 1911 - 2012 (100 years)
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| Name |
Charles A BLECHA [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] |
| Suffix |
Monsignor |
| Born |
05 Dec 1911 |
Athens, Marathon, WI  [2, 3, 4, 5] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Residence |
1920 |
Wausau Ward 1, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA [4] |
| Marital Status: Single; Relationship: Son |
| Residence |
1930 |
Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA [5] |
| Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son |
| Residence |
1935 |
Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA [2] |
| Residence |
01 Apr 1940 |
Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA [2] |
| Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son |
| Died |
02 Apr 2012 |
Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin, USA [3] |
- Monsignor Charles Blecha April 2, 2012
Monsignor Charles Blecha
Msgr. Charles A. Blecha of Menomonie, age 100, a priest for 72 years, died on Monday, April 2, 2012, at the American Lutheran Home in Menomonie.
Msgr. Blecha was born Dec. 5, 1911, in Athens, the son of Frank and Anna (Fink) Blecha, but was considered a Wausau native, since his parents moved to Wausau when he was two years old. He was the second youngest son in a family of eight children. His family consisted of six older sisters and a younger brother.
He attended St. Mary Elementary School, Wausau Public High School, Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained on May 18, 1940, at St. Joseph's Cathedral in La Crosse by the Most Reverend William R. Griffin.
Msgr. Blecha's first assignment was as an assistant at St. Aloysius Parish in Hilsboro on May 31, 1940. In 1943, he was appointed Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph parish in Menomonie. On Sept. 22, 1944, he was appointed instructor at Aquinas High School in La Crosse and Chaplin to the Dominican Sisters in Onalaska.
At Aquinas, his love of church and sports came together when he served as the school's athletic director. In 1947, Msgr. Blecha was appointed as Chaplin of St. Joseph Nursing Home. He also served as moderator for the Aquinas Booster Club. In 1951, Msgr. Blecha was named administrative assistant to the principal at Aquinas High School. At the Aquinas High School Founders Day Celebration on Jan. 28, 2000, Msgr. Blecha was honored to receive the Saint Francis Staff Award, given to staff members who have made a significant impact on the lives of students.
On Dec. 14, 1955, Msgr. Blecha was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Menomonie, an assignment he cherished. In 1969, he was also appointed as administrator of St. Luke Parish in Boyceville for one year. In 1972, he served in team ministry with Father James Logan and Father James Eron sharing responsibility for St. Joseph Parish in Menomonie, the Newman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie and St. Luke Parish in Boyceville. In 1974, he was again appointed as administrator of St. Luke Parish in Boyceville in conjunction with the team ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Menomonie. He was granted the status of Senior Priest on Nov. 6, 1984.
During his tenure at St. Joseph's, he brought the parish together to build a new church which was completed in 1963. He served as Chaplin of the Knights of Columbus Council 2055 and Faithful Friar of the Pope John 23rd Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Durand.
Besides taking care of the needs of the parish, Msgr. Blecha also loved the city of Menomonie and was involved with many civic organizations. He has been a member and past president of the Menomonie Rotary Club; a member of the Myrtle Werth Medical Center Board; was a charter member of the United Way of Dunn County and was an active member of various mental health organizations.
In 1976, Msgr. Blecha was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce. By so many, he is rightfully remembered as a peacemaker among the various churches in Menomonie, by stressing the need to respect one another, cooperate and truly “love your neighbor.”
Msgr. Blecha retired from the active priesthood in 1984, but continued to serve on an as-needed basis and remained active in the parish and community.
On Sept. 14, 2005, Msgr. Blecha was named a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI and received the title of Monsignor. His bright red and black monsignor vestments were a highlight at St Joseph's Christmas Eve Children's Masses.
Msgr. Blecha was an avid golfer who achieved what all golfers dream of, “a hole in one,” three times! He also was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and was noted for his creative way of incorporating blessings for the Packers, whenever he was asked to deliver a prayer. Msgr. Blecha never missed a home football game of Menomonie High School or U.W. Stout, and watched the games from a chair reserved for him in the middle of the press box.
