Quimby - St. John the Baptist

QUIMBY - In 1937, Father Tom Parle, pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee, established mission stations at Washta and Quimby. At first, Mass was celebrated at the homes of Kathryn Breckwald in Quimby and Paul and Mabel Beeson in Washta on alternating Saturdays. Later, Mass was offered at the town hall in Quimby, which was also the local movie theater. Until about 1948, Father Parle offered Mass about twice a month in the town hall.

When Father Louis Lynch returned from military service in 1948, he challenged the people to buy or build a building of their own. The parishioners purchased a store in Quimby, cleaned it up and found appropriate furnishings. This building proved to be inadequate because it lacked space for a social hall and did not have running water.

Sisters from Servants of Mary and priests from Trinity College organized catechetical instruction for the children.

In 1961, Bishop Mueller asked Father Lynch to become the full-time chaplain of the mental health institute in Cherokee and pastor at St. John's.

Two lots were purchased and work began in September of 1961 on a church that was built at a cost of just under $50,000. There were 46 families who contributed to the parish at that time. St. John the Baptist Parish later became a mission of Visitation Parish in Maryhill, Immaculate Conception in Cherokee, and is now a mission of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein with Msgr. R. Mark Duchaine as pastor.

Some of the priests who have served at St. John's either as pastors or sacramental ministers include: Father Parle, Father W. J. Christy, Father Francis Schultes, Father J. L. Bauer, Msgr. Louis Lynch, Father Elmer Thom, Father Gerald Skahill, Father Dougherty, Father Tom Nash, Father Ralph Reinert, Father Eugene Schumacker, Father Gerald Hartz, Father Eugene Sitzmann, Father Alfred McCoy, Father Richard Sitzmann, Father Paul Eisele, Father William Schreiber, Father Richard Ries, Father James Smith and Msgr. Mark Duchaine.

There are currently about 170 parishioners at St. John the Baptist's Parish. St. John's is a member of the Vineyard Cluster, which also consists of IC in Cherokee and Visitation at Maryhill. This was a natural cluster because many members have friends and relatives who belong to the other parishes. This cluster council meets four times a year, rotating among the three parishes. Being a member of a cluster was not really a change for the people of St. John's because they have never had a resident pastor.

At times, St. John's was officially affiliated with IC, while being served by priests from Catholic schools in Storm Lake or Remsen. This left the parish pretty much on its own devices and members thought they were was doing well. Little did the people realize how much difference an active pastor would make. Since Msgr. Duchaine became the pastor in 1991, the church has installed new carpet, a new sound system and lighting and a new roof. Also, new sliding doors were added to partition the church off from the parish hall and to divide the hall for CCD classes. Finances are in the best condition they have ever been in.

St. John's also has a parish pastoral council and a ladies' guild. The major fund-raising projects for the guild include a card party and a salad luncheon, Watermelon Days and a fall bazaar. In 2001, an informal crafters' group began meeting to make things for the bazaar.

In 1991, the parish celebrated the 30th anniversary of the building of the current church. Ten of the original members were present. In 1998, St. Helen's guild celebrated its 50th anniversary with six of the charter members present. Four of these women are current members of the parish.
 

[above as of 2002]
 

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The parish closed in 2009 with the final Mass on July 11, 2009.

Delora Mitchell of Washta, a lifelong parishioner, was among the parishioners who came to a consensus to close the parish rather than have it be delegated to church building status.

Sacramental Records are kept at Immaculate Conception in Cherokee.