Obituaries / Obituarios

Give a donation in honor of Sister Paul Ann Dinkel.

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Sister Paul Ann, CSA, (Agnese Dinkel) died peacefully on June 1, 2019, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Agnese was born in Victoria, Kansas, on October 12, 1933, to Frank M. Dinkel and Rosa Hertel Dinkel. Her family included 10 girls and 5 boys.

In 1951, Agnese entered St. Agnes Convent, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She made her profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1954, with the religious name Sister Paul Ann. One of her sisters and one brother also entered religious life: Sister Francis Rose, CSA, and Father Harvey, OFM Cap.

Sister received a license in dietary service from M.P.T.I. in Fond du Lac and a Baking Certificate from New York Restaurant School where she took classes in culinary arts. Sister was a homemaker in CSA convents for 23 years in Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, and New York. She spent two years at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Hays, Kansas, and served at The Leo House in New York City, New York, from 1985 to 1996, working in dietary and food services at both institutions. Sister Paul Ann was on the staff of the Food Service Department at St. John’s New Horizons and St. John’s Assisted Living in Hays, Kansas, from 1996 to 2006. In her last years in Hays, Kansas, she offered a ministry of presence to the staff and students at TMP-Marian High School.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents Frank M. Dinkel and Rosa (Hertel) Dinkel; her brothers Clarence, Ed and Hilarius; her sisters Julitta Dechant, Bertha Prewo, Melinda Griebel, Rita Rohr, Regina Dechant, Irene Scruggs, and Sister Francis Rose.

Sister Paul Ann is survived by her brothers George Dinkel and Father Harvey Dinkel; her sisters Viola Richmeier and Mary Younker; and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed and ministered. Visitation for Sister Paul Ann will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. A Prayer Service will be held that same day at 11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Center Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on June 5, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will preside at the liturgy. Additional services and burial will be held at St. Fidelis Parish and Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas. Memorials may be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center, and the staff of Hospice Hope, for their care of Sister Paul Ann Dinkel in her last years.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes

Give a donation in honor of Sister Martha Kretschmer.

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Sister Martha Kretschmer, CSA, formerly Sister Albert Marie, died peacefully on May 28, 2019, at St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Martha was born in New Munster, Wisconsin, on October 22, 1930, to John Kretschmer and Louisa Epping Kretschmer. Her family included five boys and five girls.

Martha entered St. Agnes Convent in 1945 and graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1948. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1950, with the religious name Sister Albert Marie.

Sister Martha received a BS in Education from Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and an MA in Elementary Education and Administration from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. Sister Martha was a teacher for 37 years and a teacher-principal for 12 years during that time in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. She continued to serve as principal for 11 more years in Indiana and Pennsylvania. In 1994 Sister Martha received the Light of Learning Award as an outstanding teacher of the year in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.

After completing her years in educational ministry, she worked for seven years at St. Bernard Parish, Madison, Wisconsin, making pastoral visits to the elderly. In 2005 when she retired to Nazareth Court in Fond du Lac, she assisted as a seamstress in the sisters’ sewing room.

Sister Martha was preceded in death by her parents John and Louisa Kretschmer; her brothers Joseph, Arthur, Father Albert, S.V.D, and Henry; her sisters Agnes Kerkman, Mary Richter and Rose Kretschmer.

Sister Martha is survived by her brother Edmund Kretschmer, her sister Armella Rossmiller, her nieces and nephews, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation for Sister Martha Kretschmer will begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday, June 3, 2019, at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. There will also be a prayer service at 11:00 a.m. on the same day.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The presider will be Father Ken Smits, Capuchin. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center/St. Francis Home and Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Martha in her last years.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.

Give a donation in honor of Sister Martina Kuhn.

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Sister Martina Kuhn, CSA, formerly Sister Frederick, died peacefully May 20, 2019, at St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Martina was born in Ellis, Kansas, on January 2, 1924, to Fred Kuhn and Catherine Befort Kuhn. One of six children, she had four sisters and one brother.

Martina entered St. Agnes Convent, Fond du Lac, from Antonino, Kansas, in August 1939. As Sister Frederick, she made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1943.

For 32 years she ministered as a homemaker for the Sisters of St. Agnes at a number of their mission houses in Wisconsin and New York. Sister Martina worked for two years in the dietary kitchen at St. Clare Hospital, Monroe, Wisconsin. She was food supervisor for one year at St. John’s Rest Home, Victoria, Kansas.

