Through the years, while Zion's growing membership surely brought pleasure to the Lord, it also brought challenges to the ministry of these Christians. Finding space wherein the members could hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God was a challenge through the 1950s. During this same time, as Pastor Ansorge was nearing the end of his service to God here on earth, attention turned to meeting the needs of the members. Pastor Eschenbacher was called as a second pastor to Zion. However, shortly after Pastor Eschenbacher's arrival, the death of Pastor Ansorge left Zion's ministry short handed again. It was during this time that a series of church workers were called upon to assist with God's work at Zion from 1955-1964.

Delores Winterhof Popp
Dec. 1955 - Nov. 1957

Delores Winterhof Popp served as Zion's first parish worker, assisting with the ladies groups, young people, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She and her husband, Bob, now reside on an acreage near Marshalltown, Iowa. They are retired and enjoy fishing, gardening and volunteering at the Iowa Veterans Home.

Joan Jensen
Sept. 1958 - Aug. 1959

Joan Jensen was the only parish worker to serve in the capacity of Deaconess at Zion. At special rites Sept. 7, 1958, she was inducted into service to Zion. She was a graduate of Valparaiso University, the only school at which a student could complete studies as a deaconess in the LCMS at that time. The program trained young women to serve the church in three areas: parish work, institutional work and foreign missions. On Sept. 18, 1959, she married Rev. Robert Eckelman who was serving Lutheran congregations at Dow City and Buck Grove. Zion's youth choir traveled to Denison to sing at the wedding. Joan Eckelman died October 11, 1998, at the couple's home in Colorado.

Vicar Robert Tewes
Sept. 1959 - Aug. 1960

Robert Tewes was the first of four men to serve a vicarage at Zion in preparation for the ministry. After several years as a LCMS minister he chose to leave the Missouri Synod and become affiliated with the AELC.

Vicar James Murray
Sept. 1960 - Aug. 1961

James Murray spent a year at Zion in training for the 30 years he went on to serve in the ministry of God. Now retired, he and his wife, Marie, make their home in Mesquite, Nevada.

Vicar Dwight Weber
Sept. 1962 - Aug. 1963

Following his graduation, Dwight Weber accepted a call to Montana where he and his wife, Evelyn, remained for two years. They then moved to Illinois where they served one congregation from 1966-1973, and two rural congregations from 1973-1994. Following retirement in 1994, the couple made their home in Litchfield, Illinois. Pastor Weber continued to serve the Lord through hospital calls and visiting shutins. Afflicted with Parkinson's and other health problems, Pastor Weber died October 4, 1999.

Vicar Garry Dassow
Sept. 1963 - Aug. 1964

Following his year of vicarage at Zion, Garry Dassow went on to serve 35 years in the ministry. He continues this service to our Lord God at Concordia Lutheran Church in Hoisington, Kansas.