The stained glass windows of Zion Lutheran Church
were created by Mr. Lee Nitteberg, the middle son of
Zion members Robert and Eleanor Nitteberg.
They were donated in 1985.
Lee produced the windows at his home
in San Diego, California,
where he creates stained glass art as a hobby.
Eleanor borrowed Ernie Burnett's pick-up truck and drove to San Diego with her friend Rita Cornell
to transport it to Silverhill. Upon their return, the Nittebergs took the window to a glass shop in Robertsdale, where it was fitted with 1/4" protective plate glass before
Robert and son Charlie would install it.
The congregation was so pleased with the first window that they commissioned Mr. Nitteberg
for the remaining 5 windows. Eleanor, Rev. Charles Jolliff and others went back to work on the designs.
These were sent to Lee, and he completed the 5 remaining windows.
Eleanor made another trip
to San Diego, this time flying out with son Charlie, his daughter Jennifer
(who was in the 6th grade at the time) and friend Roger Utter, son of
Zion members Ralph and Neysa Utter. They rented a U-Haul for
the return trip and drove back to Silverhill with the five new windows.
Robert and Eleanor loaded the windows onto his pick-up,
again making the trip to the glass shop in Robertsdale
to fit the windows with protective plate glass.
With a scaffold borrowed from Roger Utter, Robert and son Charlie
installed the five new windows with loving care.
The completed stained glass windows,
framed in Honduras mahogany
by Lee Nitteberg, are a proud
focal point for Lutherans today
in the sanctuary of historic
Zion Lutheran Church.
