Fr. Hubert Joseph "Hugh" Spanel

1931 - 2024

Father Hubert "Hugh" Spanel, 93, of Broken Bow, Neb., passed away Nov. 13, 2024, at the Brookestone View in Broken Bow.

Hubert Joseph Spanel was born in Custer County, Neb., on a farm seven miles east of Anselmo on March 25, 1931, to Rudolph (Rasty) and Agnes Cerny Spanel. This farmstead had been the family home for his grandparents, Mr. Franz and Theresa Herman Spanel. He was firstborn into the family. Later three sisters were born, Mary Ann (Mrs. Ivan) Coleman of Broken Bow, Leona Mae (Mrs. Dick) Graybeal of West Point and Ruth Ann (Mrs. Darrel) Myers of Broken Bow, and another son, Gerald "Jerry" (Ginger) Spanel of Broken Bow.

Hubert attended the first eight years of school at Bell School, District #197, one and a half miles from home. They raised chickens, cattle, hogs and corn, small grain and horses. They had no electricity, running water or plumbing. He remembered milking the cows by hand, gathering the eggs and picking up cobs in the pigpen to burn in the stoves. In 1941, Dec. 7, he remembered listening to the radio account of President Roosevelt saying we were at war with Japan after they bombed Pearl Harbor. Hubert enjoyed riding his pony, "Rex," as a boy.

In 1942, they moved to the Sims place on Victoria Springs Creek, neighboring the home place. They also had a ranch near Milburn to pasture the cattle and cut prairie hay in the bottom land near the Middle Loup River.

For four years, he attended Sargent High School in Sargent, graduating in 1948. While in high school, he participated in football, basketball, track, shop, drama, music and FFA. He was elected "State Treasurer "of the FFA, named a "State Farmer" and was a member of the National FFA Glee Club, attending the National Convention in Kansas City, Mo. The Sargent Co-op sponsored him to a Youth Leadership Camp at Park College, Kansas City, Kan.

For two years after high school, he farmed and ranched at home. Hubert recalled picking corn by hand, stacking hay and branding cattle. Then he went to the seminary in Missouri, Conception College, for eight years preparing to be a Catholic priest. During the summer months, he would return home, helping the folks farm and ranch.

Hubert was ordained a priest in Grand Island St. Mary's Cathedral by Bishop John Paschang May 19, 1959. His first assignment was to Holy Rosary Church in Alliance where he served as assistant to Monsignor Francis Keller, who had baptized him as a baby in Anselmo. He taught school, served as athletic director and Boy Scout Spiritual Chaplain.

After five years in Alliance, he was sent to Greeley County, where he was pastor of O'Connor and Wolbach. While there he served as Diocesan "Youth Director" and hosted the first Youth Camp for Catholic juniors and seniors for one week. They called the program "Outward Bound." Later they moved the Camp to Fort Robinson, near Crawford where it continues today and is called, "Higher Ground."

Hubert served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Burwell. While in Burwell, he started one of the first parish councils in the Diocese as well as served as pastor while the new parish center was being built. After six years he was sent to Ainsworth where they had a pastoral ministry team involving three Catholic Dominican nuns and himself. One, Sister Judy Menke, laid the groundwork for the "Valley Hope," an alcoholic rebab center in O'Neill. Hubert was teaching in O'Neill two days a week and going to school at Norfolk and summers at Creighton University where he received a graduate degree, "Master of Divinity," in 1976. Bishop John Sullivan appointed him "Diocesan Director of Rural Life," "Propagation of the Faith" and "State Knights of Columbus Chaplain." 

Stapleton and Arnold were the next assignment along with "Diocesan Spiritual Director of Marriage Encounter." Hubert also worked weekend retreats called Retorno for couples who had made Marriage Encounter Weekends and helped with Cursillos.

His next assignment was "Diocesan Synod Director" while serving in Elm Creek. Bishop Lawrence McNamara asked him to help with "hearings" around the diocese for Initiative 300 and a Midstates document "Strangers and Guest," a social justice statement for the family farmers. They also held "hearings" for the Synod gathering input from all the parishes for the final "Goals" statement issued by the Bishop at the closing of the Synod in 1982. 

While serving as pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Chadron, they built a new church. After five years there, Hubert was sent to Ravenna for three years. Then the last ten years, he served as pastor for Hemingford and "Diocesan Spiritual Director for the Cursillo."

Hubert retired July 1, 2001, as pastor. Still a Catholic priest, he helped on weekends around the diocese in the panhandle of Nebraska. He helped in Ord, Sidney, Lexington, North Platte, Stapleton, Chappel, OshKosh, Callaway and Arnold and also helped occasionally at Broken Bow, Ansley, Mason City and Anselmo.

During Father Hugh's retirement, he moved in with his parents in Broken Bow to help in their care. After the death of his dad (Rudolph) on Aug. 1, 2001, he continued living with his mother and helped with her care until her death Dec. 18, 2008. He continued living in the home until he moved into Liberty Square. In the fall of 2019, he moved to Brookestone View. While living there he led the Mass and Rosary. He observed his 65th year of priesthood on May 19, 2024. Hugh lived at Brookestone until his death Nov. 13, 2024. 

Hugh was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jerry; brothers-in-law Ivan Coleman, Dick Graybeal and Darrell Myers; nephew-in-law Gregg Rueschhoff; nephew Bradley Darrell Myers; infant great-nephew Ryan Michael Stauffer and Jace Mitchell Coleman.

Hugh is survived by three sisters Mary Ann Coleman, Leona Graybeal and Ruth Myers; sister-in-law Ginger Spanel; and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anselm's Catholic Church in Anselmo. Burial will follow in the St. Anselm's Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Govier Brothers Mortuary and then from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the St. Anselm's Catholic Church in Anselmo. At 6 p.m., a wake and Rosary service will be held at St. Anselm's Catholic Church.

Memorials are suggested to St. Anselm's Catholic Church.

Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.