Rev. Msgr. George M. Hastrich

After attending Holy Ghost Grade School in Milwaukee, Father Hastrich attended Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. His collegiate studies included St. Francis Minor Seminary and Major Seminary in Milwaukee, where he completed his collegiate studies in philosophy and graduate studies in theology. Further graduate studies were at Gannon University in Erie, Penn. He was ordained by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley on May 27, 1950, at St. John Cathedral, Milwaukee, and received his Investiture of Prelate of Honor on Aug. 16, 2000.

Monsignor Hastrich served the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Milwaukee, and St. Mary Parish, Hales Corners; taught at Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha, and was an associate pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians, West Allis. Upon incardination into the Diocese of Madison in 1955, Monsignor Hastrich served as an associate pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish, Sun Prairie; as pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Doylestown with Mission to St. Joseph Parish, Rio, while assisting the faculty at Edgewood High School, Madison in Religious Education. He served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Montello with Mission to Good Shepherd Parish, Westfield; St. Ann Parish, Stoughton; St. Joseph Parish, East Bristol; and St. Joseph Parish, Argyle with Mission to St. Michael Parish, Yellowstone, where he retired from in 2001. During his years of service to the Diocese of Madison until his death, Monsignor Hastrich served as president and spiritual director of the Latin American Mission Program (LAMP); confessor to the Auxiliaries of the Blessed Sacrament, Beloit; spiritual director of St. Martin House, Madison; Serra Club chaplain; and Vicar Forane for the Lafayette Vicariate Forane.

Monsignor Hastrich was an avid baseball and football fan, especially of the Brewers and the Packers. He also had a love of trains and would ride them when possible.

Monsignor Hastrich is survived by his nephew, Robert Cleary of Pecos, N.M.; his two nieces, Maureen (Marlin) Bredeson of Blanchardville, and Kathryn Cleary of Pecos, N.M.; a great-nephew, Erik Bredeson; great-niece, Andrea (Ben) O’Brien; two great-great-nephews, Chace and Alex; and many friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE CATHEDRAL PARISH OF ST. RAPHAEL, 404 E. Main St., Madison, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. The Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will be the main celebrant with the Rev. Monsignor Kevin Holmes as homilist. Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. until the start of Holy Mass at St. Patrick Church. Interment at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Milwaukee, will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, at 12 p.m. (noon).

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been arranged for the Priests for Our Future Campaign for seminarian education of priests for the Diocese of Madison.