Wesley - St. Joseph

WESLEY - St. Joseph School and Parish in Wesley had its beginning in 1891, with the erection of a combination school and church at a cost of $10,000. In December of 1891, Father Henry C. Eckert, the first parish priest, celebrated the first Mass in the chapel. The School Sisters of St. Francis and the Sisters of the III Order of St. Francis of Assisi, all of Milwaukee, taught the children of St. Joseph Parish for many years.

In August of 1959, Garrigan High School in Algona opened its doors to students from Wesley and four other parishes, and continues to be the central Catholic high school in the area. St. Joseph's Grade School merged with St. Benedict in 1970-71 due to declining enrollment. On May 22, 1981, 34 students walked through the doors of St. Joseph School for the last time, ending 90 years of Catholic education at Wesley. The parish became part of the Seton/Bishop Garrigan School System in the fall of 1981. The original school building at St. Joseph's was torn down in 1986, and the bell was saved and erected as a memorial to the school.

Father Bernard Schilmoeller, the priest who planned and redirected the building of the new church, came to Wesley in 1895. In 1901, the present church was built at a cost of $17,000. Father Edward Jungblut succeeded Father Schilmoeller, serving the parish from 1908 to 1914. Within one year, the parish debt of $6,000 was erased, and Father Jungblut had the church decorated with large sacred pictures. In 1911, parishioners donated the present light colored altars, along with many statues, candlesticks and other religious accessories. Many items remain there today.

The present rectory was built in 1917, at a cost of $12,000, with no indebtedness. A brick garage was built in 1924, and a convent was built in 1955, but was later torn down. The parish cemetery features a grotto erected by Father Paul Dobberstein. In 1995, the parish hall was remodeled through the generosity of parishioners.

Since 1914, the pastors and assistants who served in St. Joseph Parish are as follows: Father Joseph Fisch, 1914-1923; Father George Wessling, 1923-1933; Father Aloysius Wagener, 1933-1941; Father Lawrence Klein, 1941-1958; Father William Buchholz, 1958-1960; Father Robert Phillips, 1960-1969; Father Edward Mason, 1964-1965; Father Gerald Zeman, 1965-1968; Father Thomas Geelan, 1968-1971; Father John Brennan, 1969-1973; Father Paul-Louis Arts, 1970-1980; Father Joseph Kerwin, 1973-1976; Father Robert McClintock, 1976-1980; Father John Cain, 1980-1986; Father Thomas Flanagan, 1980-1984; Father Timothy Hogan, 1985-1986; Father Alfred McCoy, 1986-1988; Father Allen Reicks, 1988-1990; Father Paul Bormann, 1990-1999; Father Lyncc Bruch, 1999-2000. Father Dan Greving is the current pastor.

Five priests came St. Joseph Parish. They are Father Gidelis Goetz, Father Linus Eisenbacher, Father Gerald Wingert, Father Louis Studer and Father Timothy Johnson. Marvin Studer became a permanent deacon from the parish.

Thirty-four sisters from the parish became sisters. They are Sisters Mary Bernadette Studer, M. Mira Studer, Florentine Lickteig, Mary Anatasia Lickteig, Mary Illuminata Matern, M. Hertula Matern, (Mary Winifred Braunger, Mary Reginald Braunger, Mary Ruth Braunger, Mary Elaine Braunger - siblings), M. Rosalima Wingert, Mary Marciana Wingert, Mary Nicola Hoffer, Mary Hemenegild Hauptmann and Mary Luke Hanig. Also, Fidelis Goetz, Adele Doughan, Mary K. Doughan, Mary Gratian Garman, M. Leon Foertsch, M. Dorothea Foertsch, Gayle Brabec, Mary Joel Lorenz, M. Catherine Wingert, Gertrude Ann Otis, Mary Stanislous Goetz, Rita Studer, Dion Studer, Madeline Studer, Mary Joan Loebig, St. James Lickteig, Janet Goetz, Mary Julia Wingert and Vicky Arndorfer.