The Lutheran Home was established in 1906 out of love and concern to provide for retired and indigent pastors and teachers who could live out their lives in relative comfort and dignity. First known as the “Altenheim,” the same spirit remains at the heart of the Lutheran Home a century later. While we serve people of all backgrounds, it’s clear that faith and compassion remain the driving forces in care.
The story of the Altenheim began with one man’s vision and compassion for older adults, motivated by faith and love. Steuber inspired others to act which ultimately impacted the lives of thousands and thousands of people through the generations.
Born in 1837, George Steuber immigrated to the US from Germany in 1844 at the age of 6. As an adult, he became a Lutheran school teacher at Trinity Downtown and was known for his strong compassion for children and the aged. Steuber had a desire to ensure that retired Lutheran church workers would be cared for in their old age. As a member of Trinity Lutheran downtown, Mr. Steuber shared his idea with fellow church members and friends from Grace Lutheran Church, as well as local Lutheran clergyman. And so, the Altenheim movement began!
John Pritzlaff who was one of the earliest German settlers in Milwaukee, coming from Prussia in 1839 at the age of 19. His three children and their spouses are considered the core group of Altenheim founders. John Pritzlaff started with a small retail hardware store in 1850, but by 1884, his business had become the largest hardware store in the region, at one point employing over 400 people. John Pritzlaff Hardware operated for more than 100 years in Milwaukee, closing in the 1950’s.
Between the Pritzlaff siblings and their spouses, the total contribution equaled $20,000. Which was used to purchase land in Wauwatosa on the corner of North Ave and Wauwatosa Ave, and so began the Lutherisches Altenheim.
Elizabeth (nee Pritzlaff) Koch, is credited for having provided the very first contribution of $5000 in 1906 to begin the Lutheran Altenheim. She was John Pritzlaff’s first child, born in 1945 in Wisconsin and became the wife of Mayor John Koch. Elizabeth and Mayor Koch were members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
One of the most prominent men among the Altenheim’s founders, John C. Koch was Milwaukee’s Mayor from 1893 to 1896. He was born in 1841 in Prussia and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1854. He was among the first individuals to make a donation of $5000 to begin the Altenheim; he was a founder, incorporator, and the board’s first Vice President. After his term as mayor, Koch re-joined the John Pritzlaff Hardware Co. He was married to Elizabeth Pritzlaff, the oldest daughter of the founder, John Pritzlaff and was a member of Trinity Lutheran church.
Fred Pritzlaff was born in Wisconsin in 1860 and was both a founder and incorporator of the Lutheran Altenheim. He was among the first to donate $5000 toward its establishment and served on its board for 45 years until his death at age 90 in 1951. He also was a member of Trinity Lutheran downtown. When his father, John Pritzlaff, died in 1900, Frederick took over the company at the age of 39.
An additional donation of $5000 came from Fred and Elizabeth’s sister, Emma (nee Pritzlaff) Luedke, and her husband, H. August Luedke, a vice president and general manager at Pritzlaff Hardware. August came to Milwaukee from Prussia in 1855 at the age of 5, while Emma, John Pritzlaff’s second child, was born here in 1852. Both were members of Trinity downtown. Interestingly, August and Emma are the grandparents of Wisconsin Congressman and Jim Sensenbrenner.
Other than the Pritzlaff’s and their spouses, other founding members of the Altenheim included the following individuals:
Dr. Herman Duemling was born in Schoenebeck, Prussia and emigrated to Milwaukee in 1869 at the age of 23. Dr. Duemling earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Heidelberg in 1866 and also served in the Prussian war as Lieutenant. He was both a Founder and Incorporator of the Altenheim and became the Altenheim board’s first president in 1906. Prior to that, he taught math and natural philosophy and was professor at Concordia Ft. Wayne for 25 years. He returned to Milwaukee in 1899 to become Editor-in-Chief of George Brumder’s Milwaukee German newspaper “Die Germania”, the largest German language newspaper in North America until that time. Dr. Duemling also wrote books on the natural sciences, and along with his wife Jennie Sulzer, was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church Downtown.
George Brumder was one of Milwaukee’s early German settlers, arriving in Milwaukee in 1857 from the little village of Breuschwickersheim. Family historical accounts indicate he left for the US with just $1 in his pocket.
George Brumder was the owner and founder of Germania Publishing Company of Milwaukee. Brumder first worked as a woodsman in Wisconsin and also laid the first streetcar tracks in Milwaukee. By 1964, he had saved enough money to buy a building on 3rd Street, where he lived in the back, ran a bookstore in the front and printed Lutheran materials. With his bookstore profits, Brumder purchased Milwaukee’s German language newspaper, “die Germania”. By 1910, he had become one of the leading German-language publishers in the US, publishing books, bibles, hymnals, calendars, almanacs, language primers and children’s literature. Brumder was a member of Grace Lutheran Church Downtown. His business was headquartered in the Germania building on Plankinton & Wells.
