CHURCHES OF PALO ALTO COUNTY
From Atlas of Palo Alto County
Compiled 1969 by Title Atlas Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota

ST. MARY'S CHURCH
MALLARD, IOWA

     The first Catholic people to come to the Mallard area were immigrants from Germany, who came here in 1870. The family names were: John Namer; John Graff; John Ruppert; George Fries; Gerhart Petermann; Mike Schuller; and Adam Rund. These were joined in 1872 by John Steil; Nic Steil; John Leuer; Peter Grethen; John Wagner; and Wenzel Lodes.
     The first Mass for these families was said in 1873 by Father Smith, Pastor of Assumption Church in Emmetsburg. He and his assistant, Father Scanlan, said Mass in the homes of people once or twice a month for about 15 years. A usual place for Mass was the Namer School House, about 4 miles northwest of the town of Mallard. In 1888, when Father Murphy was assistant to Father Smith, the people of the area requested him to arrange for the building of a a church in Mallard. The building committee, consisting of Mike Schuller, Frank Heideman, John Namer and William Stafford, secured a plot of ground on the east edge of Mallard and had a church built there. The building was 50'x34', cost $3000 and was named St. Mary's Church. This new parish was made a Mission Parish of St. John's Church of Gilmore City, and was in charge of Father Tim Sullivan. In 1890, St. Margaret's Parish of Rolfe received a permanent pastor, and St. Mary's of Mallard became a Mission Parish of the Rolfe Church, with Father Dennis McKeogh in charge.
     Parish records show that by 1899 there were 50 families of Catholic people living within the Mallard area. St. Mary's Parish was able to sustain a resident priest and Father F.X. Roeseler was sent to be the first resident pastor of St. Mary's.
     The original church building was moved to a better location; the Watson addition in the southwest part of town. In 1900, a rectory was built as a residence for the new pastor, and plans were made for the building of a Parochial School. This building was completed in 1901, and opened for school that same fall, with 3 Sisters of St. Francis from Milwaukee as the first teachers. This building was a 3-story with full basement, costing $3441. The top story consisted of two dormitories, 1 for boys and 1 for girls, so that St. Mary's was actually a boarding school. In 1909, the Franciscan Sisters decided not to return to Mallard, and the school was closed til 1916.
     Father Roeseler died Dec. 27, 1909, and Father Matthias Stork was in charge of St. Mary's for the year 1910. Father H.C. Eckert was appointed pastor in Nov. 1910, remaining one year, and was succeeded by Father John J. Neppel in Nov. 1911. Father Neppel remained at St. Mary's 30 years. He reopened St. Mary's School in 1916, with 3 Sisters of Mary from Cherokee as teachers. They remained only two years. In 1918, three Franciscan Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration from LaCrosse, Wisc., came to St. Mary's to teach 90 pupils in 8 grades. A music teacher was added to the faculty very shortly, and St. Mary's became a noted school of music for many years.
     On Ap[ril 10, 1921, a portion of the rectory was damaged by fire which made it necessary to remodel the rectory. On May 14, 1926, the frame school building was completely destroyed by fire. No classes were possible until a new school was completed in 1927. Under the leadership of Father Neppel, and his building committee, consisting of William Lynch, P.F. Brennan, J.B. Doerning, A.H. Steil, and Henry Schuller, and with the help of the parishioners, a new, modern, brick school building was erected  for just over $40,000. High School grades 9,10 and 11 were taught in this school, until these classes were discontinued in 1939.
     In 1941, Father Neppel was transferred to the Parish at St. Benedict and Father Francis Illg was appointed pastor of St. Mary's. He began plans for the construction of a new church building, but was transferred before the plans materialized. Father Leo Harpenau became pastor in 1953, and immediately set about putting the plans for a new church into action. This new church building was constructed during 1953-54, and was dedicated in 1954. Total cost was $130,000.
    Father Harpenau served St. Mary's parish until Aug., 1858, when he was transferred to Templeton, and Father Ray Pick became the pastor of St. Mary's. He supervised the purchase and development of two acres of ground south of the school for the purpose of providing a playground for the school children. During the month of August, 1961, Father Pick became ill and was forced to resign from his duties as Pastor of St. Mary's. He was succeeded by Father Bernard Montag, the present pastor of St. Mary's.