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Priests from St. John’s Parish

Photo / Caption - Right Reverend Monsignor Theodore T. Warning. Father Warning came to Arcadia with his parents when he was about twelve years of age. He was born October 22, 1858, at Westphalia, Germany. He spent his youthful years here until he entered St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, completing his theological training at Grand Seminary, Montreal, Canada. He was ordained September 24, 1887, in Dubuque by the late Most Rev. J.J. Hennessey, D.D., first archbishop of Dubuque. He served as a member of the faculty of Columbia College, then St. Joseph’s from his ordination until 1898, when he was appointed pastor at Ossian. In 1901 he was named chaplain at Mt. St. Francis and remained there until 1905, when he was appointed pastor at Dyersville.

He served as pastor at Dyersville and dean of the Dyersville deanery until his retirement in 1931. Since then he had been chaplain of Mt. St. Francis. He was made a monsignor November 3, 1934. Msgr. Warning passed away in 1938.

Photo / Caption - Reverend Christopher Huelshorst. Father Huelshorst came to Arcadia when still a young boy from Germany. He grew up on the farm owned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Huelshorst. He attended St. John School in Arcadia, later entering college and later the seminary, and was ordained to the priesthood in the year 1904.

His first appointment was assistant to Revd. F.X. Schulte at Remsen, Iowa. Several years later he was sent to Rockwell City as pastor. Later, Father Huelshorst was transferred to the pastorate of St. Joseph's Church at Dedham, where he was given credit for building the church. Father Huelshorst passed away in Dedham on June 21, 194, and is buried there.

Photo / Caption - Reverend Otto Dentlinger. Father Dentlinger was born October 15, 1886, in Carroll, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dentlinger. He attended St John School in Arcadia, and later Loras in Dubuque. He was ordained in Sioux City by Bishop Heelan on May 26, 1923. He served as an assistant at Spirit Lake, Oto, Breda with Father Schulte, and was given a pastorate of Sac City with Lake City being a Mission at that time. He was pastor of Milford, Manson and Coon Rapids, becoming Chaplain at Algona where he passed away on August 19, 1962. Father Dentlinger is buried here in Arcadia.

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Photo / Caption - Reverend Monsignor Anton H. Ocken. The Rev. Msg. Anton H. Ocken was born at Arcadia April 18, 1893. He received his early education in the parochial school here. His high school and college was at St. Joseph’s, now Loras College in Dubuque where he graduated in 19191. Seminary training was in St. Mary’s Baltimore where he was ordained on May 26, 1923. He served as assistant in the Blessed Sacrament parish in Sioux City, Sts. Peter and Paul, Carroll and St. Joseph’s in Granville.

In May 1923 he was appointed pastor to St. Louis parish, Royal, where he remained until being appointed pastor at St. Mary’s which he served until his retirement in July 1971, as pastor emeritus to St. Mary’s parish in Mapleton.

He served as dean in the southwest deanery, Bishop’s Representative of the religious of the diocese and member of the board of the Priests’ Provident Society.

He was appointed Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor in February 1972.

Photo / Caption - Reverend William Buchholz. Father Buchholzwas born Jun e17, 1893, at Arcadia, a son of Henry and Mathilda (Berning Buchholz. He was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s where he attended elementary school. He received his secondary schooling at St. Joseph’s High School, now Loras Academy, in Dubuque, and he studied philosophy and theology at Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.

Photo / Caption - Reverend Robert L. Leiting. Father Leiting, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman B. Leiting of Arcadia attended St. John’s of Arcadia, graduating in May 1953. He attended St. Ann’s, Vail until his senior year, then graduating from Kuemper High School in May 1957. Father Leiting attended Loras College from 1957 to 1961, receiving his B.A. degree in 1961. He entered the Seminary beginning theological studies at Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and completed at Mount St. Bernard in Dubuque, Iowa. Father Leiting was ordained on June 3, 1967, by Most Rev. Joseph M. Mueller, D.D. His first Mass on June 6, 1967, was said at St. John’s in Arcadia.

Father has held assignments in Spencer, Denison, Immaculate Conception, Sioux City; St. Thomas, Emmetsburg, Gutenberg, Sheldon and presently in Pocahontas.

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Brothers From St. John’s Parish

Photo / Caption- Brother Vital Huelshorst, O.F.M. Brother Vital was born in Verl, Germany, December 20, 1875. He was invested with the Third Order habit on March 30, 1897, and with the First Order habit on August 15, 1900. He made Solemn Profession on August 24, 1904. He spent his life as architect, contractor, builder, mechanic, engineer, farmer and cook at Oldenburg, Indiana, Mt. Airy, O., Penablanca, N. Mexico, Kansas City, Mo., Gallup and San Fidel, New Mexico. Mt. Healthy, O., and at Jemez, New Mexico. In December 1962, he retired to St. Vincent’s Home, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Here is where he died on January 19, 1964.

