Father Joseph Bahr remembered

for his ‘legendary devotion to the poor’

By Tim Wenzl

Southwest Kansas Register

Father Joseph Bahr, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Garden City, died Dec. 19 at St. Catherine Hospital. He collapsed while preparing the parish center for Wednesday evening religion classes. He was 73 years old.

The Most Rev. Ronald M. Gilmore, bishop of Dodge City, celebrated a funeral Mass at St. Dominic Church in Garden City Dec. 24. Among those concelebrating the liturgy were the Most Rev. Eugene J. Gerber, bishop emeritus of Wichita, Father Shawn McKnight, from Pontifical College Josephinum, and the priests of the diocese.

Bishop Gilmore shared these thoughts: “The Book of Wisdom tells us that Father Bahr ‘is in peace’ because ‘his good works accompany him.’ In recent years I think of the good work of restoring that lovely church in Ingalls. I think of the good of that magnificent parish center (here)…. In all the years of his priesthood, I think of his legendary devotion to the poor. That was the good work that Jesus mentioned, that care for ‘the least of the brethren.’ And I think of his consuming interest in the Liturgy. That was the good work that Jesus set at the heart of his Church.”

And Bishop Gilmore spoke of Father Bahr’s openness to accept new challenges in his varied ministries and assignments: “It was his fundamental openness to the persons, places, and events in his life. He was able to hear the very voice of God in them. And he was able to submit himself to each new yoke of Jesus.”

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father Robert A. Schremmer, vicar general of the diocese, at St. Ann Church in Olmitz, Dec. 26. He was joined by the priests of the diocese. Burial was in the St. Ann Cemetery.

Father Bahr was born July 10, 1934, at Albert, Kans., the son of Henry Bahr and Frances Schneider. He attended St. Ann’s School in Olmitz. He was ordained to the priesthood May 21, 1960, at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, then the apostolic delegate to the United States.

His ministries over his 47 years of priesthood were numerous and varied. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s, Ellinwood (1960-63); Sacred Heart, Dodge City (1963-65); and St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend (1965-67, and 1970).

He served as administrator of St. Mary’s, Marienthal (1967); St. Mary’s, Loretto (1967-70); St. Joseph’s, Liebenthal (1970); and Sacred Heart, Ness City (1982-83).

He spent 12 years at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City as chaplain and a member of the faculty (1970-82).

He was pastor at Sacred Heart, Ness City (1983-84); Sacred Heart, Dodge City (1984-88); St. Joseph, Ellinwood (1988-99). During his Ellinwood pastorate, he was rector of the Sts. Peter and Paul Shrine, North Ellinwood (1990-99) and pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Claflin (1995-99).

His last assignment came in 1999, the pastorate at St. Dominic, Garden City, which included the pastoral care of St. Stanislaus, Ingalls. At Garden City, he built the parish center at St. Dominic’s. The church at Ingalls was also renovated and expanded during this pastorate.

Father Bahr had a passion for the economic poor. As a child he witnessed his mother feeding individuals who came knocking after hopping from a nearby train. When pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City, he started a food pantry to help the needy. Before long, the pantry blossomed into what is today Manna House, a home that offers food, lodging and clothing to individuals and families in transition.

Survivors include: two brothers, Henry Bahr, of Albert, Kansas, and James Bahr, North Babylon, N.Y.; and seven sisters; Sister Francella, Sister Mary Ann, Sister Jeannine, Sister Teresa, Joan and husband, Ken, Olmitz, Donna and Eldon Keil, Overland Park; Patricia Bahr, Great Bend; and eight nieces and one nephew. He was preceeded in death by his parents and a sister, Survivors include: two brothers, Henry Bahr, of Albert, Kans., and James Bahr, North Babylon, N.Y.; and seven sisters; Sister Francella, Sister Mary Ann, Sister Jeannine, Sister Teresa, Joan and husband, Ken, Olmitz, Donna and Eldon Keil, Overland Park; Patricia Bahr, Great Bend; and eight nieces and one nephew. He was preceeded in death by his parents and a sister, Frances.

Memorials are suggested to Pontifical College Josephinum and the St. Dominic Building Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N. 7th, Garden City, KS 67846.