Obituaries

Fr. Felix Fasching dies suddenly

Reverend Felix J. Fasching, 81, of Bird Island, MN, died from complications following a serious stroke, on Monday, August 28, 2000.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, August 31, 2000, at St. Mary, Bird Island, with burial in the Holy Trinity Cemetery, Winsted.

Father Fasching was born July 23, 1919, in Winsted, MN, and was ordained at the St. Paul Cathedral on August 18, 1945, for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, by Archbishop John Murray.

He entered the Diocese of New Ulm on November 18, 1957. Father Fasching served as Associate Pastor at St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake, St. Bernard in Cologne, and St. Mary in Bird Island, and as Chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Minneapolis. He also served as Pastor at St. Andrew, Fairfax, St. Mary, Bird Island, Our Lady of the Lakes, Spicer, and St. Anthony, Regal.

In 1995, Father Fasching celebrated his 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood.

He retired from active ministry on June 16, 1999, and had been residing in Bird Island since his retirement.

Father Fasching had completed 54 years of active ministry before his retirement. On the occassion of his recent retirement celebration, Our Lady of the Lakes parishioners celebrated his life long service to the Diocese of New Ulm with a special concert performed by John Michael Talbot. The surprise concert dedication in his honor prompted Father’s comment that nothing better had happened to him since the day of his ordination to the priesthood.

Father Fasching was also an avid angler as well as music enthusiast. He often expressed publically his concern about the increasing shortage of priests as he continued to serve the parishes of the New Ulm diocese long after normal retirement age.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reverend Joseph A. Penzimas

Reverend Joseph A. Penzimas, 86, died on Wednesday, June 21, 2000.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, June 27, 2000, at the Church of St. Hedwig in Minneapolis, with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Minneapolis.

Father Penzimas was born March 16, 1914, in Minneapolis and was ordained at St. Paul on June 1, 1940, for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

He entered the Diocese of New Ulm on November 18, 1957. He served as administrator at St. Adalbert in St. Paul, and at St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo. Father Penzimas served as Pastor at St. Paul in Nicollet, Visitation in Danvers, and St. Brendan in Green Isle. He retired from active ministry on June 17, 1987, and had been living with his sister, Emily Hebzynski, in Fridley and at Trevilla of New Brighton the last few months.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reverend Thomas G. Exley

Reverend Thomas G. Exley, 79, of St. Paul, died on Thursday, August 10, 2000.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, August 14, 2000, at St. Matthew in St. Paul, with burial at Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul.

Father Exley was born June 29, 1921, in St. Paul and was ordained at the St. Paul Cathedral on June 8, 1946 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

He entered the Diocese of New Ulm on November 18, 1957. Father Exley served as Associate Pastor at Holy Trinity in Winsted, and at St. Mary in New Ulm. He was Administrator at St. Mary in New Ulm and at St. Vincent in St. Paul. Father Exley served as Pastor at St. Peter in Canby, Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, St. Anne in Wabasso, St. Anastasia in Hutchinson, and St. John in Darwin. He retired from active ministry on June 19, 1985, and has been residing in St. Paul since that time.