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Br. William Wiegel, O.S.A. (1942 - 2007)

Brother William Wiegel, O.S.A. entered eternal life May 19, 2007. He had been hospitalized after being seriously injured in a fall several days earlier.

Lawrence William Wiegel was born December 27, 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Paul and Helen (Louthain) Wiegel. He was Baptized at Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Milwaukee.

Following his 1962 graduation from Oconomowoc High School, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, he entered the Augustinian Brothers’ formation program in Oconomowoc, taking the religious name William. He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 3, 1965. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 4, 1966 and solemn (permanent) vows September 14, 1969.

Brother William did maintenance work at St. Rita High School, Chicago (1963-65 and 1988-93), St. Monica Monastery, Oconomowoc (1965-66 and 1972-79), Augustinian Academy, St. Louis (1966-67), Augustinian Provincialate, Evanston, Illinois (1967-72), Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago (1979-88) and St. Rita Parish, Chicago (1993 until the time of his death).

He is remembered as a quiet, faithful, reliable and conscientious worker who was generous in helping in any way he could. No matter what job was given to him, one could be sure that it would get done. In the earlier years of his career, he learned a great deal from the more experienced maintenance persons with whom he worked, and developed skills in maintaining and repairing buildings and various kinds of equipment. While at St. Rita Parish, he was learning to speak Spanish from Hispanic members of the parish.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, Tolentine Center, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1011.