Brother Vital was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Huelshorst and a brother to Father Huelshorst, and Conrad Huelshorst of this parish.

Photo / Caption - Brother Dale Mooney. Brother Dale is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Mooney of Arcadia. He attended St. John’s in Arcadia and graduated from Kuemper High School in 167. He went to Christian Brother’s College in Memphis, Tennessee, graduating in 1971.

Brother Dale has taught at Christian Brother High School in Memphis until the spring of 1974 and is now teaching at Christian Brother’s High School in St. Louis, Missouri.

Brother Dale’s reception of first vows was in 1968 and he has been accepted for final vows to be made August 17, 1975.

Sisters From St. John’s Parish

Photo / Caption - Sister Mary Theodosia Huelshorst. Sister Theodosia, the former Miss Catherine Huelshorst was born October 21, 1880, to Henry and Margaret (Rehker) Huelshorst of Arcadia. Sister Theodosia attended school in Germany for one year, and then attended St. John's of Arcadia for her remaining grade school years. On October 25, 1899, Catherine entered the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family in Dubuque, being received as Sister Mary Theodosia on June 7, 1900. She was professed on July 14, 1902.

Sister Theodosia spent a long career teaching in many Iowa schools, including Templeton and also in Oregon. As principal, superior and teacher, she worked for accreditation of Templeton High School.

She retired to Mount St. Francis and Holy Family Hall in 1965. She died September 6, 1972, in her 71st year of her religious life.

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Photo / Caption - Sister Reingardis Staiert. Sister Reingardis, the former Anna Staiert, daughter of Augustine and Emilie (Dentlinger) Staiert was born May 24, 1878 and baptized on July 14, 1878. Anna grew up on the Staiert farm where her nephew, Irvin Staiert now lives and attended St. John’s School in Arcadia. She spent several years working at home for her parents before entering Mt. St Francis Convent at Dubuque on November 25, 1907, being received on May 21, 1908, as Sister Reingardis. Her first profession was on July 14, 1910. Sister Reingardis made her Perpetual Profession on July 16, 1916.

Sister Reingardis was stationed at various places a house Sister, later on in her religious life she spent many years working in a nursing home caring for the elderly until her health began to fail. She passed away March 24, 1944, in the 37th year of her religious life.

Photo / Caption - Sister Teresine Dentlinger. Sister Teresine was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dentlinger. She entered the convent at Mount St. Francis in Dubuque in 1915 at the age of 17. She received her habit on July 15, 1916 and took her final vows on June 24, 1918. Her career was spent teaching at the following schools: Bancroft, Pocahontas, Meyer, North Washington, Granville and Monticello. After becoming ill, she returned to Mount St. Francis in Dubuque where she passed away on December 31, 1945.

Photo / Caption - Sister Mary Dorothy Ocken. Anna Frances Ocken was born in Arcadia, Iowa, on March 22, 1888, to Mr. and Mrs. John Ocken. For her early education, Anna Frances attended St. John’s School in Arcadia, conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa. This experience was the beginning of her religious vocation. She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Francis on August 12, 1908, and was invested with the habit in the following year; at that time she received the name Sister Mary Dorothy. She made her first religious profession on July 20, 1911. Sister Dorothy attended St. Francis High School in Dubuque and later completed her teacher training at Briar Cliff College, in Sioux City, Iowa, and at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa.

With the enviable record of 57 consecutive years, Sister Dorothy taught in the archdiocesan schools of Dubuque, Holy Trinity and Holy Ghost, and later in the diocesan schools of Sioux City, Bode, Templeton, Arcadia and Larchwood. Sister Dorothy celebrated her 50 Anniversary of religious life in 1959, and the Diamond Jubilee of 60 years in 1969. At present Sister Dorothy lives at the Immaculate Conception Convent in Dubuque, where she has been a retired member for the past six years.

Photo / Caption - Sister Mary Arthur Hagen. Miss Regine Hagen was born at Arcadia on July 15, 1894, and received her education here. At the age of twenty-one, Regine entered the convent and was received as Sister Mary Arthur in 1916, at Mt. St. Francis in Dubuque.

Sister Mary Arthur spent her career teaching in various schools including Ossian, Iowa, where she taught music in high school from 1919 to 1930.

Sister Arthur celebrated her Golden Anniversary of her religious life in Arcadia in 1966.

