Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

REV. RICHARD T. "DICK" JOHN

About

St. Francis College University of Minnesota University of Notre Dame

RICHARD JOHN Obituary

REV. RICHARD T. "DICK" JOHN OSC, of Onamia, Minn., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Born May 30, 1921, he was the first child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hoy) John. He was ordained to the priesthood as a Crosier Dec. 21, 1946, in Hastings, Neb.; earned an MS in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend; and studied physics at the University of Minnesota. He was a teaching fellow at Notre Dame, a teacher at Crosier Seminary, and a member of the philosophy faculties at the Crosier House of Studies and Saint Francis College, in Fort Wayne before completing his teaching career as a professor at the Beda College in Rome. Fr. Dick served as business procurator for the Crosiers in Onamia, as well as the Prior at Lake Wawasee, before being elected in 1969 to the office of Provincial for the Crosier Order in the United States and its missions in Papua, Indonesia. He served the Crosier Order as Procurator General in Rome from 1979 to 1985. He was a founding member of the P.O.E.T.S., a local group of faculty and friends who gathered together on Friday nights for conversation and camaraderie. His favorite hobbies included skiing, roller blading and crafting wood. He is survived by sisters, Mary (Peter) McKenna and Jacqueline (John) Brown; brothers, Harry, James (Carol), and Ted (Mary); as well as by his Crosier confreres. Funeral Mass is 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at the Crosier Priory Church, Onamia. Preferred memorials to Crosier Fathers and Brothers.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Fort Wayne Newspapers on Jan. 14, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD JOHN

23 Entries

Dennis Farah

January 6, 2021

He was a good friend of our family and i came home from school 1 day I had a Volvo where is my car Dad said Father flew into our airport and needed a car so we let him have your car to visit people around the area. It was fine with me .
Just hoping he wouldn't check the trunk had a little booze in there he said when he returned oh by the way nothings missing with a little wink.
Nice guy

Tom & Connie Connor

January 19, 2011

Our deepest sympathy is extended to the John family in the loss of their brother, uncle, cousin. His accomplishments were outstanding and it was always so interesting listening to him tell of his many travels and experiences. He participated in the mass at our wedding 50 years ago.

Marge Galiher

January 18, 2011

All of us at St. Stephen's in Anoka were blessed to have Fr. Dick celebrate morning Mass with us. His was a quiet voice with a powerful message. God bless him,his family, and his fellow priests.

Leslie Johnston

January 16, 2011

I was so saddened to hear this news. Father Dick took me on my first airplane flight when I was in high school. He did beautiful woodworking and made Mom's Crosier cross cufflinks and my pendant. As others have said he was so curious about life and God. God bless you.

January 16, 2011

I am Nancy (Irsfeld) Gonis...daughter of Richard and Hattie Irsfeld....and I give my sympathy to the John family...I remember Father Dick very well as he would come out to the farm and visit...he always had a twinkle in his eye and a zest for life. Also, special memory of him saying the funeral Mass for my Dad 2 years ago this last January 6....my thoughts and prayers are with the John family. With sympathy, Nancy Irsfeld Gonis

Sister Jane Snyder, IHM

January 15, 2011

I met Dick on sabbatical at CTU in Chicago in 2002. I was impressed with his intellectual curiosity and vigor for life. Peace and blessing to his family and Congregation. So much goodness goes with him; so much goodness left for all of us.

Dennis Farah

January 15, 2011

I will miss you my friend you where a brother a person who I could talk with on any subject.A member of our family from the vary start with my Gramma my parents and thru out our live's you where there I wish I could attend your funeral but Grandkids birthday so we will remember you on this day and forever more your friend and family Denny & Bonnie Farah Family

Greg Weaver

January 14, 2011

I have known father John since I can remember(50 + years.) I can think of no other person who exhibited such an insatiable zest for God and humanity. No wonder he ended up serving in Rome with JP II , I think they were very similar in many ways.
I am so greatful that he was such a close friend to my parents, especially my mother. Although he left northern Indiana many years ago he always stayed in touch and stopped in when he was back to visit family and friends.
My heart goes out to all of his family both by blood and by faith. We have truly lost a great man and yet I weep with joy knowing that he must now be truly blessed with comfort, peace and joy beyond his wildest imagination.
I also remember the vice grip handshake he always had. Surly he is now protected by the even greater grasp of his heavenly father.
Godspeed father John, may you enjoy the eternal heavenly life you so richly deserve.

