Elim Lutheran Church
Elim Lutheran Church was organized on December 2, 1885, as a member of the Augustana Synod, to meet the need of Swedish residents working at the Pullman Palace Car Works in and around the village of High Prairie. The name "The Svenska Ev. Lutherska Elims Församlingen" was chosen. In January 1887, George M. Pullman made a gift of two lots to the congregation at the corner of 113th and Calumet Avenue, in what later became Palmer Park. The cornerstone was laid in June 1888 and the first service was held in December 1888.
In 1903 the Chicago Park Commission proposed to build a park on the area which included the church property. It was proposed to give the congregation lots at the corner of 113th and Forest Avenues in exchange. The church building was moved that year.
In 1935 the building was reconstructed, expanding the lower section to allow for Sunday School rooms, while the exterior was veneered in a blend of stone and Egyptian brick.
An education wing was added in the early 1960s.
Elim consolidated with People's Lutheran Church on February 15, 1972 to form Reformation Lutheran Church at 11310 S. Forest Ave., Chicago, IL 60628-5023.
Original records
Membership records from 1885 to 1928, and church minutes from 1901 to 1931 were microfilmed as Augustana #A8 and are available through the ELCA Archives and the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center. Contact Reformation Lutheran for Elim's original record books.
Pastors
| Gustaf A. Ekerberg |
February 1, 1886-April 1, 1891 |
| Ernst Adrian Zetterstrand |
October 14, 1891-September 24, 1893 |
| Henry O. Lindeblad |
September 27, 1893-January 29, 1898 |
| Gustaf Forsberg |
March 1898 (ordained July 1899)-May 31, 1900 |
| A.F. Bergstrom (student interim) |
May 1900-November 1900 |
| Victor J. Tengwald |
November 4, 1900-April 2, 1910 |
| Gustav Knut Stark |
May 1, 1910-April 29, 1917 |
| Carl A. Tobin |
July 1, 1917-July 1, 1927 |
| Dr. Youngert (interim) |
April 1927-Fall 1927 |
| Eric Ringenjelm (student interim) |
November 22, 1927-January 3, 1931 |
| Rev. Parklander (vice pastor) |
1927-March 1931 |
| Gideon H. Ahnquist |
March 15, 1931-September 1942 |
| C.A. Tolin (interim) |
November 1942-March 1943 |
| C. Oscar Leonardson |
Easter 1943-April 2, 1945 |
| Ragnar Moline (vice pastor) |
April 8, 1945-December 2, 1945 |
| David F. Engstrom |
December 2, 1945-March 1955 |
| Robert Johnson (intern) |
April 1950-August 1950 |
| Marvin Tack (intern) |
June 1, 1951-September 1951 |
| Denmore C. Kalweit (intern) |
1952-June 1, 1953 |
| John Palmquist (intern) |
June 1953-August 1953 |
| Peter Nelson (intern) |
September 1953-1954 |
| Michas M. Ohnstad (youth work intern) |
September 1954-February 1955 |
| Milton J. Olson (intern) |
June 1955-August 1955 |
| Wilbert Johnson |
September 1955-June 1961 |
| Garth Loff (intern) |
June 1956-August 1956 |
| Alan Eckman (intern) |
June 1957-August 1957 |
| Clem Carlson (intern) |
February 1958-August 1958 |
| Leon Linquist (intern) |
September 1958-August 1959 |
| Glenn Leaf (intern) |
September 1959-August 1960 |
| Ralph Wallin |
August 1962-October 1977 |
| Kent W. Nylander (asst.) |
June 1970-February 1974 |
Sources
Golden Anniversary Album of Ev. Lutheran Elim Church, Chicago, Illinois, 1885-1935, Evangelical Lutheran Elim Church, Chicago, Ill., 1935.
Lundquist, Raymond C., ed., Diamond Anniversary Album of Ev. Lutheran Elim Church, Chicago, Illinois, 1885-1960, Evangelical Lutheran Elim Church, Chicago, Ill., 1960.