News

Fr. Roy Geenen made everyone feel special

By Joanne Flemming
Compass Correspondent

Fr. Roy Geenen, 65, will be remembered as a priest who made everyone feel special and who used his love of theater to make Scripture come alive for people.

He died on Jan. 19. Bp. David Zubik will preside at his funeral liturgy at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, in St. Mary Magdalene Church, Waupaca, where he had been pastor for the last seven months.

"He made everyone feel special," said Mary Krueger, pastoral associate, St. Patrick Parish, Menasha, where he was pastor from 1985 to 2006.

"He was the most loving, accepting person in terms of everyone. He accepted everyone for who they were, where they were at," agreed Linda Zahorik, liturgist at St. Peter Parish, Oshkosh, and a friend of Fr. Geenen.

Vinal Van Bentham, pastoral associate at St. Mary Magdalene Parish, said "he was a man who saw the giftedness in each person and encouraged it."

"He was the real deal," said Len Brasch, St. Mary Magdalene business administrator.

Zahorik described him as deeply spiritual, as "very committed to his priesthood. He was the kind of priest that gave us hope for the Catholic Church."

He loved the liturgy, Van Bentham said. "He was wonderful at gathering the community so that we prayed well together."

"He made church come alive for everybody," Krueger said. "He made us a family."

St. Patrick staff said he was known for "sneaking off" in the middle of the night to visit the Blessed Sacrament at the St. Margaret Mary Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

During his pastorate, St. Patrick became a stewardship parish. Representatives from the parish were invited to make a presentation in 2000 at the International Catholic Stewardship Conference.

"His greatest gift to St. Patrick Parish was that he introduced us to stewardship and our parish is strong today because of that gift," said Joyce Naps, stewardship communications coordinator at St. Patrick Parish.

Friends said Fr. Geenen had an interest in theater since college. He appeared in community and parish plays and used his talents to make his homilies come alive.

"He spoke to your heart," said Barbara Mauthe, St. Patrick faith formation director.

Fr. Geenen collected hats. Before liturgies at St. Mary Magdalene, he came out wearing one of his hats and made general announcements, said parish staff.

Betty Manion, St. Mary Magdalene religious education director, said he welcomed children and invited them up to sit at the front of the church during the Liturgy of the Word. He also attended their games and concerts.

When he was at St. Patrick, his German shepherd Gus participated in the children's Christmas Eve Mass. He explained that Gus's ancestor had been present at Christ's birth. The dog led the children up the aisle to the manger so they could present their gifts.

Brasch said Fr. Geenen would phone parishioners 70 and over on their birthdays and sing "Happy Birthday" to them.

At St. Patrick he helped with parish brat fry fundraisers at Lambeau Field during Packer games and served coffee during parish fish fries.

Born Jan. 13, 1942, in Kenosha, he attended St. Francis High School, Hollandtown, Abbot Pennings High School, De Pere; Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida, and St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, where he received a bachelor's degree. He also had a master's in theology.

Bp. Aloysius Wycislo ordained him on May 5, 1968.

Fr. Geenen served as assistant/associate pastor at parishes in Green Bay, Appleton and Manitowoc. He was pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Green Bay, and St. Patrick Parish, Menasha, prior to Waupaca.

He was also temporary administrator of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Neenah; priest moderator of St. Patrick Parish, Stephensville, and St. Denis Parish, Shiocton, and administrator of St. Mark's Parish, Redgranite, and Sacred Heart Parish, Poy Sippi. He served as a field advocate for the diocesan marriage tribunal, a regional vicar and a pastor/consultor for the Presbyteral Council.

Interment will be in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum, Allouez. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Patrick Church, Menasha. Parish staff said people who knew Fr. Geenen will be invited to share memories of him.