Parish History

The Beginning - 1875

Fr. John Nemmers was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1875 and on the same day, appointed the first Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Gilbertville.

When Fr. Nemmers arrived, he began building a priest’s residence. He did most of the mason and carpenter work himself. In the spring of 1876, he opened a school. He taught the children himself the first year. For 16 years there was a succession of male teachers. In 1892, Fr. Nemmers secured the services of three School Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee and had a home ready for them on their arrival.

The parish grew and work on a new church began in 1888. All work was under the supervision of Fr. Nemmers. In 1891, the first son of the Parish to be ordained, the Rev. Nicholas Nosbisch, offered his first Mass in the new church. In 1900, Fr. Nemmers began the construction of a new rectory. He built the stone foundation himself with the remainder of the building being contracted.

During the early years of the 20^th century the new altar was purchased, the stations of the cross, imported from Germany, were erected and the pipe organ installed.

The entire cost of the church in 1889 was $22,000. The cost of the oak pews was $1,100; the Stations of the Cross in 1909 were $1,100; the high altar in 1910 was $2,600; and the pipe organ in 1911 was $1,200.

St. Mary’s Hall was built in 1919. It’s main use those first years was to welcome back the servicemen returning from combat in World War I.

On October 7, 1925, the Parish celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the parish and the Golden Jubilee of the ordination of its first and only Pastor, Fr. John Nemmers.

Fr. Nemmers passed away on September 7, 1928. The Solemn Mass of Requiem was celebrated, in the church that he built, on September 10, 1928. Fr. Nemmers is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, which was also one of his projects. 

1928 – The Early Years and Education

October 1928, Fr. William Cremer was appointed Pastor. An addition was built to the convent to accommodate children who boarded there. This enabled more youth of the parish the opportunity to attend the parish Catholic school. Fr. Cremer promoted the installation of the water system in the town and installed the service in the parish buildings, as well as modernizing the heating systems. He added a west entry and the east sacristy and purchased many parcels of land adjacent to the parish property.

In 1935, Fr. Cremer began the construction of the Sacred Heart Grotto. It was completed in the summer of 1938.

On August 30, 1943, Immaculate Conception High School was opened, housed partially in the school building and convent area and three classrooms were partitioned off in St. Mary’s Hall. The first graduating class was in 1947. There were 99 graduates before the high school was incorporated into Don Bosco High School in 1956. As the enrollment increased, Fr. Cremer began a fund for a future new school.

In 1951, Fr. Cremer celebrated his Golden Jubilee. In 1954 he was elevated to the dignity of Monsignor.

In the early 1950’s the possibility of a central Catholic High School was being discussed for the area, and Fr. Wilbur Ziegler was appointed administrator of the Parish. Don Bosco Central High School was formed as an inter-parochial project of Immaculate Conception, Gilbertville; St. Joseph's, Raymond; St. Athanasius, Jesup; St. Francis Parish, Barclay; St. Mary of Mt. Carmel, Eagle Center; and St. Mary’s Sacred Heart, La Porte City. Construction of the new high school building began in 1956. The school was formally dedicated October 7, 1957.

Construction of a new grade school began in the fall of 1961 and was completed in the fall of 1962.

Msgr. Cremer resigned as Pastor of Immaculate Conception on July 1, 1965 after almost 37 years of service. He died July 27, 1969. Funeral services were held in Gilbertville on July 31, 1969. He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery next to the first pastor, Fr. Nemmers. Ninety years of the first century’s history rests with its first two pastors – Fr. Nemmers for 52 years and Msgr. Cremer for 37 years.

When Msgr. Cremer resigned in 1965, the Rev. Kenneth Ryan was appointed Pastor.

1966 – 1987

In January 1966, the interior of the church was redecorated, new lighting installed and the Sanctuary carpeted. The exterior of the church was tuckpointed and painted in April and May of that year. The old school building was torn down. In 1970, the floor of the church was carpeted and the kneelers also covered in carpeting.

Preparation continued for the construction of the new convent. Ground was broken on August 30, 1967. The structure was completed and the sisters took up residence on August 2, 1968.

The consolidation agreement between Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph’s, Raymond went into effect with the opening of classes on August 27, 1969 and continues today. In 1971, Fr. Richard Krapfl was appointed the 4^th Pastor of Immaculate Conception.

