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Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman

Birth	:	7 Mar 1924 Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	8 Apr 1999 Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Benalla War Cemetery, Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate	:	-36.5548500, 145.9501000
Inscription	:	Ordained Dec. 17, 1949
Description	:	Cletus Fangman was born in Seneca, KS, March 7, 1924, the son of George and Marcella Stallbaumer Fangman. The George Fangman family lived along Highway 178, a few miles south of St. Mary's Church, St. Benedict, Kan. The area became known as "Wildcat" after the creek there, which was so named for the abundance of those animals along its banks and surrounding timber. The Fangman family farmed on land near their home and Cletus graduated from the St. Mary's Grade and High Schools. These schools are now a part of the B and B (Baileyville and Benedict) school... Read More	Cletus Fangman was born in Seneca, KS, March 7, 1924, the son of George and Marcella Stallbaumer Fangman. The George Fangman family lived along Highway 178, a few miles south of St. Mary's Church, St. Benedict, Kan. The area became known as "Wildcat" after the creek there, which was so named for the abundance of those animals along its banks and surrounding timber. The Fangman family farmed on land near their home and Cletus graduated from the St. Mary's Grade and High Schools. These schools are now a part of the B and B (Baileyville and Benedict) school system. Cletus came to St. Benedict's College, entered the community as Frater Wilfred, professed first vows as a member of the Abbey Aug. 15, 1944, and was ordained Dec. 17, 1949. While a cleric, he was the Abbey infirmarian and a prodigious farm worker as were his confreres: Edwin, Alphonse and Hilary. After ordination Father Wilfred was sent to Maur Hill where he taught, served as infirmarian, and commuted across town to the Abbey to finish his theology studies. He taught English and drama, and was moderator of the yearbook and student chaplain. As a teacher of developmental reading he helped many students. Perhaps more importantly he was the older monk many of the younger monks and new faculty respected and looked to for fresh ideas and ways to implement them. He was a man ahead of his time, as he seemed to anticipate in his own style the Vatican II vision of the Church. In 1969 he took up parish work at St. John's Parish, Burlington, Iowa, then moved to St. Benedict's, Atchison, as co-pastor with Father Roderic Giller. He served at St. Benedict's, Kansas City, KS, from June 1984 until his death. Father Wilfred faced back and neck problems with courage. He also spoke from his heart and held considered opinions that were not always universally popular. He was a great homilist, concrete and to the point. It has been said that in earlier times St. Benedict's Abbey was composed largely of two groups. One group was composed of so-called "Packing House Irish" from St. Benedict's Parish in Kansas City, KS. The other was "Nemaha County farmers" from Seneca, KS, and St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict, KS. As I recall it was Father Malachy Sullivan who made that statement. He himself was from the group of Irish. Both groups knew what hard work was all about. "For those of us from the city who were used to a work day that went from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," retired Abbot Owen Purcell recalls, "it was a cultural shock to work with people who started before dawn and had supper at 10 p.m. Father Wilfred was used to work as were other monks like Father Hilary Heim and Wilfred's late brother and former member of the community, Herman (Tom) Fangman. Wilfred had multiple tasks as a teacher, drama instructor, infirmarian, and yearbook moderator at Maur Hill Prep School, and yet he would frequently do manual labor on a Saturday or after the school day." Father Wilfred was a catalyst for the faculty. His example drew many of us from the TV set to play volleyball and basketball with the students on a Friday night. During the spring after Sunday morning study hall there was a faculty-vs-student baseball game. A monk pitched for the students and a student for the monks. "Wilfred could drive a ball a mile and it took almost that long for him to reach second base!" Abbot Owen says. But Wilfred was not all work. He was a reader and thinker. He would decry time spent watching the "tube." "Turn it off," he would say when he came to the common recreation room. He loved poetry and we spent some evenings reading a favorite one. Wilfred was an alive person and one quick to catch the spirit of what was happening at Vatican Council II. He had an oversize copy of what he called "A Communitarian Prayer" on the wall of his English classroom. "Wilfred's heroism in the face of crippling back problems for us was legendary," Abbot Owen recalls. "He carried the same consistency throughout his life as a friend, monk, teacher, and good shepherd."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman's memorial?
Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman's memorial is located at: Benalla War Cemetery, Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Australia.
When did Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman death?
Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman death on 8 Apr 1999 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Fr Wilfred Cletus Fangman's memorial?
Latitude: -36.5548500
Longitude: 145.9501000

Family Members:

Parent

George H. Fangman

(1901 - 1980)

Martha Irene Stallbaumer Fangman

(1901 - 1935)

Siblings

(unknow - unknow)

James Fangman

(1928 - 1928)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Benalla War Cemetery
Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.5548500, 145.9501000

2. Benalla Cemetery
Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.5565000, 145.9490800

3. Winton Cemetery
Benalla, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.5127060, 146.0889970

4. Devenish Cemetery
Goorambat, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3863890, 145.8861270

5. Moorngag Cemetery
Tatong, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.7522000, 146.0497000

6. Violet Town Public Cemetery
Violet Town, Strathbogie Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.6494600, 145.7081460

7. Gowangardie Cemetery
Caniambo, Greater Shepparton City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.4763630, 145.6557470

8. Thoona Cemetery
Thoona, Benalla Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3282834, 146.0852049

9. Greta Cemetery
Greta, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.5502562, 146.2757915

10. Dookie East Cashel Cemetery
Dookie, Greater Shepparton City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3329980, 145.7255400

11. Dookie Cemetery
Dookie, Greater Shepparton City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3567100, 145.6746500

12. Lake Rowan Cemetery
Lake Rowan, Moira Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.2495190, 145.9682640

13. Wangaratta Cemetery
Wangaratta, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3727000, 146.2908000

14. Pine Lodge Cemetery
Pine Lodge, Greater Shepparton City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.4164240, 145.5696690

15. Euroa Public Cemetery
Euroa, Strathbogie Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.7408610, 145.5945140

16. Strathbogie Cemetery
Strathbogie Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.8368000, 145.6928000

17. Wangaratta Pioneer Cemetery
Wangaratta, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.3546662, 146.3299177

18. Bontharambo Cemetery
Boorhaman, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.2877780, 146.3011110

19. Wilby Cemetery
Wilby, Moira Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.1644100, 146.0098710

20. Milawa Cemetery
Milawa, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.4380710, 146.4378020

21. Boorhaman Cemetery
Boorhaman, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.2272970, 146.2726610

22. Tungamah Cemetery
Tungamah, Moira Shire, Australia
Coordinate: -36.1328160, 145.8945700

23. Edi Upper
Edi Upper, Wangaratta Rural City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.7060730, 146.4491390

24. Katandra Cemetery
Katandra, Greater Shepparton City, Australia
Coordinate: -36.2355000, 145.5848000