Washington County, WI – Many people feel like they’ve had a calling throughout their lives. A calling to a certain career path, a calling to serve others, or a calling to lead a meaningful life. Howard and Mary Ann Kusler have followed all of those callings—Howard was a pastor and Mary Ann was a teacher.
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It was a busy year for the Kuslers in 1956. Howard graduated from seminary on the morning of May 27, and he and Mary Ann were married later that evening. “My family was here for graduation from South Dakota. And as they were all farmers, if we didn’t do it then we would have had to wait until after harvest time,” says Howard. Mary Ann was just a freshman in college when they were married. She was pursuing a teaching degree.
After graduating from seminary, Howard received his first call to serve the congregations of Friedens and St. Peter’s Church in Jackson. During that time, they were blessed with two daughters. Howard reflects fondly on those years—providing spiritual guidance and compassion to those who sought out his help.
Six years later, the Kuslers accepted a call to serve the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Waukesha. At the time of his calling, he was just the fourth pastor to serve in the church’s 97-year history. After settling into life in Waukesha, Mary Ann returned to college to finish the degree she had put on hold while raising their children. She received her teaching degree from Carroll College and taught elementary school for 25 years. Howard served in the congregation in Waukesha from 1962 until his first retirement in 1997.
During Howard’s ministry in Jackson, he met Rev. Louis Riesch, who was part of the South Wisconsin Synod. At that time, Rev. Riesch had been assigned the task of exploring the need and opportunity to establish a home for the aged. Mr. William Koehl—an aging bachelor farmer—had already reached out to Riesch wanting to donate his land to establish a home for the aged. Riesch gathered local church members to discuss the option and the donation of Koehl’s 98-acre farm located on County Highway Z in West Bend.
CLICK HERE to read more about Howard and Mary Ann Kusler in Cedar Community’s Winter edition of Live More magazine.
