A Country Breakfast with a Cause

The St. Louis Church needs repairs, but the congregation is still deciding whether to remove or replace a damaged steeple.

This repair project is just one of several items the congregation has on their list of priorities, which is why the Knights of Columbus will be hosting a country breakfast from 8 to 11 am Feb. 13 at the St Louis Catholic Church, 13207 Country Road G.

So, what happened to the steeple? A strong windstorm in October damaged the structure of the steeple. The cross on top tore loose and moved back and forth. Being a liability, a company came out and removed the cross, said Bernie Strueder, a church trustee.

“When they were up in the bell tower taking down the cross, they found that the bell tower needed repairs and work too,” Strueder said. “

The steeple had been leaking and the rotted timbers compromised the integrity of the structure, but not to the point where it was going to fall off. “But the structure needed to be strengthened,” Strueder said.

The bell tower also needs tuck-pointed, said Mary Zajdel, also a church trustee.

“We’re still trying to get quotes to figure out what our next step is,” Zajdel said. “Once we get figures in, it’s pretty much up to the parish on what happens next.”

Formed in 1843, the current church building is 110 years old. Relatives of fourth and fifth generation congregation members were founding families of the church, so they are very connected to this building,” Zajdel said.

Right now administrators of the church are gathering ideas. They know they will probably remove the steeple. The question is whether to replace it with an aluminum steeple or build another one out of wood.

Strueder said he would like to see a steeple put back up there.

 “Maybe I’m just a little different than some people, “ he said. “I look at a church without a steeple, and I drive right past it and I don’t even know it’s church.”

Strueder feels as connected to his church as he is to the history of his church.

When the church was built, they didn’t have much money.

“The farmers would go to Racine to the quarry and get the stone to help build the church,” he said. “Their hard work and dedication lives on through this parish.”

People who attend the country breakfast can list how they want their donations to be spent, whether it’s for the food pantry, religious education, steeple or general fund. Homemade turnovers will available for sale during the breakfast. Profits from the sale of these turnovers will go towards the St. Louis Steeple Repair Fund.

The menu includes pancakes, potatoes, eggs, sausage, applesauce and beverage.

For more information, please call (262) 835-4533 or you can Email the church at stlouis@wi.rr.com. The price of the meal is: adults $6, children 4- to 10-years-old $4, Children three years and younger free.