Fr. Cyril “Cy” Otto Weisensel entered eternal life on October 26, 2022, at the age of 81 years, at Sunset Ridge Memory Care in Jefferson.
He was born on October 11, 1941 in Columbus. Father Weisensel is survived by his brothers: Bruce (Kathy) Weisensel, Jackson, MI; Wil (Susan) Weisensel, Jefferson; Mark (Rose) Weisensel, Oshkosh; G. Nick (Laur) Weisensel, Savage, MN; and his sisters: Marlene (Paul) Buechel, Rochester, NY; Jeanette (Gilbert) Benoy, Fort Atkinson; Dolores (Harvey) Taylor, Fort Atkinson, and Mary (Donald) Sheldon, Beaufort, NC; and a sister-in-law, Sue Weisensel, Racine. He is predeceased by his parents, Frederick and Lucille (Duscheck) Weisensel; siblings, Hugh Weisensel and Geraldine Vande Zande; and a nephew, Dan Buechel.
After attending Grade School at Sullivan State Graded School, Sullivan; St. Matthew, Neosho, and St. Joseph, Fort Atkinson, and High School at Queen of Apostles in Madison, Fr. Weisensel completed his collegiate studies, including philosophy, theology, and a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry at St. Francis Major Seminary in Milwaukee.
Father Weisensel was ordained to the sacred priesthood by The Most Reverend Cletus O’Donnell, Bishop of Madison, on May 20, 1967 at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
Father Weisensel began serving in the Diocese of Madison as a Parochial Vicar at St. Henry Parish, Watertown; St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville; St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee, and St. William Parish, Janesville. He continued his service in the diocese as Pastor of St. Francis De Sales Parish, Hazel Green, linked with St. Patrick Parish, Benton, and St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa, from which he retired from full-time active ministry. He also served as an Instructor at Beloit Catholic High School and set-up the Committee & Board for Diocesan Arbitration & Reconciliation.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd., Fort Atkinson, on Monday, October 31, 2022.. The Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, celebrated the Holy Mass, with Fr Bart Timmerman as homilist. Visitation at St. Joseph Catholic Church was held on Monday, October 31st, before the Funeral Mass. Burial took place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, immediately following the Funeral Mass.