Obit: Neises, Father John (1879 - 1959)

Contact:stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Neises, Treacy

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.)  10/15/1959

Neises, Father John (17 APR 1879 - 9 OCT 1959)

The Rev. John Neises, a priest for 54 years, who at one time served Catholic parishes in Marshfield, Rozellville, Dorchester, Hewitt, and Thorp, died Friday afternoon after a heart attack at his home in Marshfield, where he lived in retirement since 1950.  He was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  He was 89 years of age.

The Most Rev. John P. Treacy, bishop of La Crosse, officiated at a Solemn Mass of Requiem at St. John’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday.  Burial was made in the priests’ plot in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Father Neises was born April 17, 1879 near Trier, Rhineland, Germany.  He was educated in schools and colleges at Trier and in Belgium, and was ordained to the priesthood July 5, 1905, at St. Peter, Baden, Germany.  He offered his first Solemn High Mass July 16, 1905 in his home parish in Alsdorf, Rhineland.

In October of 1905, after coming to America, he was appointed assistant to the Very Rev. John Eisen at St. John’s Church in Marshfield.  In July 1906, he became pastor of St. John’s parish at Summit in Monroe County.  Two years later he went to Dorchester.  In June of 1912 he became pastor of St. Bernard’s Church at Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.).  He remained here until December 1924, when poor health forced his resignation.

After a trip to Europe in 1925 he returned to the Sates and went to South Dakota to regain his health.  There he served as pastor of a little parish at Lake city with four missions, one for Sioux Indians.  In 1936 he returned to Wisconsin and was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s at Gays Mills, and the same years he was transferred to St. Michael’s at Hewitt.  In the later part of October 1941 he went to St. Andrew’s at Rozellville.  In June 1944 he, because of his health, retired and came to Marshfield.  He retired from parochial responsibilities in 1950.