Sr. Joan Wirz, CSA, died on August 24, 2014.
Born in Monroe, Wis., on October 6, 1923, she was the first child of Otto and Ida Wirz, who named her Josephine Anna. A brother, George Otto, was born six years later.
Sr. Joan Wirz, CSA, died on August 24, 2014.
Born in Monroe, Wis., on October 6, 1923, she was the first child of Otto and Ida Wirz, who named her Josephine Anna. A brother, George Otto, was born six years later.
To the editor:
Having taken instructions and being baptized by then Father Wirz (1958), he always kept in touch.
In 1994 he came to the funeral parlor (unannounced) when our son was killed and led the prayers. Later that year he invited us to dinner with him and Sister Joan.
Bishop George O. Wirz was in love — with the priesthood. When he celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest in 1977, he told his parishioners at St. Bernard Parish in Madison, where he was the pastor, “The romance of the priesthood has never left me. I’m still in love.”
If I had asked him that question before he died, I’m sure he would have said the same thing. In fact, I did talk with him the week before he died. Since 2010 marked his 50th anniversary of being named a Monsignor and the 45th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, we discussed setting up an interview to talk about those occasions.
In his usual humble way, Bishop Wirz said we should wait until after the holidays, when things slowed down. Although we weren’t able to meet for that interview, I know from previous conversations what he might have said.