Date of death: 2/2/2007
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1950
Father Camillus Ellspermann, OSB, monk and priest of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN, and a jubilarian of profession and priesthood, died at the monastery. He was 81.Surviving are three sisters, Helen Miller and Rose Schultheis, both of Evansville, IN; Yvonne Sheek, Greenwood, IN; and two brothers, Vincent, Summerfield, FL; and George, St. Joseph, MI.Fr. Camillus was born in Evansville, IN, on December 18, 1925, to Carl and Rosa (Diehl) Ellspermann, and received the name Leonard John at his baptism. He completed his elementary education at St. Joseph Parish school in Evansville and enrolled in Saint Meinrad Seminary in 1939.He was invested as a novice monk in 1945, professed his simple vows on September 15, 1946, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1950.After ordination, Fr. Camillus studied at The Catholic University of America, earning a master’s degree in sociology. He then taught Latin in the minor seminary and sociology in the major seminary at Saint Meinrad. At the same time, he served the Saint Meinrad community as infirmarian. Later, he was director of the seminary’s deacon internship program.During the years of the Civil Rights Movement, he was actively engaged in the struggle, including his participation in the 1965 march in Selma, AL.In 1975, Fr. Camillus began serving in parishes. For the next 30 years, he served in four parishes: St. Benedict Parish, Evansville, IN; St. Henry Parish, St. Henry, IN; Holy Spirit Parish, Rock Springs, WY; and St. Anthony Parish, Casper, WY.