Deceased: 2006-03-01
Diocese: SAN ANTONIO
ICTE Fall: 1989
Msgr. George H. Stuebben, Jr., longtime church leader, dies at age 77. Msgr. George H. Stuebben, Jr., a beloved priest, brother, uncle and faithful servant of God, was called home to the Lord, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at Northeast Baptist Hospital, San Antonio, TX. He was 77. Msgr. Stuebben, the eldest of three sons, was born in San Antonio on December 23, 1928. He attended St. Joseph’s Academy, was a graduate of Central Catholic High School’s class of 1946. He completed his seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary and Assumption Seminary. He also studied at Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Work, St. Mary’s University Graduate School of Theology, North American Collage in Rome, and the Industrial Collage of the Armed Forces, from which he received an honorary doctorate degree. Msgr. Stuebben ordained May 29, 1954 at San Fernando Cathedral by Archbishop Robert E. Lucey, served as a Catholic priest for nearly 52 years. His life of priestly ministry was distinguished by hard and effective work. He was named associate pastor at St. Patrick’s in San Antonio and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma. He served as founding pastor at St. Monica Church in Converse, and Pastor of St. Ann in La Vernia, St. Agnes in San Antonio, and St. John the Evangelist in Hondo. In 1956, he entered the Texas National Guard as a Chaplain. He later served as a Chaplain with the 90th ArCom of the U.S. Army Reserve, where he attained the rank of Colonel. From 1976 to 1986, he was on active duty in the United States Army. During his chaplaincy career, he served as chaplain advisor to the Chief of Chaplains, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and Chief of the Army Reserve. He served on a special six-year tour with the chaplains at the Pentagon and was a recruiter for Army priests, visiting 49 states and most dioceses, religious order provincials, and seminaries, as well as attending the annual U.S. bishop’s meeting in Washington, D.C. He was presented the Aaron Hur Award, the highest award of the Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army. He was also awarded two Legion of Merit Medals. Msgr. Stuebben stepped down from his position as Chief Chaplain at the Army post in Augsburg, Germany, when he suffered a stroke on April 24, 1985. The effects of the stroke cut short his military chaplain career and left him unable to return to a parish assignment in the archdiocese. For twenty years he shared a home with his mother, Clara, known to many as ‘Mom Stuebben.’ Msgr. Stuebben loved people and people loved him. His faith shaped his path of service to his church and his community. He devoted his time to the Madonna Center, Assumption Seminary, The St. Joseph Society, and was co-founder of the Alamo Crisis Center, now known as the Alamo Rape Crisis Center. He was also a member of the Order of Alhambra, the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, Chaplain of the Chapter 56 of the reserve Officers Association, Branch Chaplain of Catholic Life Insurance, and Chaplain of Assembly 2102 of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the San Antonio Philatelic Association. He loved to travel and did so, extensively. He also was an inveterate collector, his house and life filled with a variety of treasures and memories. He had a tremendous passion for hunting and fishing. Msgr. Stuebben was preceded in death by his loving parents, George and Clara Henzen Stuebben. He is survived by two brothers, Msgr. Lawrence J. Stuebben and Thomas L. Stuebben and his wife Mary Jane (Gosnell) Stuebben. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews and their families; Michael Stuebben and wife, Juris; David Stuebben and wife, Eileen; Mary Elizabeth McGinnis and husband, Mark; Carol Spears and husband, Steve; Linda Flieller, and husband, John; and Paul Stuebben. He is survived by eleven grandnieces and grandnephews; Amanda Stuebben and her fianc 5/8, Jeremiah Burns, Thomas Stuebben, Melissa Stuebben, Caitlyn Ploch; Coalton, Sterling and Skylar McGinnis; Ross Spears; and Lauren, Emily and Spencer Flieller. Msgr. Stuebben is also survived by Viola Henzen, Aunt. A Rosary will be prayed in memory of Msgr. George Stuebben, Sunday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. at St. John Neumann Parish, 6680 Crestway Drive, San Antonio, TX, followed by a Mass of Thanksgiving at 6:30 p.m., Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Lawrence J. Stuebben with a homily delivered by Msgr. Emil J. Wesselsky. Archbishop Jos 5/8 H. Gomez will be principle celebrant at Mass of Thanksgiving to be celebrated Monday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church Downtown, 623 East Commerce, San Antonio, TX, with burial to follow at St. Joseph’s Society Cemetery. Concelebrants will include Priests of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, classmates of Msgr. George Stuebben, and military chaplains. Msgr. Lawrence J. Stuebben will deliver the homily. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Joseph’s Downtown Church, Assumption Seminary, or the Madonna Center. Roy Akers-Zizik Kearns Funeral Chapels.