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Photo / Caption - Sister Celine Enenbach. Sister Mary Celine, formerly Margaret Enenbach, was born November 3, 1893. She was the daughter of Henry and Christina Enenbach. She received her education at St. John’s School in Arcadia and in 1915, she entered the Order of St. Francis Sisters in Dubuque, Iowa. She passed away April 8, 1918, being professed on her deathbed. Sister Celine died at the age of 24 years. She is buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa. She was survived by her mother and three sisters, Mrs. Henry Terlisner, Mrs. George Thieman and Mrs. Peter Hieman and one brother, Frank Enenbach.

Photo / Caption - Sister Mary Clarona Vonnahme. Sister Clarona, the former Miss Clara Vonnahme, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Vonnahme of Arcadia, went to St. John’s School in Arcadia and St. Angela's Academy in Carroll before entering the Mt. St. Francis Convent in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1929. She was received as Sister Mary Clarona in 1932, after which she began teaching for a few years. She then helped in hospitals and did kitchen work. Sister Clarona passed away on August 21, 1959.

Photo / Caption - Sister Ruth Nieland. Sister Ruth is the daughter of Andrew Nieland of Arcadia. She received her education at St. John’s grade school and attended St. Angela's Academy, graduating from Kuemper High School. She entered the convent, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at La Crosse, Wisconsin. Sister Ruth took her final vows in 1964.

She has spent her career in the religious life teaching at Marathon, Wisconsin grade school, La Crosse, Wisconsin, West Point, Iowa high school and she has been at Kuemper High School in Carroll, Iowa, for the past nine years. She is residing presently in the convent of St. Ann’s in Vail, Iowa.

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Photo / Caption - Sister Irene Nieland. Sister Irene daughter of Andrew Nieland of St. John’s Parish receive her grades school education at St. John’s in Arcadia and Kuemper High School. Sister Irene made her religious profession of vows in august 1965 at the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She received a B.S. in Biology from Viterbo College in La Crosse, Wisconsin and a diploma in Nursing from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She did postgraduate work in operating room supervision and Administration at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She received a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Sister Irene plans to begin graduate work in nursing at the University of Colorado in Denver this fall.

Sister Irene has been O.R. and E.R. nursing supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital in Sarta, Wisconsin for one year, O.R. and P.A.R. Supervisor at Sacred Heart Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho for seven years, and staff nurse I.C.U.-C.C.U. at Weld County General Hospital in Greeley, Colorado for three years.

Photo / Caption - Sister Darlene Wessling, FSE. Sister Darlene, the former Darlene Wessling daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Wessling entered the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1963. Sister Darlene graduated from Viterbo College, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Sister Darlene has taught at Holy Spirit School in Carroll, Iowa for three years, St. Ann School in Spokane, Washington for one year. She has been at Lowell, Michigan for the past three years.

Sister Darlene made final vows in 1974.

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Origin and History of Sisters of St. Francis

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family existed as a religious community in Germany about twelve years before its transfer to the US in 1875.

In Herford, Germany, in the 1860s, Mother Xavier Termehr and her new founded community, like the saints of prophets of old, had seen the needs of God’s people and responded. These sisters had seen the war-wounded and the sick and had gone to the battlefields and homes and cholera-stalked hospitals during the Franco-Prussian War. They had cared for the elderly and orphans in their hometown, taking them in

Anticipating exile from Bismarck's Germany before the passage of the May Laws demanding expulsion of the religious, the 29 sisters came to America in 1875 and settled in Iowa City. Here they found more orphans, for whom they went out begging from home to Iowa home.

However, undaunted by hardships, they continued to prepare themselves to teach in their new locale. Two years later the sisters were in two Iowa schools, with an income so meager that they often went on begging tours for food for the orphans. In 1878 the community pulled up roots once more and transferred to Dubuque, which has been home to the present day. The lives of many thousands of people have been touched over the years by the sisters teaching in the schools and the community’s Briar Cliff College. Others have been nursed to health in hospitals; still others given loving care in their golden years. While most of the sisters’ service was among the rural people of Iowa, cities such as Chicago beckoned for help.

By 1931, reaching beyond the boundaries of nation, the sisters established a mission in China and stayed until persecution once more forced the community to flee. Eighteen years after discontinuing the China mission, a band of sisters went to Chile in South America, where they continue today.

The call of Vatican II, along with the sisters’ desire tor respond to the changing needs of the world, led the Dubuque Franciscans to work among the migrants, deaf, the retarded; to begin to move in freeing ways in justice and prayer, community building and healing.

This is a year of joy for the Dubuque Franciscans, who will complete, September 5, 100 years in America. Across the land they are celebrating with their people, and all of the community’s 80 sisters are invited home to the motherhouse for a Chapter of Mats August 4-11.