Rev. Msgr. Edward George Meulemans; 1928-2018

December 27, 2018
Dear Fathers, Deacons, Parish Directors, Parish Life Coordinators, Sisters, Lay Leaders/Business Administrators and Staff,
Reverend Monsignor Edward George Meulemans, age 90, died on December 24, 2018, in Mesa, Arizona.  Msgr. Ed was born on February 23, 1928, to Philip and Frances (Aebly) Meulemans, in Glenwood City, Wisconsin.
Msgr. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Frances Meulemans, and his sister, Alice Casey. He is survived by his sister, Jean Jackelen; brother, William Meulemans and many nieces, nephews and many brothers and sisters in Christ.
Funeral Arrangements for Msgr. Ed are being held in Arizona this week and will be held in Superior beginning Sunday, December 30, 2018, with visitation from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Cathedral of Christ the King, Belknap & Grand, Superior, Wisconsin. Visitation continues on Monday, December 31, 2018, at 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior.
Msgr. Ed attended public grade school and high school in Glenwood City. He enlisted in the Army soon after high school and served overseas for thirteen (13) months and then entered St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1952.  In June of 1956, Msgr. Ed, graduated with a B.A. in History and a B.A. in Philosophy. In the fall of 1956, he entered St. John’s School of Theology and was ordained June 11, 1960, at Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior, Wisconsin, by the Most Rev. George A. Hammes, Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin.
Msgr. Ed’s parochial and diocesan appointments include:
June 1960                   Associate Pastor, St. Peter the Fisherman Church, Eagle River
September 1961-62    Attended graduate school at the University of Chicago and St. Zavier   
                                    College; receiving an M.A. in Educational Administration
June 1962                   Assistant Principal, Guidance Director, History Teacher, Athletic Director at
                                    Cathedral High School, Superior, Wisconsin
October 1962              Promoter of Justice for the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal
1963                            Received Certification in Education from University of Duluth, Duluth, MN  
June 1964                   Principal of Cathedral High School, Superior, Wisconsin
March 1966                 Member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission
October 1966              Chaplain of Douglas County Hospital, Parkland
September 1968-78    Diocesan Superintendent of Schools
June 18, 1969             Chaplain of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Superior
1970                            Education Administration - University of Wisconsin, Superior
June 1970-98              Diocesan Consultor
December 1970          Assistant Chancellor
December 1975-97     Member of Personnel Placement Board        
June 1978                   Rector of Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior
September 1978         Administrator of the Diocese while Bishop was in Rome for Ad Limina visit 
November 1978          Chaplain of 4^th Degree KC# 499
January 1979              Co-chairman of Diocese of Superior Diamond Jubilee Committee
September 1979         Member of Religious Education Commission
July 1982-98               While remaining Rector, appointed Vicar General
1998                            Retired from active priestly ministry in the Diocese of Superior at the age
                                    of 70
                                    Began working as a priest in four Indian Reservations near Phoenix, AZ,
                                    and in a Spanish speaking parish in Tempe, Arizona. 
2006                            School Chaplain of St. Peter Indian Mission School
June 27, 2010             Invested as a Monsignor in the Diocese of Superior                          

In 2011, Msgr. Ed wrote some personal comments which are as follows:
Before I was ordained, I never imagined that this would be such a happy life and it has been consistently so. I have always been welcomed as a priest and friend whether it was with sisters and other teachers with whom I worked in catholic education, with many people of Cathedral Parish or with the little children of St. Peter Mission School out here in the desert of Arizona.
Since I have been in Arizona I look forward each summer to “going home” to visit family members, priests, Cathedral parishioners and others but after a few weeks it is always good to get back to the Native American People, especially the little children at St. Peter Mission School with such faith, hope, and love.
Whenever I speak to people about the future of the Church, I always do so with great confidence and hope.  I often speak to them about the priests with whom I worked and served at the Cathedral. They were very prayerful, gifted, committed young men. I learned much from them and I hope they learned from me.  They are all doing great work in our Diocese; they are the future of the Church. It’s in good hands. I have also been so impressed with the faith of the people whom I was asked to serve. It is, among so many of them, a very strong, wise and consistent faith.  They are the best proof that the spirit is truly alive in the Church today.                                               Msgr. Ed Meulemans, March 6, 2011
                                                                                    St. Peter Mission, Bapchulte, Arizona

Please keep Msgr. Ed and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto Rev. Monsignor Ed Meulemans, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.
Members of the Purgatorial Society are asked to please offer the customary three Masses for the repose of the soul of Rev. Msgr. Edward G. Meulemans.
With Christmas blessings to you,
 
Debra Lieberg
Secretary to the Bishop
Chancellor
715-394-0205
dlieberg@catholicdos.org