After the death of his parents, Msgr. Blecha was considered the patriarch of the family. He was intimately involved with the lives of his family and presided over many weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Msgr. Blecha is survived by one brother, George Blecha of Arden Hill, Minn.; nieces and nephews, Ruth (Don) Roesner of St. John, Mich., Sharon (Mike) Ohaven of Crown Point, Ind., Kay (Ed) Slewitzke of Merrill, R. David (Bonnie) Helling and Chuck (Barb) Helling both of Waukesha, Mike Helling of Godfrey, Ill., Al (Patti) Beranek of Pinehurst, N.C., Betty Karan of Rockaway, N.J., Sue (Jim) Yanta of Rush City, Minn., Sally (Scott) Blecha-Keely of Eagen, Minn., and Mary (Chuck) Moses of New Brighten, Minn. He is also survived by several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents; six sisters, Beatrice and Ruth Blecha, Ceil Dupuis, Loretta Forcey, Ann Helling and Mary Beranek; spouses of the married sisters; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Joseph's Parish or Monsignor Charles A. Blecha Charitable Fund, C/O Community Foundation of Dunn County (500 E. Main St., Menomonie, WI 54751).
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Menomonie. The Most Reverend William Patrick Callahan will officiate and Monsignor Bernard McGarty will be the homilist. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where a parish prayer with speakers and inspirational music will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to services on Tuesday.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services-Menomonie is serving the family.
|
| Buried |
Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin, USA [3] |
| Person ID |
I375996 |
Blecha/McDaniel |
| Last Modified |
25 Mar 2020 |
| Father |
Frank Nicalaus BLECHA, b. 15 Jan 1871, Fillmore, Washington, WI , d. 03 Sep 1942, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA (Age 71 years) |
| Mother |
Anna FINK, b. 27 May 1871, Schwartzbach, Austria, Europe , d. 22 Sep 1962, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA (Age 91 years) |
| Married |
25 Jun 1897 |
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, WI [6, 7] |
| Family ID |
F136360 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Event Map |
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 | Born - 05 Dec 1911 - Athens, Marathon, WI |
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 | Residence - Marital Status: Single; Relationship: Son - 1920 - Wausau Ward 1, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA |
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 | Residence - Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son - 1930 - Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA |
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| Residence - 1935 - Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA |
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| Residence - Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son - 01 Apr 1940 - Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, USA |
|
 | Died - 02 Apr 2012 - Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin, USA |
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| Buried - - Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin, USA |
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| Notes |
- !NOTES: From a prayer card given to Ruth Blecha from her mother-in-law'spossessions, Fr. Charles was ordained a priest 18 May 1940. Verified by Fr. Charles to Ruth Blecha in April 2001. Went by name of Father Joseph Blecha.
Father Charles told us that when his younger brother, George, was born, his mother had such a hard time that the doctor was very worried about her, that he forgot to put the dops in the newborn's eyes and they were afraid that he was going to be blind, so they took the baby to the Wausau hospital and his mother stayed with his baby brother and he was in the hospital for almost 6 months. Fr. Charles said that shortly after that, the family moved from Athens to Wausau. According to a article in the Times Review, Menomonie, September 13, 1984, page 7, he retired after 44 years in the priest hood, serving 30 of them in Menomonie. He went to Loras College in Dubuque and took theological training at St. Mary's in Baltimore.
!NOTE: At time of obit of sister Ann he was living in Menomonie, Dunn, WI
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| Sources |
- [S3926] Researched by Gerry Konoske.
- [S3938] 1940 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Year: 1940; Census Place: Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin; Roll: T627_4497; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 37-57.
- [S3936] U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;).
- [S3942] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Year: 1920; Census Place: Wausau Ward 1, Marathon, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_1995; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 723.
- [S3939] 1930 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;), Year: 1930; Census Place: Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin; Roll: 2582; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0056; Image: 663.0; FHL microfilm: 2342316.
- [S3935] 1900 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;), Year: 1900; Census Place: Halsey, Marathon, Wisconsin; Roll: 1798; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 0080; FHL microfilm: 1241798.
- [S3946] Wisconsin, Marriages, 1820-1907, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2000;).
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