Br. Joseph Liebold (1906-1971)

Brother Joe came to Atchison from Germany where he was born May 19, 1906.  He apparently was recruited by Abbot Martin Veth and came with a friend who also entered the community as a postulant.  The latter one-day hitch hiked to Leavenworth, married and raised a family.  The two stayed in touch from time to time.   Brother Joseph made his first profession October 12, 1926. 

He spent his monastic labor first in the chicken yard and later bore the responsibility of trucking the produce of the community to the Abbey, College and Maur Hill.  He and his well-cared-for truck were familiar on the streets of Atchison.  He was a great friend to the various groups of sisters who cooked for the Abbey, College and Maur Hill.

Brother Joe had a heavy German accent and a deep voice.  He might be heard saying something like, “I have a trunk in the truck.”  That would sound like, “I have a drunk in the druk.”  He loved to fish with his friend Shep whose wife Helen cleaned the Administration Building, now St. Benedict Hall.  When he was at work, Joe wore coveralls and wore a chauffeur’s cap.

Brother Joe passed away May 20, 1971.