SCHUETZENVEREIN - ST LOUIS SHOOTING CLUB
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In Gedenken
an unseren
ehemaligen König und Bruder, Rudi Sterzl,
Mitglied seit Mai 1988. 

Ruhe in Frieden, Bruder!

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Sterzl, Rudolf Herman
Passed away Monday, February 27, 2023, age 92.
Beloved husband of the late Maria Sterzl (nee.Kaiser), loving father of Birgit (Wayne) McMullen, Rosemarie (Terry) Ficken and Erich Sterzl; proud grandfather of Stephanie (Bobby) Schaper, Katrina (Mike) Barlow, Laura and Sophia; proud great-grandfather of Alexia, Stella, Britton and Vera; dear brother of the late Franz (survived by Magdelena) Sterzl, of the late Reinhard (the late Erika) Sterzl, Anna (the late Robert) Poltera, and Walter (Ruda) Sterzl; dear brother-in-law of Katharina (the late Peter) Freiling, Frances (the late Thomas) Kaiser and Annemarie (the late Lorenz) Kaiser. He was a loving uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to many.
Rudi was a longtime member of The German Cultural Society and of the St. Louis Schuetzenverein. He brought joy to many with his storytelling and love for his heritage.
Visitation: Friday, March 10, 4-8 pm. Kutis Affton Funeral Home
Funeral: Saturday, March 11, from Kutis Affton Chapel at 9:30am to Our Lady of Providence Catholic Church for mass at 10:00 am. Interment Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The German Cultural Society or to the St. Louis Schuetzenverein.

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SHOOTING CLUB OF ST LOUIS 1961
dba

SCHUETZENVEREIN - ST LOUIS


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A German Tradition - A Lifetime of Friendship

SIGN UP FOR AN AD IN OUR KÖNIGSBALL BOOK AND ALSO GET AN AD ON OUR WEBPAGE (AD WILL STAY UP FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS - UNLESS UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE.  DUE MARCH 25, 2023

Form to Sign Up for Königsball Ad

MEETINGS: 
2ND THURSDAY BUSINESS MEETING
&
4TH THURSDAY SHOOTING SCHEDULE. 

Schuetzenverein Storefront Map -CLICK ON FILE TO DOWNLOAD MAP TO OUR STOREFRONT IN CHESTERFIELD MALL
File Size: 253 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Wichtige Daten! 

King's ball on April 15.   6:00-11:00.    Oakville Elks Lodge. (Members/Reservation Only)
May 6 - The Coronation of
King Charles the Third of the House of Windsor (I get to go, don't you?)
May 7 - The Coronation of Our Kaiser (zweimal König des Schützenvereins) 
Martin Bovingloh
King's Frühstück on at Das Bevo (Members/Reservation Only)


Events with other Sporting Clubs
3/24 to 3/26  Brandenburg Shooting Club- Chicago
5/19 to 5/20 - Germania Club - Columbus, OH
June - Peoria Event
10/21 - Our Hubertus Event


Schützenverein Members meet with
German Ambassador Axel Dittmann


OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY 
Unser sechzigstes Jubiläum


CLUB MISSION STATEMENT & HISTORY

Come Join Us for Some Gemütlichkeit!
(click here to e-mail for info!)

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German Eagle Woodcut by Don Roberts 2019
German Eagle Woodcut by member Don Roberts 2019

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Flaggen der deutschsprachigen Länder
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MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of this organization is to enhance German/American relationships by providing fellowship and education through mutual social interest in German Schützenverein traditions and competition.

SCHÜTZENVEREIN OF ST LOUIS CLUB HISTORY

The St. Louis Schützenverein was established in 1961 and is a not-for-profit organization under current IRS rules. The seven original founders, also known as the “Seven Holy Founders,” were Wilhelm Lohmann, Heinrich Schwentker, Karl Liska, Jack Mueller, Gerhard Lichtenstein, Alfred Jahn, and Karl Lochthrowe. All of the original members have either passed away or moved from the area; however, today there are more than 40 members call the Schützenverein “my club.”

