| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 156
Port Louisa Township, Louisa County, Iowa
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, August 21, 2016
Kilpeck Community Friends Church stands on what is known as the Muscatine Island. It is in the far northeast corner of Louisa County and in Port Louisa Township. In the spring of 1972 Robert Schmidt went down near the Kilpeck landing to work nearby property he owned. While taking a rest break he walked over and leaned against a fence. He gazed across a fog covered field. God revealed a vision to him of a long church building with a steeple and bell.
The area was beginning to grow. A nearby housing addition was being built by Reggie Meyer of Muscatine. There were several trailer courts being established.
Robert Schmidt would not get his vision out of his mind. He shared this idea with Pastor Waylon Taylor of First Friends Church in Muscatine. Pastor Taylor placed a call to Iowa Yearly Meeting, state headquarters, in Osklaoosa, Iowa. Arrangements were made for member of the extension board to tour the area. Approval was made to acquire land. After searching the area land was found that would meet the zoning regulations. The land was purchased from Lincoln Kulp in the fall of 1972. Robert Schmidt retired from his job and began drawing up blueprints for the church. It was designed to be 50’ x 80’ and constructed of brick. By the end of March, 1973, the footing were poured. God provided good weather and willing workers. In June the building was far enough along to hold vacation Bible School. The first Bible School was held June 18-29, 1973 with a daily average attendance of 65 children.
On October 4, 1973 special services and an open house was held to officially dedicate the church. Within a year attendance had grown to an average of 108 for Sunday School and 84 for worship.
Traditionally Friends Churches are known as meeting houses and do not have steeples. The congregation decided that they ‘wanted” a steeple. In July of 1976 a steeple was erected after two previous attempts to erect one. Within a year the steeple was truck by lightning and burned. It seemed as though God didn’t want a steeple on Kilpeck Friends Church so it was never replaced.
Dean Worthington and other area people led the congregation after July 1976 when Pastor Waylon Taylor resigned. Pastor Rodney Routon became the leader in July 1977. He was accompanied by his wife, Barbara, and children, Kenneth and Tammy.
In January of 1979 the Routons announced that they would be leaving as they felt that they wanted to serve in the missionary field in Mexico. Before they left in July a tragic accident claimed the life of their daughter, Tammy.
Pastor Clyde Hartman arrived July 20, 1979 to assume leadership of the church. In March 1981, the sanctuary was expanded and remodeled. The congregation felt they needed more room and decided to add an addition, a metal pole building, which would contain a regulation size gymnasium, kitchen, rest rooms with showers and eleven class room. The work was done by people in the community and congregation who donated their time and special skills. These were “work days” designated when everyone would work all day. A pot luck dinner was provided and everyone enjoyed Christian fellowship.
Pastor Hartman could be found working late every night on the building, often by himself or with one or two faithful people. This writer has fond and cherished memories of working at night when it was very cold and no heat in the building. Sometimes there would be only 3-5 people working but you could see progress being made it was such a challenge!
As more skilled workers were needed to finish the building they were assisted by a group called M M A P ers, members of Mobile Missionary Assistance Program, a non- denominational and interdenominational ministry “on wheels”. They are retired individuals with special skills who travel around in their trailers and work on special Christian projects. They worked on a project approximately eight days in the fall of 1984 and enriched the lives of the people in the area.
A special 10 year celebration was held July 17, 1983. There were special activities and a hog-roast and pot luck dinner. The new addition was dedicated at this time.
In April 1986 Pastor Clyde Hartman left Kilpeck and moved to the state of Washington. Floyd Benda and his wife Sara came in October, 1986 to serve and lead the church. They have three children, Shannon, Jennifer and Matthew.
During Kilpeck’s nineteen years the people have had good and bad times. Through it all, the foremost goal has been to serve God and bring the lost to Jesus Christ
Picture: Third minister 1979-1986 Rev. Clyde Hartman and wife Mavis.
Pg 157
Picture: First minister-Waylon Taylor, left
Picture: 1992 Kilpeck Friends Bible School children with the “mountain” of food they donated to help stock the Kilpeck Care Pantry.
L-R Dana Herlein, Danielle Benac, Matthew Benda, Leann Herlein, Jacob Garrison, Ashley Flake, Brittany Carlysle, Nicole Belcher, Lucinda Spitznogle, Linsay Irons.
Picture: Pastor Floyd and Sara Benda
Picture: Kilpeck Friends Junior Church
Front row L-R: Jessica Vargus, Amanda Hessenslow, Terry Joe McCaddin.
2nd row: Nathan Slutts, Linsay Irons, Danielle Benac, Shannon Slutts, Eric Hamlin, Chris Hamlin.
Back row: Nathan Carman, Erica Hamlin, Beth Ann Cole, Misty Cole, Alisha Kristine Brinson.
Picture: Kilpeck Community Friends Church located on County Road X61 east of Grandview.