Monsignor ROBERT L. SPAIGHT

HOLLINGSWORTH, SPAIGHT, PENNINGROTH

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/2/2003 at 16:19:57

Monsignor ROBERT L. SPAIGHT

Telegraph Herald - Wednesday, Jan 22, 2003

Monsignor Robert L. Spaight, 72, of Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at the care center.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB, officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. The Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on May 8, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, son of Leonard and Anna (Hollingsworth) Spaight.

He graduated from Loras College and took his theological training at Mount St. Bernard Seminary, both in Dubuque. He was ordained on Feb. 4, 1956, at St. Raphael’s Cathedral, by Archbishop Leo J. Binz.

He served as associate pastor of Holy Family Parish, Mason City, from 1956-1957, before doing postgraduate work in canon law at the Angelicum University in Rome from 1957-1960.

He served as auditor and secretary of the Metropolitan Tribunal from 1960-1961, and vice chancellor of the archdiocese from 1961-1963.

From 1963-1968, he taught at Immaculate Conception Aspirancy, Wahlert High School and the Briar Cliff College Extension at Mount St. Francis, all in Dubuque. In addition to his teaching duties, he served as an advocate for the Metropolitan Tribunal.

He served as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal and Interdiocesan Tribunal of Second Instance, Province of Dubuque, from 1968-1991.

In 1968, he was named chaplain at Mount St. Francis and moderator of the Catholic Lawyers’ Guild. From 1984-1991, he served as a delegate of the archbishop for canonical matters pertaining to marriage.

He served as pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Rickardsville, from 1989-1991. From 1991-1999, he was pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Nashua. During this time, he also served as chairman of the Chemical Dependency Board. In 2000, he retired to the Windsor Apartments in Dubuque.

Surviving are a brother, Donald Spaight; and two sisters-in-law, Therese Spaight and Betty Spaight, both of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Joseph, James and Paul Spaight; and a sister, Mary Katherine Penningroth.

Memorials may be given to the Franciscan Brothers of Peace of St. Paul, Minn.