Br. John Albert Gau

Br. John Albert Gau, Capuchin Friar, was born on February 17, 1939, on a farm in Fond du Lac County, in the township of Forest (St. Cloud, Wisconsin). He was the youngest of ten children born to Joseph and Frances (Kraus) Gau. At birth, he was not expected to survive due to complications from swallowing fluid in the womb. The attending doctor baptized him at the bedside, but against all odds, he survived the night. The next morning, he was brought to church by horse and sleigh.
In March 1948, when John was just nine years old, his father passed away. Until his brother Joseph returned from military service to help on the farm, John-then only in the third grade-worked alongside his mother, his older sister, and his next-oldest brother to keep the family farm running.
John first began considering religious life in the seventh grade when a visiting priest spoke about vocations to his class. In the summer of 1954, while working on the farm picking stones, he was visited by Fr. Flavian Blong, OFM Cap., who introduced him to the newly established St. Francis Vocational School in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin. Inspired by this opportunity, John enrolled and became part of the school's first graduating class in 1958. To help pay tuition, he worked at the Glenbeulah Canning Company, assisted in digging the basement of St. Francis School, worked as a mason contractor, and helped build his brother's house.
John entered the Capuchin Order as a candidate at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit and began his novitiate at Sacred Heart Friary in Baraga, Michigan, on March 18, 1959. He later reflected that he preferred Baraga over Detroit. After professing his first vows on March 19, 1960, he was sent to St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana, where he worked as a baker and on the maintenance crew. In 1961, he was sent "on loan" to St. Mary Seminary in Crown Point, Indiana, where he remained for three years. He made his solemn profession of vows on March 19, 1963.
For the rest of his life, John remained committed to the hands-on work of maintaining the friaries where he lived and served. His assignments took him across the province, including St. Anthony Friary in Marathon, Wisconsin; St. Joseph Friary in Appleton, Wisconsin; St. Francis Friary in Milwaukee; St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana; and finally, St. Fidelis Friary in Appleton.
In 1967, John began attending night classes in auto mechanics and arc welding. From then on, he was responsible for vehicle maintenance-handling oil and filter changes, tune-ups, brake replacements, and more. From 1977 to 1983, he shared his expertise by teaching a basic auto mechanics course in Continuing Formation, training a total of 53 students.
Reflecting on his ministry at his 50th jubilee, John shared that his favorite assignment was at St. Anthony Friary in Marathon, Wisconsin. "I liked the atmosphere there, and I enjoyed both the indoor and outdoor maintenance work, as well as the hospitality ministry. My duties were numerous and continually expanding," he recalled. "It is gratifying to be able to help people."
In his retirement, John found joy in working with clay, picking black walnuts and hickory nuts, and dancing the polka and waltz. He also enjoyed offering advice on cars and maintenance, always eager to help where he could.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Frances (Kraus) Gau, and his siblings Arthur, Cecilia, Elmer, Florence, Joseph, Margaret, Mary Ann & Melvin. He is survived by his brother Bernard and his Capuchin brothers, with whom he lived, prayed, and ministered for over seven decades.
A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the St. Lawrence Seminary Chapel, 301 Church Street, Mount Calvary, Wisconsin 53057. Burial will take place in the St. Lawrence Friary Cemetery later this spring.
Visitation: Family and friends may visit at the St. Lawrence Seminary Chapel Thursday morning, March 6th from 9:00 AM until 9:45 AM.
The funeral will be lived streamed and available for later viewing at www.thecapuchins.org
For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud, Wisconsin (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.