Rev. Wayne Z. Artz served as minister of Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1918-1964.
Wayne Z. Artz was born on 26 February 1878 in Adamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as the youngest son of William Artz and Louisa Artz, who operated a general store and restaurant in that town. There were five other children in the family: Monroe Artz, who died in infancy; Lemuel Artz, who was killed on the railroad; Rosa Artz, who died early; Adaline Artz, who lived to the age of one-hundred; and Minnie Artz (Mrs. Fritz) who lived past age ninety.
Rev. Artz was confirmed at Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, at the age of twelve, by the Rev. B. G. Welder in June 1890. He attended Millersville State Normal School, and at the age of seventeen, began to teach school near Reamstown, Lancaster County. He later found employment in the Commandant’s Office at the the United States Navy Yard in Philadelphia. After that, he worked for Strawbridge and Clothier selling men’s gloves.
While employed in Philadelphia, Rev. Artz studied at the University of Pennsylvania. Then he entered the Mount Airy Theological Seminary, where he graduated in May 1909. While there, he served as Chaplain of Holmstead Prison, and worked at the Lutheran Settlement House. He also was a supply minister for Philadelphia and New Jersey area resort churches.
Rev. Artz was ordained in June 1909 at the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. Following his ordination, he married the former Lillie Mae Root of Reamstown. They were blessed with two children, Rev. Harold Artz and Dorothy Artz.
Rev. Artz first accepted a call to the Turbotville Charge, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and served there for nine years. In 1918, he accepted a call to the Lykens Valley Charge, where he resided in the Elizabethville parsonage. He was pastor of this charge until his retirement in 1964. He died in January 1969 and is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville.
Rev. Artz had a most unusual record in that during the fifty-five years of his ministry, he never missed a church service because of illness. He was good-humored, and enjoyed a comradeship with members of his church.
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A brief biography of Rev. Artz appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
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