildred Lorene KONRAD. The first funeral was that of the twin sisters, Mary Helen KONRAD and Josephine Helen KONRAD, June 22, 1913. The first parish trustees were Chris KONRAD and John SCHULTZ. Maria KONRAD was the first organist.

The main altar was donated by Caroline GRESBAUM. She, too, had owned and donated to the diocese of Des Moines what is now the parochial residence. At present the parish membership is about 300.

The parish cemetery was acquired by purchase from Jerome KONRAD on September 30, 1926. The first interment was that of Helen WADLE in 1927.

To date the parish has been served by the Revs. Vitus STOLL, Michael SCHILTZ, Nicholas GAUL, John BURKHISER, Rudolph SCHNELLER, Edwin DONAHUE, William DIVINE and the present incumbent, Declan DOWER (deceased November 26, 1952).

A brief history of the town and church of Saint Marys comes from the book, Cemetery and Death Records of Warren County, Iowa, by the Warren County Genealogical Society, 1980, p.318.

Immaculate Conception Parish was established in 1870 and was referred to as the German Catholic Church. The town of Saint Marys was platted August 8, 1870 on land donated by George M. and Catherine DURSCHELL. Mr. DURSCHELL named the town. The property for the church was purchased from Mr. DURSCHELL for $5.00 and deeded to the Trustees, Joseph SPORRER, Michael DURSCHELL, Bernard SHAVE, and John GEHRINGER. Both deeds were filed on March 7, 1871.