Fr. George Spiegelhalter (1901-1989)

Father George Spiegelhalter passed away September 30, 1989.

Father George was born in St. Louis but entered our community from Guardian Angels Parish, Kansas City, Mo., after graduating from St. Benedict’s College. He pronounced his first vows July 11, 1931, and was ordained in 1938.  After an assignment at St. Benedict’s Parish, Atchison, he began a long career as a Chaplain in the United States Navy in WWII in the Pacific and later in Texas and Alaska.  He was business manager of the Abbey, 1946-48.  From 1954-58 he was Chaplain to the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth.  He returned to parish work and suffered a stroke at St. Mary’s Parish, St. Benedict, Kan.  He then took up residence at the Abbey. 

Until his death, though impaired by the stroke, he did his best to be a part of the community.  His speech had been affected and yet he was able to communicate, sometimes rather forcefully.  In livelier days he would write “mock” German letters to favored confreres.  They went something like this:  “Herr Spiegelhalter gewritten ein posten cart geboughten in zie druggen gestorehaben un ein podunkenhoccity un Kansasanich onehorsen gekansas.”