Remembering Our Departed Confreres
Fr. Francis B. McHugh, O. Praem.
Fr. Joseph A. Rohlinger, O. Praem.
Fr. Ambrose John Peeters, O. Praem.
Fr. Conan Patrick Mulrooney, O. Praem.
November 21,1912 to September 5, 1998
January 24, 1915 to September 13, 2002
May 28, 1924 to September 24, 2007
June 23, 1931 to September 26, 2021
House: St. Norbert Abbey
Our brother Francis McHugh was born in Philadelphia in 1912. After attending St. John Seminary in Little Rock , Arkansas from 1930 until 1935, he came to the college and was vested that fall, professing solemn vows in 1938.
Frank taught at Southeast Catholic from 1937 to 1949 and moderated “The Rocket”, the school paper. He returned to the college faculty in ’49, edited the Annals of St. Joseph, coordinated the alumni, was advisor to “Des Peres,” the college yearbook, was advisor to the frosh class and moderated the Altar Servers’ Society.
1953 found Frank as assistant pastor in Essexville until 1962, when he became assistant at St. Willibrord in Chicago. He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Ransom in Hingham , Montana in 1966, then pastor of St. Willibrord in Chicago in 1969, and finally pastor of St. John’s Essexville in 1971.
After the 3rd day of celebration for the dedication of the abbey in 1959, being an avowed scotch drinker and having spent many years in Chicago , Francis was asked by baseball nut George Feider, how the White Sox were. He replied, “If they were in a bottle last night, I drank ‘em!”
Frank had retired to the college priory in 1975, but spent his final years at the abbey where he died on Saturday, September 5, 1998, at the age of 85.
House: St. Norbert Abbey
Our brother Joseph Rohlinger was born in Ashland, Wisconsin in 1915. After graduating from St. Norbert High, he joined the Order in 1935, but had to leave because of severe eye problems. He returned to be vested again in 1939 and was solemnly professed in 1943.
In 1945, Joe was appointed athletic director at Southeast Catholic but relinquished the position in 1950 to become athletic director at Central Catholic.
Joe spent 26 summers at Camp Tivoli as activities director and counselor before being appointed to Premontre in 1955, where he was a counselor and managed the school cafeteria until 1986. “Rocky,” as he was called by the students, was a firm disciplinarian, and seemed to know all the boys’ tricks.
A man with a tremendously big heart and compassionate soul with the strength of a bull, he was admired by all the students he cared for, as well as his confreres. A negative criticism about others never passed his lips. As his eyesight continued to deteriorate, he retired to the abbey, where he died Friday, September 13, 2002 at the age of 87.
House: St. Norbert Abbey
Born in Little Chute, Wisconsin, 28 aug; 1948,
sol. p. 21 apr. 1953,
ord. 30 may 1953.
Obituary for Father Ambrose John Peeters, O. Praem.
Father Ambrose John Peeters, O. Praem., age 83, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on Monday, September 24, 2007.
Father Peeters was born on May 28, 1924, in Little Chute, WI, to Richard and Anna (Weyenberg) Peeters. His home parish was St. John Parish, Little Chute, WI.
He attended St. John High School in Little Chute, WI. Father received a B.A. degree in Philosophy from St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI, in 1950 and in 1959 his Masters in Religious Education from Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN. He attended graduate studies at Villanova University , Philadelphia , PA , the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI , and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI .
Upon entering St. Norbert Abbey, he was vested as a novice on August 28, 1948. He professed Simple Vows on August 28, 1950, professed his Solemn Vows on April 21, 1953 and was ordained to the Priesthood on May 30, 1953.
Father Peeters was a member of the faculty at St. Norbert High School, De Pere, WI, Central Catholic High School and Premontre High School, Green Bay, WI where he also served as Athletic Director and Registrar and was Principal from 1982 to 1985. He served as Administrator at Our Lady of the Snows at Namur and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Brussels , WI and was Pastor at St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay , WI and St. Joseph Parish, De Pere, WI. Father Ambrose enjoyed the time he spent as Assistant Pastor at several parishes in Wyoming . He was Mission Procurator for the Norbertines from 1985 – 1993.
Father Peeters is survived by the Norbertine Community; one sister, Doris Heiss, Appleton, WI., four brothers, James (Ida), Little Chute, WI, Gerald (JoAnn), Neenah, WI, Henry (Mary), Kalamazoo, MI and Peter (Agnes), Portage, MI, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Rev. R. Thomas, Robert, Carl and one sister, Margaret Reider.
Burial will be in the St. Norbert Cemetery.
House: St. Norbert Abbey
Father Conan Patrick Mulrooney, O. Praem., age 90, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on September 26, 2021. Fr. Mulrooney was born on June 23, 1931 in Rhinelander, WI to the late Frank and Catherine (Morrison) Mulrooney. His home parish was St. Peter the Fisherman, Eagle River, WI. He entered St. Norbert College and was vested as a novice on August 28, 1961. He professed Simple Vows on August 28, 1963 and Solemn Vows on May 14, 1967. Fr. Mulrooney was ordained to the Priesthood on September 21, 1967. Fr. Mulrooney received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN in 1953. He then went on to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where in 1959 he received a Bachelor of Pharmacy. In 1976, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and received his Master’s Degree in Marketing. While he resided at St. Norbert Abbey, he assumed the roles of Mission Procurator, Vocation Director, and for many years was the Director of the Mail Campaign. For 12 years he worked as an assistant to the Vice President in the Office of Development at St. Norbert College. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Duquesne University during that time. Over the next few years, he completed a program in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL. In 1988, Fr. Mulrooney received certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Subsequently, he served as a chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, WI, Where he spiritually administered to the needs of many people. Fr. Mulrooney is survived by the Norbertine Community; nephews: Brian Mulrooney and Tim Mulrooney; cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Michael Mulrooney and Francis Mulrooney. Visitation will be held at the church of St. Norbert Abbey, beginning at 9:30 am on Monday, October 4, 2021 until 10:15 am. Please enter through the main Church doors only. Masks are encouraged for those attending. The Mass of Christian Burial expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s Resurrection will be at 10:30 am. The Rt. Rev. Dane J. Radecki, O. Praem., Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey will serve as the principal celebrant, and the Rt. Rev. Gary J. Neville, O. Praem., Abbot Emeritus, will serve as the homilist. St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery at a later date. The Norbertine Community would like to thank the nurses and staff at St. Norbert Abbey and everyone at Unity Hospice who cared for Fr. Mulrooney. Ryan Funeral Home, De Pere, is in charge of the arrangements.