Date of death: 11/9/2015
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1952
Rev. Venantius P. Preske was born May 24, 1924 to Felix and Mary Preske in Evansville, Indiana. Attended the following seminaries: St. Meinrad, St. Meinrad, Indiana; St. Gregory, Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Mary of the Mount, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Glenmary, Glendale, Ohio.Ordained to priesthood May 31, 1952, as a Glenmary Missionary, serving in parishes: St. John’s Church, Sunfish, Kentucky; Sacred Heart Church, Appalachia, Virginia; Sacred Heart Church, Russellville, Kentucky; Glenmary Headquarters, Glendale, Ohio; Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine, Winslow, Arkansas; St. Luke’s Church, Dahlonega, Georgia. Transferred to the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas on November 1, 1975, and served at: St. Mary of the Mount Church, Horseshoe Bend; St. Michael’s Church, Cherokee Village, and St. Anthony’s Church, Wiener.Retired to Horseshoe Bend in June of 1993. Served in substitute priestly ministry in various parishes throughout the diocese until 2001; assisted pastor with priestly duties at St. Mary’s, Horseshoe Bend, until 2011. Father Preske continued to serve the people of the diocese from his home in Horseshoe Bend where they would come for Confession and Spiritual Direction. Predeceased by: His parents, Felix and Mary, Magdalene (Sr. Angeline, OSB), John, Mary Lois, Rosalia, Rev. Felix, Aloysius. Survived by: Henry (June), Theresa Martin, Dc. Richard (Joan), Marvin (Anne), and 24 nieces and nephews.