Luke Plunkett (1931)

BROIDY, PLUNKETT

Posted By: Ida Morse
Date: 12/12/2005 at 16:02:40

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 5, 1931

Death of Rev. Luke Plunkett

Pastor of St Joseph's Catholic church dies after a short illness.

Solemn high mass was celebrated Tuesday, February 3rd, at 10 o'clock for the Rev. Luke Plunkett at St. Joseph's Catholic church. Father Plunkett died Sunday, February 1, at the age of 74 years. He had been ill , but a short time. His brother, the Rev T. J. Plunkett, of Milwaukee, Wis. was the celebrant.

The deceased was born in Ireland . Ten years of his early life were spent in the British Excise. At the time he entered the study of the priesthood his salary was equivalent to six thousand a year.

Thiry-five years ago he was ordained by the Cardinal Baughan, and was sent to Africa where he served sixteen years in Uganda, British East India. He was the only survivor of the thiry-one missionary priests. Several years of his missionary work were spent in the southern part of the United States among the negroes.

In October, 1920, he came to Winterset as pastor of St. Joseph's Cathlic church, where he has made many friends and has endeared himself to the people of this community. His health had not been good for several years, but his condition was not regarded as critical. He conducted services on Sunday January 25, but became ill with pneumonia on Tuesday.

Father Plunkett completed a history of Madison county last September and in his earlier life was the author of the first dictionary in the negro dialect, translated from the Catechism.

The surviving relatives are twin brothers, the Rev. T. J. Plunkett of Milwaukee, assistant to the Arch Bishop of Milwaukee, and J. J. Plunkett of Chicago. Two nieces have been in the home here. Miss Anna Broidy, who is now taking nurse's training at New York City, and Miss Margaret Broidy, who was here at the time of his death. The Rev. T. J. Plunkett was the celebrant of the solemn high mass at ten o'clock Tuesday morning and the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. T. W. Drumm, gave the sermon. The body lay in state at the church until eight, when services were held and the procession drove to Des Moines, where the body was conveyed to Chicago. Burial was made in a family lot there. The two brothers and the niece, Miss Broidy, accompanied the body to Chicago.

A number of friends came to Winterset, Tuesday to attend Mr. Plunkett's services, and the church was filled, with friends and relatives. Many priests of this state, were here, for the final rites. Included in the group were the following: Rt. Rev. T. W. Drumm, Rev. T. J. McStoy, Rev. S. J. O'Connell, Rev. Vitus Stall, Rev. S. J. Larken, Rev. J. C. Maher, Rev. Christopher Link, C. P., Rev. Gerald Dooley, C. P., Re. Thomas P. Murphy, Rev. Michael J. Floor, and Rev. Edwin J. Donahue of Des Moines, Rev T. J. Plunkett of Milwaukee, Rev. J. L. Stelton, Greenfield, Rev. H. V. Malone, Creston; Rev. Casey and Rev. Dennis Maugin of Churchville, Rev. G. C. Jermine of Elkhart, Rev. M. S. Dugan, St Partick's, Rev. McDonell, Cummings and Rev. Minch of St Marys.

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