CLUNE, Rev. Father John Joseph

CLUNE, FALLON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/2/2014 at 12:56:51

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. p. 773. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ REV. FATHER JOHN JOSEPH CLUNE

To the Rev. Father Clune, assistant pastor of the Sacred Heart church belongs the pleasant task of contributing to the spiritual and educational welfare of the community. He is one of the younger members of the clergy of the Catholic church, and is of promising attainments. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in [January 11] 1878, his parents being Thomas and Maria (Fallon) Clune, both natives of Ireland, who came to the United States with their parents. They were married in Norwalk and both of them lived there for the rest of their lives. The father's demise occurred when Father Clune was an infant but a year and ten months old, he being the youngest of three children.

Father Clune was graduated from the parochial school at Norwalk and afterward attended St. Bonaventure College at Allegany, New York. He finished there and was ordained to the Catholic ministry in December, 1903, and in the following January undertook his first charge as assistant pastor. It was after his arrival that the church was consumed by fire, and Father Clune assisted greatly in its reconstruction.

The church at Rockwell and the mission at Swaledale together comprise from one hundred and ten to one hundred and fifteen families. The average attendance at the Sacred Heart Academy is about one hundred and twenty-five. After being graduated from this institution the students are qualified for admission to the freshman class of the state university.

NOTE: Rev. Father John Joseph Clune died on February 10,, 1941 at Coggon IA. He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Dubuque IA

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014