Obit: Moczarny, Rev. Chester B. (1921 - 2002)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Moczarny, Olichweir, Zoromski, O’Neil, Brodbeck, Skalecki

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, WI.) February 27, 2002

Moczarny, Rev. Chester B. (May 20, 1921 - February 19, 2002)

Father Chester B. Moczarny, age 80, died on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2002 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Father Moczarny was born May 20, 1921 in Thorp, WI to Joseph and May (Olichweir) Moczarny. He received his elementary education in the Thorp Public School and continued his secondary education at St. Nazianz Minar Seminary. He earned the Bachelor of Arts degree at St. John University in Collegeville and completed studies for the priesthood at St. Francis Major Seminary in Milwaukee. Father Moczarny was ordained a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse by the most Reverend John P. Treacy at St. Joseph Cathedral on March 22, 1947.

Father Moczarny’s initial appointment as an assistant pastor was at St. Mary’s Parish in Tomah (1947), St. Wenceslaus Parish in La Crosse and Aquinas High school (1948-1950). He was also the diocesan director for displaced person during this time.

From 1950-1956 Father Moczarny was on active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel for the United States Air Force, serving at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina and at Weathersfield Aire Force Base in England.

He remained on reserve duty from 1956-1981 as Assistant Staff Chaplain for the Air Defense Command with headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In 1956 Father Moczarny became assistant pastor and temporary administrator at St. Adelbert Parish in Rosholt and in 1957 was appointed chaplain at St. Joseph Convent and instructor at Maria Academy in Stevens Point. In 1961 Father Moczarny became administrator at Sacred Heart Parish in Spring Valley and at the same time was the spiritual director for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. He became pastor at Ft. Florian’s Parish in Hatley in 1966 and subsequently served as pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Independence from 1968 to 1971; St. Therese Parish in Schofield from 1971 to 1980; St. Peter Parish in Stevens Point from 1982 to 1986. He was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Michael Parish in North creek in 1986 where he served until 1988 when he was appointed temporary administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Arcadia. Father Moczarny was granted the Status of a senior priest of the Diocese on August 10, 1988. Following his retirement, Father Moczarny served as Administrator at St. James parish in Eau Claire and Sacred Heart Parish in Eau Claire. Father Moczarny assisted at 112 parishes of the diocese following his retirement in a help-out capacity. Most recently he had been celebrating Mass at the Villa St. Joseph for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

In addition to his many pastoral duties Father Moczarny also served two terms on the Presbyteral Council, a five-year term as a member of the College of Consulters from 1984-1989 and a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

Father Moczarny was preceded in death by is parents and one sister, Irene Zoromski. He is survived by one brother, Leon of Wausau; and three sisters: Louise O’Neil of Chippewa Falls, Mary Ann (Arthur) Brodbeck and Marjorie Skalecki, both of Holcombe.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse on Friday February 22, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. with the Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke as celebrant and the Very Rev. Joseph (balance cut off).

 

 


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