The idea to establish secondary Christian education in the greater Shawano area began in 1995. Rev. Steven Hyvonen (Immanuel-Cecil) and Rev. Brent Klein (St. Paul-Bonduel) sent out letters to area congregations asking them to send representatives to a meeting which was held at St. James Lutheran School in September of 1995. A Steering Committee was developed at that meeting. Members of the committee were Joel Devcich, Chairman; David Korth, Vice Chairman; Diane Loff, Secretary; and James Meyer, Treasurer. Others on the committee included Jeff Reep, George Lehrke, Ruben Kucksdorf, Ed Berkholtz, and Virgil Gueths.

In 1996, a survey letter was sent to Lutheran churches in the Shawano County area asking them how each congregation felt about having a Lutheran High School. That same year, the steering committee adopted the following mission statement:
“The mission of East Central Wisconsin Lutheran High School Association is to provide a quality Bible based Christian education which will prepare students to attain their life goals and lead productive Christian lives in an ever changing world under God’s grace in Jesus Christ.”

By November, 1996, the Steering Committee wrote Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws for the ECWLHS Association. These were adopted by representatives of Lutheran congregations in a meeting at St. James Lutheran Church in November, 1996.

By early 1997 a five LCMS congregations voted to join the ECWLHS Association. In May of 1997 a total of six congregations had joined, and at a May meeting a Board of Directors was elected. The first officers were Jeff Reep, Chairman; Ruben Kucksdorf, Vice Chairman; Jane Rank, Secretary; and Ed Berkholtz, Treasurer. Others on the board were George Lehrke, Virgil Gueths, Rev. Steven Hyvonen, Rev. John Laatsch, and Rev. Timothy Lamkin.

The Board of Directors scouted out numerous options as to where to start the high school. Finally in early 1999, through contacts made by Ralph Beversdorf, a tract of 33 acres of land near the Wolf River by Highway 22 was purchased from Mr. John Peterson for the sum of $15,500. Money for the purchase was raised quickly from a few board members and others which the board contacted. The Association moved to pass a motion to purchase the land from Mr. Peterson, and a land dedication service was held on the property on Sunday afternoon, October 10, 1999. Seven local pastors participated in the service. The Schmidt Family Band accompanied the singing of hymns for the service. Also in 1999, ECWLHS Association received official recognition as a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The board started to search diligently for someone to lead the ECWLHS organization to become more productive in its efforts. In 2001 such a leader was found on August 1, 2001, when Mr. Paul Weismantel was hired by the ECWLHS Association to be the high school administrator/principal.

In 2002 ECW received two large donations: one was an anonymous gift of $209,000 and the other was a pledge of $100,000 from Mrs. Gladys Woldt Barnes.

ECWLHSA always kept searching for ways to increase revenues in order to build a school and provide students with a Christian education. In 2003 Badger Midwest Holdings of Madison proposed a plan to build a hotel on the site which would provide income in future years. Through a land donation, ECWLHSA became a twenty percent owner in the hotel, which was built in 2003 and early 2004. The Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel was opened for business in March, 2004.

Another great blessing for ECW occurred in 2004. St. James Lutheran Church and School of Shawano offered classroom space if ECWLHS wanted to open the high school in their facilities. Administrator Paul Weismantel worked with the St. James board of education, and by fall 2004 classrooms were ready for the high school to open. The first faculty of ECWLHS included Mr. Weismantel, Mrs. Jodi Angeli, Mrs. Lore Raatz, and Mrs. Lynn Hume. The opening service was held on August 29, 2004. The first day in the tiny school started with four students. They were Luke Lindner, Sara Fischer, Bill Hanke, and Kimberly Shepard.

Each summer and fall ECW entered floats in area parades. About four parades were entered each year. The 2005-2006 school year continued in St. James’ facilities with an enrollment of eleven students. In the fall of 2005, the name of the high school was changed to Wolf River Lutheran High School. The school mascot was a fisher as in “fishers of men”. Wolf River Lutheran High hosted its first home basketball game with its girls’ basketball team on Saturday, January 28, 2006. Scott Fischer coached the team of nine girls.

WRLHS is striving to raise funds to open its own building in the fall of 2006. Their motto is “Build with mortar and bricks in 2006”.

ECWLHS Association member congregations in 2006 are: St. James, St. Jakobi, and St. Paul-Stony Hill, all from the Shawano area; St. Paul-Bonduel; Zion-Zachow; Immanuel-Cecil; Faith United-Pulcifer; Zion-Gresham; St. John-Hermansfort; St. Paul-Bowler; and St. John-Hayes.