----Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 06/11/1980

Houston, Robert Brennan (1930 - 1980)

The Rev. Robert Brennan Houston, 49, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenwood, Clark County, died on Wednesday morning, June 4, 1980 in Detroit. Father Houston, who had been in ill health, died in Troy Beaumont Hospital, where he was admitted Sunday, June 1. He had been convalescing at the home of his father and sister, Kathleen, in Royal Oak, Mich., following his discharge on May 2 from St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield.

A Memorial Mass was conducted at 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 3 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenwood.

Burial was Saturday, June 7 at the Shrine of Little Flower, Royal Oak, his home parish.

Father Houston was born Sept. 8, 1930 at Detroit and received his elementary and secondary education in Detroit. He received his academic degrees from st. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and Marquette University, Milwaukee.
He was ordained on Sept. 4, 1957, by Bishop John P. Treacy of the La Crosse Diocese at St. Mary's Parish, Marathon.

He moved to Marshfield in 1967 from Wausau, where he had served four years as guidance director and chairman for the social studies department at Newman High School. He previously was an instructor in theology, social studies and classical languages at Madonna High School in Mauston for six years.

He was principal of Columbus High School, Marshfield from Aug. 7, 1967 until April 30, 1971.

While at Columbus, he served as pastor of Corpus Christie Catholic Church at Bakerville and was a member of the board of directors of Marshfield Free Library and of John Eisen Council, Knights of Columbus.

After resigning as principal of Columbus, he was assigned to St. Stephen s Catholic Church, Chili, serving there three years.

On Oct. 15, 1974, he began duties as pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenwood.

His affiliations include Wis. Association of Principals of Catholic Secondary Schools Wis. Education Association National and Wis. Associations of Secondary School Principals National Catholic Education Association and Wis. Association of School District Administrators. In 1975, he was elected to the Diocesan board of Catholic Social Service, Inc.