Br. Francis Daengeli (1837-1924)

Brother Francis was born in Switzerland but later found himself a farmer across from the Abbey at Winthrop, Mo, (also known as East Atchison).  He had to abandon his farmland because of flooding and other irregularities of the Missouri River bottoms.  He came to St. Benedict’s and was hired because of his agricultural expertise.  In 1892 he asked to be admitted to the novitiate and made vows a year later.  After three months he was placed in charge of the College Farm.  In 1910 old age caught up with him and he lived a retired life in the monastery.  The last five years of his life he spent preparing himself for death and after a bout with influenza he died March 2, 1924.