Rev. Edward J. Hussli
Deceased: 2012-11-18
Diocese: MILWAUKEE
ICTE Fall: 1993
Reverend Edward J. Hussli, age 82, died on November 18, 2012, at his home in Clam Lake, Wisconsin. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Saturday, December 15, at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin with The Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki presiding. A visitation will also be held one hour prior at the church. Interment is to follow immediately after the mass at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Father Hussli was born in Beaver Dam on September 17, 1930, the thirteenth child of Joseph J. and Theresa (Feckter) Hussli, Sr. He attended St. Peter’s school and graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Navy for four years and served as a physical therapist at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Returning from service, he attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison for three years furthering his career as a physical therapist. The calling to the religious order was always there. He joined the Cistercian Brothers Monastery at Our Lady of Spring Bank in Okauchee, Wisconsin in 1958. He affectionately took the name of Francis following St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, who loved the birds, animals and outdoor creatures as did Father Ed. In a small grotto on his property in Clam Lake is a white statue of St. Francis of Assisi which he could view from his kitchen window. In 1965, Father Ed was asked to consider being a priest and his answer was always, “I go where I am needed,” so his studies started at St. Meinrad Benedictine Abbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He attended St. Norbert Abbey and college in De Pere, Wisconsin for theology and was ordained a priest at Our Lady of Spring Bank Abbey in Okauchee, Wisconsin on August 24, 1967, by the Most Reverend Roman Atkielski, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee. Father Ed then said his first mass at St. Peter’s Church in Beaver Dam in September 1967. In February of 1969, Father was accepted to work in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by the Most Reverend William E. Cousins, being assigned to the parish of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin as associate pastor. In June of 1970, he was assigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Waukesha, on September 14, 1970, to St. Nicholas, in Milwaukee, and on October 13, 1970, to St. Edward’s in Racine. In 1975, Father was incardinated into the Milwaukee Archdiocese. In June of 1979, he was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Agnes in Butler, Wisconsin. In June of 1986, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then on July 1, 1988, Father was appointed pastor of Holy Family Church, in Reeseville, Wisconsin and its mission church, St. Columbkille in Elba, Wisconsin, until his retirement on September 30, 1998. When he retired he had a wonderful farewell reception on September 28, 1998. He retired to the north woods in Clam Lake and had “some” retirement time, but Father set retirement aside because of the shortage of priests in the Catholic church, and on February 1, 2007, was appointed pastor of Most Precious Blood Church in Glidden, Wisconsin, which included St. George Chapel in Clam Lake, Wisconsin. Father Hussli is survived by sister-in-law, Charlotte Hussli, Beaver Dam; nineteen nieces and nephews, Merton J. (Karin) Mack of Arizona, Cherril Mack Feucht of Columbus, Richard (Janis) Mack of California, David (Robin) Mack of Arizona, Sandra (Bob) Dittberner of Merrimac, David (Mary Ann) Hussli of Beaver Dam, Larry Hussli and special friend Mary May of Illinois, Mary (Leigh) Eggert of Hales Corners, Patricia Hussli (Donald Rathbun) of Madison, Bill (Delois) Hussli of Kansas, Michele Hussli (Scott Kuhlmey) of Illinois, Joan (Randy) Godsey of Illinois, Chris (Dave) Tiltz of Illinois, Helen (Wally) Owens of Waukesha, Andrea Hussli (Mike Sheppard) of Michigan, Armand (Barb) Franke of Beaver Dam, Kathleen (Don) Bird of Florida, Richard (Peggy) Beattie of California and Ronald (Carmella) Beattie of Madison; and very special friends, Rita Segel and her daughter, Peggy Koceja from Most Precious Blood Parish in Glidden and Clam Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Joseph, Frank “Butch” and Michael; five sisters, twins Theresa Mack and Blanche Ellis, Anne Franke, Katie Block and Rose Beattie, infant twins George and John, Anthony, Magdelene in Germany; nephew, Paul Hussli; and niece, Nancy Ellis Korth.