In early 1975, the Interim Parish Council was formed. The first meeting was held in March of 1975 under the direction of Fr. Krapfl. The council consisted of 6 lay members and 3 religious’ leaders. A new church entrance, including a lobby and restrooms was proposed in 1975. Work began and the project was completed in 1976.

Rev. Clarence Frana was appointed Pastor in 1977. From July of 1978 to 1981 repairs were made to the rectory, a new roof was put on, as well as painting of exterior trim. The interior was redecorated thanks to the Rosary Society. In 1981, the rectory was tuckpointed, a donation from Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Schmit, in memory of their son, Chuck.

Rev. William Franklin was appointed Pastor in July 1980. In 1981 and 1982 a new sound system was installed as well as four ceiling fans.

The first parish auction was held May 16, 1982. The proceeds were used for the repair of St. Mary’s Hall.

In July 1983, Fr. Franklin was appointed to St. Edward’s in Waterloo and Rev. Ralph Simington was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception. Fr. Franklin was later elevated to Bishop.

A second parish auction was held in the spring of 1983 to finance the completion of the work on St. Mary’s Hall. In October and November 1983, the church pews were re-finished.

St. Mary’s Cemetery took on a new look in the fall of 1984 as a new concrete driveway was constructed and the “old driveway addition” created 72 new gravesites.

The Grotto was renovated and restored in 1986 by the Knights of Columbus. The Rosary Society sponsored a car raffle to help finance the new roof which was needed on the Immaculate Conception grade school building.

The tradition of Corpus Christi was celebrated in June 1987 in conjunction with the 150^th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque with Bishop William Franklin as celebrant.

Since July 1987, Immaculate Conception has been without an associate pastor, leaving only one priest to serve the parish.

2000 to now.....

In 2004, our church underwent a complete restoration, restoring it to its glory and spendor.

During 2010-2011, a $3.3 million project consisting of a new multi-purpose building including cafeteria and gymnasium for both the parish and the school system, along with many updates to Don Bosco were completed. The new St. Mary Center opened in 2011.

In 2013-2014, the handicap entrance and parking area was added to the northwest entrance of the church. The new Sancta Maria cemetery was created for the parish east of Gilbertville, increasing the available cemetery lots for our parish.

The parishioners came together to make improvements to the rectory in 2015. At this time, the kitchen was remodeled and an attached garage was added on.

The Grotto restoration project started in 2022, with working continuing in 2023 to restore the grotto to it's beauty.

PARISH PRIESTS

Rev. John Nemmers                                       1875-1928

Rev. Wm. Neubel, Associate          1985-1902

Rev. Henry Meyer, Associate         1902-1905

Rev. Wm. Neubel, Associate         1905-1906

Rev. Joseph Quirin, Associate     1906-1907 

Rev. Joseph Zeyen, Associate      1907-1912

Rev. Anthony Kreimer, Associate 1912-1917

Rev. Peter Friedman, Associate   1917-1921

Rev. John Mayer, Associate           1921-1928

Msgr. William J. Cremer                                 1928-1965

Rev. Paul Kirchoff, Associate         1928-1929

Rev. Victor Gerleman, Associate  1939-1942

Rev. Raymond Roseliep, Associate 1943-1944

Rev. Nestor Goedken, Associate  1944-1945

Rev. Clarence Neuses, Associate 1946-1947

Rev. Richard Bohr, Associate        1947-1955

Rev. Carl Schmitt, Associate         1961-1966

Rev. Wilbur W. Ziegler, Administrator      1955-1965 

Msgr. Kenneth Ryan                                        1965-1971 

Rev. Ronald Friedell, Associate   1966-1971

Rev. Ed Shields, Associate              1966-1971

Rev. Richard Krapfl                                          1971-1977

Rev. Dan Knipper, Associate         1973-1977

Rev. Clarence Frana                                         1977-1980

Rev. Ed Petty, Associate                  1977-1979

Rev. Dennis Cain, Associate          1979-1983

Most Rev. William Franklin                           1980-1983

Rev. Msgr. Ralph Simington                         1983-1989

Rev. Michael Mescher, Associate 1983-1987

Rev. James Secora                                           1989-1997

Rev. Philip Thompson                                    1997-2000

Rev. Rick Dagit                                                   2000-2004

Rev. Msgr. Edward Petty                                2004-2007

Rev. Dennis Colter                                            2007-2010

Rev. Henry P. Huber                                         2010-2022

Rev. Noah J. Diehm                                          2022 - present