Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 28, 1902 – Nov. 19, 1989
South Bend Tribune 11/20/1989
Mishawaka – Msgr. Curt A. Suelzer, the first Mishawaka priest to be elevated to the position of Monsignor, died Sunday in Fort Wayne.
Services for Msgr. Suelzer, 87, of Fort Wayne, formerly of Mishawaka, who died at 6:15 a.m. Sunday in St. Ann’s Nursing home, Fort Wayne, will be at 10:30 Tuesday in the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, and at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Friends may call until 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Mungovan & Sons Funeral Home, Fort Wayne, and from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka. Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
He served as pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church for 33 years before retiring in 1977.
Extensive improvements were made during his tenure, including construction of a new school, expansion of parish property and a major renovation of the church.
He received the title on Monsignor on May 4, 1956 from Pope Pius XII.
Msgr. Suelzer was born Oct. 28, 1902 in Fort Wayne and lived in Mishawaka for 33 years. He is survived by two sisters, Sister Alexa Suelzer and Sister Mary Josephine Suelzer, both of Terre Haute, Ind.; a brother, Rev. Anthony Suelzer of East Chicago, Ind.; and a nephew, Rev. John Suelzer of Fort Wayne. He was a graduate of St. Charles Seminary, Cathagena, Ohio, and was ordained on June 2, 1928.
Editor: He was the son of Joseph Suelzer and Sophia M. Klueppel.
South Bend Tribune 11/27/1989
Mishawaka – Services for Monsignor Curt A. Suelzer, 87, of Fort Wayne, formerly of Mishawaka, who died Sunday in St. Anne’s Nursing Home, Fort Wayne were here today at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fort Wayne, and will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Friends may call from 8:30 p.m. today in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Monsignor Suelzer became assistant to the pastor of Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, on June 22, 1928; became pastor of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, South Bend, on July 8, 1939; and became papal chamberlain on June 24, 1956.
On June 2, 1988, he celebrated 60 years in the priesthood.