Mr. Theodore Grotrain was born July 17, 1898 in Allen County, Indiana. After graduation from Concordia - River Forest in 1918, he came to Immanuel. At that time Pastor Duessel was still pastor and Immanuel was preparing to celebrate its 25th. anniversary in 1920. Mr. Grotrain joined one of his former classmates from Concordia - River Forest, Herbert L. Kern, already on the staff at Immanuel. He started teaching the lower grades, but soon was advanced to the upper grades. He married a member of the congregation, Emma Schaffrick, the daughter of Julius and Caroline (Begalke) Schaffrick. Along with his teaching duties, Mr. Grotrain also took turns playing the organ, was church secretary from 1923 to 1928, and worked with the youth group. He was with Immanuel until 1944, when he received a call to Decatur, Indiana, where he then taught at the St. Peter Lutheran School.
