Zion's Beginnings and Her Pastors:
Rev. B.J. Von Renner, pastor of St John's Lutheran Church in Fallon, NV., conducted the first worship services at a member’s home beginning on February 13, 1957. Places of worship through the following years were member homes, the Episcopal church, the Methodist church, the Baptist Church, and Eddy Mortuary. Following the sudden death of Pastor Von Renner in 1962, Rev. Arlo Krueger of Sparks and then the Rev Emil Leising of Gardnerville served as vacancy pastors. In October 1965 Rev. Tobias Beuhner was installed as a first resident pastor. He was followed by Rev. Ray Kringle in 1968, Rev. Kenneth Wyneken in 1971, Rev. Steven Liechti in 1974, and Rev. Tony Kluender in 1980. During the vacancy beginning in 1985, several circuit and district pastors conducted services as well as laymen. Rev. Brant Bianchi also served Zion for six months in 1986 to 1987. On July 26, 1987 Rev. Mark Kliewer, a new graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, was installed as pastor, along with the calls to serve Christ’s Mission, Now Christ Lutheran Church in Battle Mountain, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ely, Nevada. Rev. Kliewer remains as Pastor of Zion and Christ Lutheran Churches. Though a few pastors who served Zion in the 70’s and 80’s were not affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, from the very beginning Zion was a part of the L.C.M.S and remains a member today.
Property:
Property was purchased on Melarkey Street in Winnemucca, on April of 1963. A new building was dedicated in October 1965. A parsonage was dedicated on the same property in 1968. New property, with a house that is now the parsonage, on Highland Drive was purchased in February 1992. The Melarkey Street property was sold. A new building was dedicated on the Highland property on February 27, 1994. Adjacent property was purchased in October 1997 to remodel for Childcare. The remodeled facility was dedicated for Childcare in February of 1998. Currently a building on the adjacent property purchased in 1997 is being used for a Youth Center and a After School Youth Program known as Zion Zone, which began in 2008. The Youth Building was remodeled again and a patio added in 2015.The extra property behind the current building of worship is set aside for the future building of an elementary school.