Romance, St. Oswald Mission

St. Oswald Church was built three years later in 1909. Tony Koller was the contractor. After having completed the structure, the parishioners decided that more land was needed for the church. The building was moved from SE 27 35-19 to the new location of SW 26 35 19. Tony Koller used a stump puller to move the church. Louis Koenig was the first organist and choir master. Suppers and silver collections gradually provided the funds to purchase the first organ.

On June 22, 1910, Bishop Pascal visited the mission and commented favorably on the little church which the congregation had built. The name St. Oswald was chosen in memory of Prior Oswald Moosmueller. The patron, St. Oswald, had been king of Northumbria, England, and was a friend of the Benedictines.

On Aug. 20, 1950, under the direction of the pastor, Fr. George Brodner, the church was moved two miles north to the village of Romance.

When the church was moved from the country into Romance, the back part of the church containing the altar, which was a separate section, was left behind. So a sacristy was added after the church was moved. Fr. George built the altar and communion rail .

St. Oswald Church remained at Romance under the care of Fr. Roman Schneider until 1965 when the church was closed.

The building was put up for bids and was bought by Fred Jurgens who tore it down. It was with sadness that parishioners saw their church go. It had been a very central and important part of the community. All that remains of the former church site is St. Oswald's Cemetery on SW 265-19.

Pastors of St. Oswald: Fr. Peter Windschiegl, Muenster, 1906-1909; Fr. Bernard Schaeffler, Watson, 1909-1918; Fr. Dominic Hofmann, Watson, 1918-1920; Fr. Fridolin Tembreull, Watson, 1920-1921; Fr. Marcellus Mayer, Watson, 1921-1923;Fr. Theodore Doepker, Watson, 1923-1948; Fr. George Brodner, Watson, 1948-1955; Fr. Luke Boeckmann, Englefeld, 1955-1960; and Fr. Roman Schneider, Watson, 1960-1965.