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William Mackin Obituary
Fr. Mackin, the son of William and Verena Mackin, was born on May 24, 1910. He was predeceased by all of his nine beloved siblings, Henriette Mackin, Margaret (Zala) Ketchum, Eileen (Francis) Ramsden, Al (Mary Jo and Maxine) Mackin, Verena (Thomas) Colvin, Elizabeth (J.V. "Dick") Conrad, Cecelia (Timothy) Brennan, James (Marion) Mackin DDS and Sr. Mary Victoria Patricia Mackin BVM. He is survived by a sister-in-law Claudia Mackin, numerous cherished nieces and nephews, their children, other relatives, past parishioners, fellow priests and good friends. Fr. Mackin was ordained to the priesthood at St. Anne's Church by Archbishop Samuel A. Stritch on May 11, 1938. His first Mass was offered on June 14, 1938 at his home parish, St. Bernard in Wauwatosa.
He graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and St. Francis Seminary. He received his priestly formation at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. He began his priestly ministry on October 17, 1938 as a part-time assistant at St. Gall Parish, Milwaukee. On January 6, 1939, he was appointed an assistant at St. Joseph Parish in Waukesha. Father served as a United States Navy Chaplain for three years (1943-46) and upon discharge was appointed an assistant at Holy Rosary Parish in Milwaukee. On March 10, 1951, he was appointed administrator and then Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Big Bend. Father was appointed pastor at St. Eugene Parish in Fox Point on June 21, 1957, and served the parish until his retirement from active ministry on November 28, 1980. He remained in residence at St. Eugene's as pastor emeritus until moving to the Cousins Center in July of 1982.
Although he was the founding pastor of St. Eugene Parish, he gave the credit for the expansion over time of the parish to God's Spirit and a growing cooperation and sense of responsibility among the parishioners. Fr. Mackin's deep concern for others and profound commitment to the priesthood was characterized by his deep faith in God. In his own words "he felt nurtured by the spirit to serve the Lord with gladness."
Visitation will be held at the Feerick Funeral Home on Thursday, May 18 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a prayer vigil at 7:00 PM. A second visitation will be held on Friday, May 19, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in Mater Christi Chapel at the Archbishops Cousins Catholic Center. Following Friday's visitation, at 3:00 PM, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan will preside at a concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery will be on Saturday, May 20 at 11 AM (please meet inside the cemetery's main entrance at 7301 W. Nash St., Milwaukee). Memorials in Fr. Mackin's name may be made to the Catholic Stewardship Appeal, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, 3501 S. Lake Dr., PO Box 070912, Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912 or St. Eugene Congregation, 7600 North Port Washington Road, Fox Point, WI 53217.
FEERICK FUNERAL HOME
2025 East Capitol Drive, Shorewood
(414) 962-8383
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Memories and Condolences
for William Mackin
Chris Jaekels
May 22, 2006
Those of us who grew up in Father Mackin's fledgling Parish and School at St Eugene and served as altar boys and received all of the sacrements with him at the altar (or in the Confessional) in the 1960s and 1970s still refer to him in conversations amongst ourselves as "The Voice of God". He left a profound impression on a lot of us whether it was in Catechism, hearing his stories about being a chaplain in Alaska, or his whispered directions on the Altar when you handed him the wrong cruet. We will continue to talk about the "Good Old Days " we had with him and hope that other Priests will do as much for their Church and Community as Father Mackin did by just being himself - a regular guy who did the Lord's work as best he could.
Monica Haggerty Jaekels
May 19, 2006
Fr. Mackin will be greatly missed by so many!!! Although my husband's family has known him forever, I first met him on our wedding day. Ted & I were fortunate enough to have him concelebrate at our wedding, after he drove Fr. Raynor (MU) to Chicago, many years his junior!! We were again blessed to have him baptize our first child (again with Fr. Raynor) at St. Eugene.
Although I only knew Fr. Mackin for 11 years, I feel so blessed to have had him in my life, and involved with such important events in our family.
Fr. Mackin spent his life trying to get to heaven...I'm sure we are all comforted with the fact that he will be there shortly!
Pat McCarthy
May 17, 2006
My condolcences to the family. Father Mackin married my husband and me on July 4th, 1959 in the rectory. The church was not even finished at that time. My husband attended mass there whenever we came back to Milwaukee to visit family.
Zala Glenn Ketchum
May 17, 2006
Dear Fr. Bill,
Kathy and I will miss our talks with you, keeping up with the family,and of course we'll always remember you as the priest who officiated at our wedding over 52 years ago. Thank you for traveling to Colorado to celebrate our 40th and 50th anniversary. I'll never forget your fatherly advise and the "Mackin sense of humor".
your nephew, Glenn
Meg Wright
May 17, 2006
Dear Father Mackin you were a pillar of strength and guidance to all of the Walker Young family! We all have fond memories of you and most especially reviewing our report card at end of the school year at St. Eugene's grade school, forever pointing out the postive remarks!
God Bless you.
Meg Young Wright
James Mackin Jr.
May 17, 2006
I have been blessed by having Father Bill as my uncle. I trust that God has blessed him in return.
Fr. Rob Kroll, S.J.
May 16, 2006
May God reward this good and faithful servant! The seeds of my own Jesuit vocation were sown during eight years at St. Eugene school and parish. Perhaps my fondest memory of Fr. Mackin came only seven years ago, on the day of my first Mass at St. Eugene in June 1999. Just before Mass began, Fr. Bill asked to receive my priestly blessing...then dropped to his knees before me at age 88! He was truly a remarkable man and priest.
J Ross
May 16, 2006
For the short time I had to interact with Father Mackin, I will never forget his smiling face and humbling spirit. You will never be forgotten by those whom were fortunate enough to have come into contact with you.
Thomas Docktor
May 16, 2006
Father Mackin
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.
Rest in Peace
The Docktor Family
Wellesley Massachusetts
Kath Magee
May 15, 2006
I have been so blessed to know you, Fr. Bill. I'm glad my daughters were able to meet you when you came to Dallas to see Aunt Nancy. Say hello to Grandma for me, and enjoy the Grand Reunion with the rest of the family in heaven. I'll see you there...
rod johnston
May 15, 2006
My family will miss "The Spirit of St. Eugene's parish", who served in the highest traditions of priestly selflessness.
Rod Johnston family
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