Date of death: 1/26/2011
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1951
Father Wannemuehler, a retired priest of the Diocese of Evansville, died at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, at age 85. He was a long time chaplain at Deaconess Hospital, where he continued to visit patients in recent times, rolling along hospital halls in an electric scooter.Father Wannemuehler, a native of Posey County, was the son of Joseph and Clotilda Weinzapfel Wannemuehler, of St. Philip. He is survived by four sisters, Bernadette Paul, of Evansville, Pauline (Greg) Gieldon, of Milwaukee, WI., Joan Gibson, of Henderson, KY, and Martha (Robert) Baehl, of Evansville; two brothers, Jim (Bonnie) Wannemuehler, of St. Philip and Elmer (Cindy) Wannemuehler, of Evansville; and a sister-in-law, Florence Wannemuehler, of St. Philip. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mildred Schmitt; his brother, Joseph Wannemuehler; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Gibson, Marvin Paul and Robert Schmitt.After seminary studies at Saint Meinrad, Father Wannemuehler was ordained a priest by Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman, at Assumption Cathedral, on May 19, 1951.His first assignments as an assistant pastor were in Evansville, at St. Agnes Church and St. Anthony Church, and then at St. Joseph Church, in Jasper. He visited hospital patients during these years, in Evansville and Jasper.His first pastorate was Blessed Sacrament Church, in Oakland City, in 1960. Subsequently, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Church in Bramble and chaplain at Crane Naval Depot in 1964; then in 1966, pastor of St. Peter Church, Montgomery, and Catholic chaplain at Daviess County Hospital in Washington, IN.In 1968, he returned to Evansville as Chaplain at Deaconess Hospital, with residence first at St. Anthony Church, and later at St. Joseph Church. He was associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Vanderburgh County from 1974 until 1991, when he moved to St. Boniface Church in Evansville. During his years in Evansville, and after his retirement in 1996, Father Wannemuehler continued as a chaplain at Deaconess.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Philip Catholic Church or to the Priest’s Retirement Fund.Information obtained from the Evansville Courier-Press online.courierpress.com