In the remaining years of her active ministry, Sister Martina helped those in need in a variety of ways. She served as a teacher aide, school office worker, library aide and tutor. She enrolled at St. Catherine College, St. Paul, Minnesota, during the academic year 1982-83 and received a certificate in pastoral ministry at the completion of the program. She was engaged in pastoral work at St. Fidelis Parish, St. Anthony Hospital, and Valley Hope Treatment Center—all in the Hays area.

In retirement Sister Martina found opportunities to volunteer her service and presence, including: St. Clare Terrace reception desk and Beacon House in Fond du Lac; Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home and the Community Assistance Center, Hays, Kansas.

Sister Martina was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Catherine Kuhn, her sisters Henrietta Wasinger, Bertha Dodd, Adeline Dreher, Loretta Pfannenstiel and her brother Alfred Kuhn.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Cremation has taken place. There will be a prayer service for Sister Martina at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will preside. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center/St. Francis Home and the staff of Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Martina in her last years.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.

Give a donation in honor of Sister Gonzaga Hron.

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Sister Gonzaga (Louise LaVern) Hron died on March 20, 2019, at St. Agnes Hospital.

Louise was born in West Bend, Wisconsin, on June 7, 1945, to Lloyd R. and Florence C. Gonnering Hron. She was the second of a family of five children. She attended grade school at Holy Trinity School in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where she was taught by the Sisters of St Agnes. Louise graduated from Kewaskum Community High School. She attended Marian College of Fond du Lac for two years, working each summer as a secretary at Regal Ware in Kewaskum.

In 1965 she entered the Sisters of St Agnes and also continued her studies at Marian College. She professed vows as a Sister of St. Agnes on August 15,1968, with the religious name Sister Gonzaga.

She graduated from Marian College in 1968 with a BA in Biology and Math. A licensed secondary school teacher, Sister Gonzaga taught for 10 years at St. Mary Springs High School, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Beloit Catholic High School, Beloit, Wisconsin; and Immaculate Conception High School, Elmhurst, Illinois.

After transitioning out of the field of education, Sister Gonzaga’s passion was to serve others through cooking. Sister Gonzaga ministered for many years in dietary services at large residences of the congregation such as Nazareth Heights Infirmary and Boyle Apostolic Center. She was generous in offering her skill and experiences, together with other Sisters, to prepare festive meals for special occasions often baking and creating fabulously decorated cakes. Sister Gonzaga’s other love was care for Earth: preservation of natural resources, restoration of prairies and beautifying areas that all could enjoy.

Sister Gonzaga was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd Hron and Florence Gonnering Hron, her brother Lloyd, Jr., and her brother-in-law Ronald Ruplinger.

She is survived by her sisters Sheila (Richard) Whiting, Monica (Leo) Lettow and Ann Ruplinger; her nieces, nephews and their families; many friends and the Sisters of St Agnes with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, April 1, 2019, at 2:30pm in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The presider will be Father Ken Smits, Capuchin. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful for the physicians and staff at St. Agnes Hospital who provided care for Sister Gonzaga.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes

Give a donation in honor of Sister Mary Hornung.

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Sister Mary Hornung, CSA, baptized Marilyn Hornung, died peacefully January 25, 2019, at St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Marilyn was born in Sauk City, WI, on March 13, 1934, to Edgar Hornung and Verna Guethlein Hornung.

Marilyn was an only child. Marilyn entered St. Agnes Convent in 1953 and attended St. Agnes High School, receiving a diploma in 1955. Sister Mary made her profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1957.

Sister Mary received a BS in Education from Marian College of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and an MS in Education Administration from Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. Throughout her life, Sister Mary was committed to ongoing professional development in elementary and religious education as well as in pastoral ministry.

Having taught at all grade levels in elementary schools for 23 years, Sister Mary served as a principal for an additional 11 years. Following her years of service in parish schools in WI and OH, Sister Mary was a Director of Religious Education from 1991-2004 in Beloit, Madison and Port Washington, Wisconsin. Until her retirement in 2011, Sister Mary was involved in pastoral services at St. Andrew Parish, Verona, Wisconsin.

Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents Edgar and Verna Hornung. Sister Mary is survived by cousins, friends and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation for Sister Mary Hornung will be held January 30, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. A prayer service will take place at 11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Center Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:15 p.m. on January 30, 2019, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will preside. Burial will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac.

Memorials can be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center/St. Francis Home and the staff of Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Mary in her last years.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of St. Agnes