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| Fr. Michael Richel |
WISCONSIN DELLS — A Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Michael Richel, pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, was celebrated at St. Cecilia Parish (summer chapel), 604 Oak St., on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino was the celebrant with Msgr. Daniel Ganshert, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Dodgeville, as homilist.
Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery, 2705 Regent St., Madison, on Friday, Aug. 29, at 10:30 a.m. Presiding at the Rite of Committal will be Fr. David Flanagan, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Cuba City.
Father Richel died on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014,at the age of 66.
He was born on February 4, 1948, in Monroe. His parents, Vivian (Engbretson) and Edward Richel, preceded him in death.
After attending Gratiot Grade School in Gratiot, he attended Gratiot High School and then Reavis High School in Burbank, Ill. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and education and a Master’s degree in secondary education from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
After a career as a teacher at Queen of Apostles School in Riverdale, Ill., he entered the seminary and received a Master’s of Divinity degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell on May 29, 1987, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
He served as a parochial vicar at St. Henry, Parish, Watertown, and as pastor at St. Patrick Parish (now Blessed Trinity Parish), Lodi; St. Albert the Great Parish, Sun Prairie; St. John the Baptist Parish, Montello, linked with Good Shepherd Parish, Westfield; and St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells.
He also served as an instructor at Holy Name Seminary in Madison, as diocesan director of vocations, as vicar forane of the East Dane Vicariate, as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, as well as serving on the Presbyteral Council, Priest Personnel Board, Priest Continuing Education Advisory Board, and the Priest Advisory Committee for the “Priests for Our Future: The Church Is Alive!” seminarian campaign.
Memorials my be directed to the St. Cecilia Parish “Gather in Unity” Fund, 603 Oak St., Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.pichafuneralhome.com