Wesley United Methodist Church
Our History
Brief History of Wesley United Methodist Church
In 1950 a meeting of Methodist officials and the existing Methodist churches in Kenosha was held to
discuss and then confirm a need for a Methodist church on the West Side of Kenosha.
May 21, 1950, was Organization Sunday and 27 members joined and officials were elected for Wesley Methodist Church. On June 18, 1950, Reverend Myron Z. Hovda Jr. was assigned to the new church.
In 1952 12 lots between 46th and 47th Avenue on the north side of 60th Street were purchased for $6,000. The funds were raised and property paid for in 9 months.
In February 1955 a “kick-off” for the building fund drive took place. Five additional lots on 47th Avenue were also purchased at this time.
On September 6, 1957, groundbreaking ceremonies took place and on April 20, 1958, the new church home was opened.
On October 10, 1965, two wings, one on either side of the original building, were added to provide space for classrooms, a nursery pastor study, a furnace room and storage.
1968 brought a merger between the United Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren to form Wesley United Methodist Church and an even closer relationship with our neighbor.
Over the years as membership increased improvements were made to the building and a Lay Witness Mission was formed. In 1978 members provided labor for a roofing project for the church building.
1984 brought the addition of a double garage with members providing much of the labor. The garage became necessary for storage of church equipment and has shared the garage storage space with a Wesley Boy Scout Troop to this day.
1986 brought another groundbreaking project as a major addition was added and dedicated in 1987. This added a larger church entrance, aspacious narthex, kitchenette and additional bathrooms.
In 1991 the original structure was remodeled.
By 1992 Wesley was involved in a number of outreach and mission projects including:
Shalom Center soup kitchen INNS homeless shelter Work camp at Camp Lucerne United Methodist Women program Cookie walk UWM rummage sales, fish fries and autumn fairs:
Much of the proceeds from the above activities were distributed to local needy programs Distribution of Holiday food baskets Donate to local food pantry. In addition Wesley was providing Sunday School programs for all ages.
1992 - With the expansion of the music program new choirs developed and Christmas and Easter cantatas were performed each year.
In December of 1992 Memorial United Methodist Church closed and merged with WUMC. The Memorial building was sold to the Boys and Girls Club.
In 2000 we recognized many of the important people and events in our first 50 years at an anniversary service.
In 2004 a new grand piano was purchased to help support our growing music program.
In 2005 we participated in the “People Feeding People Program” and the United Methodist Youth Foundation.
2006 brought our first youth “mission trip”, this one to San Diego. 2007 “youth mission” trip to Thunder Bay, Canada. Also welcomed refugees from Burma to our church.
2007-2008 we went through a sanctuary renovation including updating the lighting and sound system as well as switching the sanctuary to face west rather than east.
The “youth mission” trip was to Denver, Co. Wesley hosted “National Night Out”. Several years in the early 2010s also.
In 2023 Spirit Alive church began sharing space from Wesley and is holding Sunday services and providing for their mission from the WUMC facility.
Wesley United Methodist Church has always been a warm, welcoming and inclusive congregation. Today as in the past WUMC continues to support our members, the local community and helps to fund support worldwide through UMCOR.
Wesley United Methodist Church ministers through the years:
1950-Reverend Myron Z. Hovda, Jr.
1954-Reverend George C. Desmond
1955-Reverend Vernon L. Taylor
1959- Reverend James Talmadge
1962-Reverend Myron E. Christensen
1965-Reverend Donald A. Ott
1971-Reverend Eldon L. Farmer
1972-Reverend Dan L. Robertson
1973-Reverend Paul Reinhold
1977-Reverend David Worm
1980-Reverend Ned L. Hintzman
1989-94 Reverend John Sumwalt
1992-96Reverend Jeff Nicholas
April 96-Reverend Robert Trobaugh
June 96-Reverend Patricia E. Lyon
2000-Reverend Edward Johnson
2004-Reverend Jason Mahnke
2013-Reverend Jo Bier
2015-Reverend Grace Cajiuat
2024-Reverend David Kim
Copyright © 2025 Wesley United Methodist Church
4600 60th St. | Kenosha, WI 53144 | Phone: 262-654-8122 | Email: wesleyumc@kenoshawesley.org