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Former Army chaplain, Fr. Knier, dies

Fr. Aloysius Knier, who for nearly 20 years was a U.S. Army chaplain, including serving with a combat unit in Korea, died Feb. 20. He was 86.

Fr. Knier was born May 25, 1916, in Hilbert, to Joseph and Cecilia (Schad) Knier.

After attending St. John Seminary, Collegeville, and the Grand Seminaire, Laval University, Quebec, he was ordained April 23, 1942, by Bp. Paul Rhode at Green Bay.

Fr. Knier served as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Sturgeon Bay, from May 27, 1942, and then at St. Therese Parish, Appleton.

On Jan. 23, 1946, he became an Army chaplain, serving until Aug. 1965. He then became temporary administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Sherwood. On Jan. 5, 1966, he was appointed pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, Wabeno.

He later served as pastor of: St. Anthony Parish, Marinette (1967-68); St. Mary Parish, Chilton (1968-70); Annunciation Parish, Green Bay (1970-72); and St. Rose Parish, Clintonville, from March 1, 1972, until retiring for reasons of health on Aug. 20, 1975. He had lived in Milwaukee.

He was the brother of Adela (the late Irwin) Vogds, Mary (the late Jack) Conway, the late Andrew (Tilly) Scharenbroch), Lawrence (LaVerne) Scharen-broch, the late Paul Scharen-broch and the late Florian (Jeanette) Scharenbroch. He also is survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bp. Robert Banks celebrated the funeral Mass on Feb. 25 in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay. Burial was at St. Gregory Cemetery, St. Nazianz.