Ken Workman

January 14, 2011

I was pleased to meet and know Father John at Wawasee where he invited me, as a fellow private pilot, to a flight in his plane over the beautiful Lake Wawasee area. He was a very accomplished pilot, a gentleman, and a true scholar in all his areas of involvement.

Tricia Lombardi

January 14, 2011

What a beautiful life you lived indeed! I'm proud to be your great niece.

The LaSota Family (Dave, Julie, Jordan (Payton), Sam and Mackenzie

January 14, 2011

Fr. Dick - You will be missed immensely for all that you were and all the joy that you have brought to family, friends and parishioners near and far! Your abilities to communicate with both young and old are to be commended! I will miss the twinkle in your eyes and your Irish grin! But what a legacy you leave! I am sure you will enjoy life in Heaven as much as you did here on earth.

Paige Hamilton

January 14, 2011

I would like to say thank-you to Fr. Dick for so many thing and do so in prayer. A good life lived by a good man.

Beth Newbauer

January 14, 2011

A wonderful family friend that will be missed greatly. He is loved.

Anne Mullet

January 14, 2011

Fr. John was a dear friend to our family, especially during his days at Our Lady of the Lake and Ft. Wayne, IN. He led an active and spiritual life and talked fondly of all of his family members, down to the youngest. We share in all the wonderful memories. Anne and Ron Mullet, Harold and Rose Marie (Rody) Weaver, Elaine and Tom Evans, David and Pat Weaver, Mike and Pam Weaver, Greg Weaver

Susan Eldred-Gasch

January 13, 2011

My parents' Browerville, Mn. wedding on July 12, 1947 was the first marriage ceremony that Father Dick ever officiated at. Mom (Cecilia Kotula Eldred) is his first cousin. We were all so pleased when Father Dick was able to attend Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary where he gave the blessing and "confided" to all of us that he was probably more nervous during their wedding ceremony than even Dad was!

Ryan and Caroline Patrick

January 12, 2011

Fr Dick - you will be greatly missed! It was such an honor to have you marry Caroline and I. We have one of your trademark wooden creations (napkin holder) on display in our kitchen and think of you every time we see it!

Robert Johnson, PhD

January 12, 2011

Fr. Dick John OSC was my professor of Physics at Crosier Sem. in the late 1950's. He will always be remembered for being able to say the Latin Mass in less than 12 minutes! A truly accomplished priest and human being, one we all admired back then.

Jeanne Lombardi

January 12, 2011

What an amazing uncle! He knew everyone and made them feel loved. (He must have learned that from his mother!)

Fr. Dick kept busy with the baptisms in my family, unfortunately for my husband and I, he was in Rome at the time of our wedding. I remember telling someone that he wasn't like other priests; he skied!!

He gave me a tour of his woodworking shop and seemed tickled that he was able to create beautiful things out of leftover wood that may have been sent to the trash by another person. (He must've learned this from his father!)

I am grateful for all the outdoor masses he performed, especially at Uncle Harry's at the closing of each summer.

We will miss you dearly!

Jeanne, Roz, Tricia (kids Alex, Taylor, and Kenzie), Alyssa, John, Brian, Joseph and Markie

January 12, 2011

Fr Dick was a wonderful uncle to his numerous nieces and nephews. He had quite a sense of humor that you wouldn't think a priest would have !!
I loved sending him jokes via email; he used them often. We enjoyed a trip just recently via Delta airlines that was full of laughs....he especially loved that his suitcase took a different trip than him ! While we were in the air he enjoyed telling me all about the aircraft (from his pilot days).
Rest in peace dear uncle.
Mary Catherine McKenna
Prior Lake

Peter McKenna

January 12, 2011

Father Dick has been a wonderful constant throughout our family's "milestones".

He has baptized us, married us, anointed us, and buried us for more than 60 years.

I will always remember, and treasure, my 22nd birthday when he celebrated a private mass for just me and two of my friends amid the grandeur of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. What an honor that was!

And it was an honor to have him celebrate with me again almost 30 years later in Mexico.

Thanks for your decades of service, and rest in peace Father Dick!

January 12, 2011

For the passing of Father Dick

January 12, 2011

Father Dick,

You will surely be missed by all who knew you. It meant the world to us to have you be the Priest at our wedding in 1995. We know that you have been dancing the polka surrounded by loved ones since your arrival into heaven. God has been waiting for you.

Connor, Bailey, Cherilyn (McGraw) and Steven Tangen

Showing 1 - 23 of 23 results