The Schützenverein was originally the idea of Willi Lohmann and was discussed at Henry Schwentker's barbershop. The first formal meeting was held at Bill Eisele's Virginia Inn. The seven members attended and established the club as 'Schützenverein of St. Louis von 1961.’ Ten by-laws were established and the club joined the NRA. Willi Eisele became an Ehrenmitglied (honorary member). Jack V. Mueller was elected the first Schießwart (range master). Three other honorary members were appointed:
  1. Willi Eisele - supported the club by providing the meeting place
  2. Henry Buschmann - supported the club with his enthusiasm
  3. Ernst Beutenmeuller - supported the club by providing the German House for events.
The club also recognized early patrons who supported the picnics and dances and were seen at every function. These patrons included; Leo Lehnig, Heinrich Leukert, all of the Eden Club, Kickers and Nick Messmer.

In 1962 the first annual picnic was held at La Agua Valley Swimming Pool in House Springs and the first shooting competition with a .22 rifle was held that year as well. In August, the Wanderpokal (traveling trophy) and wooden plaque were made by a friend of Henry Schwentker in Germany and was used as the club’s logo. The Pokalschießen (trophy shoot) was held and Karl Lochtowe was the first winner of the Pokal. Willi Lohmann introduced the graphic for the Königsvogel (the traditional German target for the König’s shoot) and this style is still used today at the annual Koenigschießen. Wolfgang Waterwiese joined earlier in the year and Witold Kramer became a member in December. Both honored gentlemen recently passed away.

On September 8, 1963 the first Königsschießen was held. Later that month on the 23rd, the first Schützenball was held in the Deutsches Haus (formerly on the northeast corner of LaFayette and Jefferson in St. Louis) and the music was supplied by the Trio Freddy (Fred Buechner) and "Die Lustigen Schwaben" (Andy Hochrein).

At one of the early meetings, it was decided the Schützenverein should have uniforms consisting of white shirts and a green tie. In 1964, we voted to complete the uniform by adding the traditional green hat and jacket similar to a Jäger or Förster in Germany. Four rifles were supplied by the NRA for temporary use along with 3000 rounds of ammunition. The Verein became a member of Schützenverband Hamburg, an organization of several shooting clubs in Germany.

1964 also saw the birth of the "Schießbude" (shooting booth) at the picnic and it was seen at the picnics through the 60's & 70's. It was always a big hit! The booth also made appearances at the Columbia (Illinois) Straßenfest and at the Eden Club picnic.

In 1981 the Verein purchased 10 acres of land in St. Genevieve County and later built a pavilion; thus, our Schießwald was established. The picnic and the annual Königsschießen is held on the grounds. As the years progressed great friendships were formed, traditions practiced, spirited competitions held, and a bond with our heritage continued.

Today, we continue to hold meetings almost every month as well as club shoots. Today, our shooting and scoring is a mix between air rifles, air pistols and .22 rifle competitions. Members attend several air rifle and pistol competitions in the Midwest. We currently regularly attend shoots at Peoria and Chicago Illinois, as well as Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. We have two formal dances each year. The Hubertustanz in the fall is held in conjunction with our hosting the inter-club competition and is in honor of the patron saint of hunters, St. Hubertus. The other is the Königsball in January, when we install our new König (or Königin) for the year. We have other activities as well. We also regularly operate a booth at various German festivals around town to help raise funds for our operating expenses as well as for donations.

Although the meeting place has changed to our own Schützenhalle, a storefront located in Chesterfield Mall, and new members joined while other friends departed, the St. Louis Schützenverein holds to many of its original traditions while continuing to return some money to fund German-American education & cultural programs in the community.

The Shooting Club of St Louis, 1961 dba St. Louis Schützenverein holds copyright to these pages ©2022-2023.  Reasonable use is permitted.  Credit should be given to us as appropriate. 
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