REV.
C. A. ROOK 1922-1929
Conrad Rook was born June 25, 1893 in Germany. In 1902, he immigrated with his mother, three brothers, Herman, Gustave and Rudolph and two sisters, Minna and Ida to Huron County, Michigan. He attended a log-house school which has been re-erected in Greenfield Village. At the age of 13 he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church near Bad Axe, MI.
He entered Concordia Seminary, Springfield, IL in 1910 and graduated from there in 1916. He vicared during the school year 1914-15 at New Fane, Fond du Lac County, WI. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Lutheran congregations of Lapeer and Kings Mill, Michigan by the Rev. W. F. Junke on August 6, 1916.
Rev. C. A. Rook accepted a call to a parish composed of Traverse City, Mancelona and Kingsley, MI. (Information from an anniversary bulletin from St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Battle Creek, MI) He was installed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Traverse City in April of 1922 by Rev. T. C. Haessler, Leland, MI. He preached his farewell sermon at Traverse City, September 29, 1929. On October 1, 1929, he came to St. Paul’s in Battle Creek, where he served faithfully until his retirement on November 6, 1959. Even in retirement Pastor Rook continued to serve as a Lutheran Chaplain at the Veteran’s Hospital at Fort Custer and occasionally filled pulpits for vacationing pastors. The Rooks also continued their membership at St. Paul’s in Battle Creek.
Ella M. Gallmeyer was born December 4, 1890 to Conrad and Mary Gallmeyer (nee Kraft). She lived with her parents and four brothers, Martin, Conrad, Gerald and Carl and five sisters, Frieda, Martha, Johanna, Eulalia and Marie on a farm south of Fort Wayne, In. She attended parochial school and was confirmed at Friedheim Zion Lutheran Church.
Pastor Rook and Ella Gallmeyer were married by the Rev. C. B. Preuss at Friedheim on October 1, 1916. Their attendants were: Nora Kaufman, Johanna Buuck (sic), Martha Kaufman, Gustave Buuck (sic), Gustave Rook. The Rooks had five children: Arnold Rook, deceased, 1 daughter Janet Robarges; Marilyn Bernthal (Roy deceased) 2 children, Stephen Bernthal & Mary Bernthal; Esther Hartwig, 3 children: Richard Hartwig, James Hartwig & Carol Hull; Ruth Meckes 5 children: Marsha, Mark, Kay, David, Rev. Daniel Meckes, Faith Lutheran, Bay City, MI; Wilfred Rook 4 children: Roger Rook of Florida, Ronald Rook of Holt, MI, Wendy Dohm of Lansing and Brian Rook of Lansing.
Pastor Rook died May 2, 1967 in Battle Creek, MI and he was buried May 5th in the Memorial Park Cemetery of Battle Creek. His wife, Ella died Dec. 5, 1973 and she was buried in the same cemetery.
Information from: Service of Thanksgiving 50th Anniversary of Ordination in the Holy Ministry and 50th Wedding Anniversary of Pastor and Mrs. Conrad A. Rook, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Battle Creek, MI, Marilyn Rook Bernthal, Frankenmuth, MI daughter of Pastor and Mrs. C. A. Rook.