Edward Joseph Hunkeler

American prelate

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Edward Joseph Hunkeler
Archbishop of Kansas City
In office	1951–1969
Predecessor	George Joseph Donnelly
Successor	Ignatius Jerome Strecker
Orders
Ordination	June 14, 1919 by James Joseph Hartley
Consecration	May 1, 1946 by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Personal details
Born	(1894-01-01)January 1, 1894 Medicine Lodge, Kansas, US
Died	October 1, 1970(1970-10-01) (aged 76) Crookston, Minnesota, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Anton and Philomena (née Durst) Hunkeler
Education	University of Dayton Pontifical College Josephinum

Edward Joseph Hunkeler (January 1, 1894 – October 1, 1970) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska (1945–1951), and Bishop and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas (1951–1969).

Biography

Early life

Edward Hunkeler was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, to Anton and Philomena (née Durst) Hunkeler. He and his parents later moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he attended the parochial school of Holy Trinity Parish. He later enrolled at the University of Dayton. Hunkeler completed his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington.

Priesthood

Hunkeler was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Hartley on June 14, 1919, for the Diocese of Omaha.^[1]^[2] Hunkeler served as pastor of Saints Philip and James Parish in Wynot, Nebraska until 1927, when he was transferred to Blessed Sacrament Parish in Omaha. In 1936, Hunkeler was appointed rector of St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha. He was named a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XI in 1937, and became vicar general of the diocese in 1944.^[2]

Bishop of Grand Island

On March 19, 1945, Hunkeler was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on May 1, 1945, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops James Ryan and Stanislaus Bona serving as co-consecrators, at St. Cecilia Cathedral. During his tenure in Grand Island, Hunkeler ordained 16 priests, and oversaw a large increase in the construction of new churches and other religious institutions in the post-World War II era.^[2]

Bishop and Archbishop of Kansas City

Hunkeler was named Bishop of Kansas City by Pius XII on March 28, 1951. When the Diocese of Kansas City was elevated to the rank of an archdiocese on August 9, 1952, Hunkeler became its first archbishop. He attended all four sessions in Rome of the Second Vatican Council.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Retirement and legacy

On September 10, 1969, Pope Paul VI accepted Hunkeler's resignation as archbishop due to health problems. In 1970, while returning from the installation of Bishop Kenneth Povish, Hunkeler's car was involved in an automobile accident near Crookston, Minnesota. Edward Hunkeler died two days later, on October 1, at age 76; his death was ascribed to a cardiovascular respiratory condition rather than to injuries sustained in the accident.^[2]^[4]

References

^ Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Bishops" Archived 2016-11-15 at the Wayback Machine. Diocese of Grand Island Archived 2017-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Obituary of Hunkeler reproduced from Nebraska Register, vol. 46, no. 41, October 9, 1970. Retrieved June 12, 2017. Archived November 15, 2016.
^ "Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler". Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "A Brief History". Archidiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Retrieved June 12, 2017.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by George Joseph Donnelly	Bishop and Archbishop of Kansas City 1951–1969	Succeeded by Ignatius Jerome Strecker
Preceded by Stanislaus Vincent Bona	Bishop of Grand Island 1945–1951	Succeeded by John Linus Paschang

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

Ordinaries

Vicars: John Baptist Miège; Louis Mary Fink

Bishops: Louis Mary Fink; Thomas Francis Lillis; John Chamberlain Ward; Francis Johannes; Paul Clarence Schulte; George Joseph Donnelly; Edward Joseph Hunkeler

Archbishops: Edward Joseph Hunkeler; Ignatius Jerome Strecker; James Patrick Keleher; Joseph Fred Naumann

Auxiliary bishop

Marion Francis Forst

Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Saint Peter

Parishes: St. Patrick's Church, Atchison; St. Benedict's Church, Bendena; St. Mary's Church, Purcell; Church of the Assumption, Topeka; St. Joseph's Church, Topeka

Former: St. Bridget Church, Axtell; St. Mary's Mission, St. Marys

Education

Higher education: Benedictine College; Donnelly College; University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth

High schools: Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park; Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City; Hayden High School, Topeka; Immaculata High School, Leavenworth; Maur Hill – Mount Academy, Atchison; St. James Academy, Lenexa; St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park

Priests

John Francis Cunningham

Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island
Bishops	James Albert Duffy Stanislaus Vincent Bona Edward Joseph Hunkeler John Linus Paschang John Joseph Sullivan Lawrence James McNamara William Joseph Dendinger Joseph G. Hanefeldt
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parishes St. Anselm's Church, Anselmo Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, O'Connor St. Michael's Church, Spalding
Education	High schools Central Catholic High School, Grand Island Kearney Catholic High School, Kearney St. Patrick High School, North Platte Spalding Academy, Spalding
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Ordinaries	Bishops James Myles O'Gorman James O.Connor Richard Scannell Jeremiah James Harty Joseph Francis Rummel Archbishops James Hugh Ryan Gerald Thomas Bergan Daniel E. Sheehan Elden Francis Curtiss George Joseph Lucas
Auxiliary bishops	Daniel E. Sheehan Anthony Michael Milone
Churches	Cathedral St. Cecilia Cathedral Parishes St. Anthony's Church, Cedar Rapids St. Leonard Church, Madison Holy Family Shrine Holy Family Church, Omaha Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha Sacred Heart Church, Omaha St. Frances Cabrini Church, Omaha St. John's Church, Omaha St. Joseph Church, Omaha St. Bonaventure Church, Raeville
Education	Higher education Creighton University College of Saint Mary High schools Archbishop Bergan High School, Fremont Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington Central Catholic High School, West Point Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Bellevue Duchesne Academy, Omaha Holy Family High School, Lindsay Marian High School, Omaha Mercy High School, Omaha Mount Michael Benedictine School, Omaha Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School, Elgin Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha St. Francis High School, Humphrey St. Mary's High School, O'Neill Scotus Central Catholic High School, Columbus V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Priests	Blase J. Cupich William Joseph Dendinger Edward J. Flanagan Joseph G. Hanefeldt Edward Joseph Hunkeler Patrick Aloysius Alphonsus McGovern John Linus Paschang
Other	Boys Town Notre Dame Academy and Convent Mount Michael Abbey
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