William Schroeder was born in Wisconsin in the 1860s and was the board’s first Financial Secretary. He was the son of John Schroeder, founder of the John Schroeder Lumber Co., based in Milwaukee. The Schroeder lumber company grew into one of the largest and most complete retailers of US lumber. The Schroeder family also owned related businesses such as hardwood flooring, furniture, turpentine and milling, and belonged to St. John’s Lutheran Church on 8th & Vilet.
William H. Upmeyer, the Altenheim’s first board treasurer, was born in Wisconsin in 1858 and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church downtown. He was a partner in Bunde & Upmeyer, one of the premier jewelers in Milwaukee at the turn of the century.
John Frank was born in Wisconsin in 1854 and was also a member of Grace downtown. John’s father, August Frank, emigrated from Switzerland and founded Goll and Frank, a wholesale dry goods firm in Milwaukee, where John later became president. John helped organize the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1899. John himself was the first president of the Conservatory.
His father Charles Sr., came to Wisconsin from Prussia in the late 1850’s and in 1867 founded the Charles Niss & Sons Furniture Store. Charles Jr. took over as president following the death of his father. As a national known furniture dealer, Charels Jr. is noted to have helped organize the National Retail Furniture association in 1891, and in 1896, became the first president of the Wisconsin Retail Furniture Association. He was a member of Grace Lutheran downtown.
Fred Graffenius was born in 1846 in Brandenburg and came to Wisconsin in 1870, first getting a job with the Milwaukee Iron Co. In 1876, Fred and his wife Marie (nee Schulz) opened a Millinery and Notions business, and in 1877, Fred was instrumental in founding Badger Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a mutual aid society, and in fact joined the company as one of its first agents. Fred also participated in the founding of the Lutheran Children’s Friends Society and belonged to St. Stephen Lutheran Church.
Henry Wedeking was also born in Germany and arrived in Milwaukee in 1872. An original founding board member of the Altenheim and its first Secretary, Mr. Wedekind was a school teacher at St. Jacobi’s Lutheran School and also a writer of Lutheran church news, writing for the Germania Newspaper and other German publications. Henry was known to travel across the state of Wisconsin to promote the Altenheim among the various German Lutheran communities.
These three Lutheran clergy members are also considered founders of the Altenheim (left to right) Rev. Bernhard Sievers, pastor at St. Stephen Church in Milwaukee, Rev. Reinhold Thiele, 3rd pastor at St John’s Wauwatosa and first chaplain to serve the Altenheim, and Rev. William Mattes, Zion Lutheran Church (originally at 21st and North Avenue and now located in Menomonee Falls).
The Lutheran Home
Lutheran Home for the Aging
Home for Aged Lutherans
“Lutherischen Altenheim-Gesellschaft von Wisconsin” (Lutheran Altenheim Society of Wisconsin) or “Altenheim” for short
The Ladies Auxiliary was founded by 9 charter members in 1905 – 1906 to support the “Altenheim” or Home for the Elderly with time, materials, and money. Group originally was called the “Frauenkomitee” or Ladies Auxiliary.
Charter members:
Elizabeth Pritzlaff Koch was the first to offer $5,000 toward establishment of a foundation for elderly Lutherans. Her husband, John C. Koch, made a donation. Her sister, Emma Pritzlaff Luedke, and husband, H. August
Lutheran Home
7500 West North Avenue
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213
(414) 258-6170
Dr. Cary Kohlenberg
Dr Cara C. O’Brien, MD
Dr. O’Brien is the Harwood Place Medical Director, Froedtert & Medical College physician specializing in Geriatric Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“I strive to be an active listener and thoughtful physician for every patient. I encourage open communication with my patients and family participation during clinic visits. I promote healthy living and safety for each individual and offer care unique to each patient and their goals for a better quality of life.”
Dr. O’Brien visits Harwood Place Assisted Living every Wednesday. She also reserves time for Harwood Place Health & Wellness residents on Wednesday.
Froedtert Health
Internal Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Dr. John Leuthner (Physiatrist)
Integrated Rehab Consulting
Dr. Leuthner is a physiatrist with the largest Physiatry Group Optimizing Post-Acute Rehab in Skilled Nursing Facilities & Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Integrated Rehab Consultants
Dr. Champalal Gupta, MD
Ascension
Dr. Krishna Pandey, MD
Dr. Krishna Pandey, MD is a Lutheran Home Medical Director and hospice & palliative medicine internist in Milwaukee, WI. He is affiliated with medical facilities such as Ascension Saint Francis and Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Ascension / Aurora
Dr. Elizabeth Bukowy
Dr. Bukowy is the Lutheran Home Medical Director, Froedtert & Medical College physician specializing in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. She is also an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Bukowy’s rounds 2 days/week and her NP rounds 5 days/week.
Froedtert Health