Brother Thomas Eisenmenger, O.F.M.

Br. Thomas Eisenmenger, OFM, a Franciscan friar of the Sacred Heart Province, died on Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2021, at the age of 86, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI.  He was born on March 7, 1935, in Humphrey, NE, to Leander and Agnes (Pfeifer) Eisenmenger.   He was baptized at St. Francis Church in Humphrey on March 8, 1935, and confirmed there on April 24, 1947.  He attended grade school and high school at St. Francis in Humphrey, NE.

Br. Thomas entered the Franciscan Brothers’ Program in Westmont, IL, at the age of 17, on December 14, 1952. He was received into the Franciscan novitiate in Teutopolis, IL, and was given his father’s name, Leander, as his religious name, by Provincial, Fr. Pius Barth, OFM, on July 4, 1955.  Fr. Pius also accepted his solemn profession in Cleveland, OH, on July 5, 1959.  

As a Franciscan brother for the next 54 years, Br. Leander’s main ministry was in cooking and, at times, maintenance work, at Franciscan communities in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas.  Brothers who lived with him said that he loved to play cards and dominos.  At some juncture in his long tenure of service to his Franciscan brotherhood and the Church, he returned to his baptismal name of Thomas.  He retired in 2013 and lived at St. Clare’s Friary in Alton, IL, until he moved to Blessed Giles Friary, in Manitowoc, WI, in September, 2020.

Br. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Leander and Agnes, and an infant sister, Gertrude.  He is survived by his Franciscan brothers of the Sacred Heart Province, by his sister, Mary Catherine Wieser, of Humphrey, NE, and her 10 children and their families.

The friars would like to express their appreciation to Br. Thomas’ caregivers: those at Blessed Giles Friary, at Holy Family Memorial Hospital in Manitowoc, WI, and at Horizon Hospice at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI.

There will be a private Mass of Resurrection in the chapel of Blessed Giles Friary in Manitowoc, WI.  At a date yet to be determined, there will be a Memorial Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in Humphrey, NE, with burial of his cremains in the friars’ plot in the parish cemetery.

In your kindness, please consider making a donation in memory of Br. Thomas Eisenmenger, OFM, for the continued care of our retired Franciscan brothers and priests.  Any donation will be great appreciated.  Please send your charitable donations to: Blessed Giles Friary, 1820 Grand Avenue, Manitowoc, WI, 54220.  May God bless you.

The Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc, WI, is assisting the friars with funeral arrangements.    

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