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Article_Father Kenneth Wolnowski, 76

Feature News | Saturday, May 23, 2015

Father Kenneth Wolnowski, 76

Retired Cleveland priest helped out at parishes in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE | A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at Blessed Sacrament Church for Father Kenneth Wolnowski, a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland who moved to Fort Lauderdale after retirement and helped out at area parishes.

Father Kenneth Wolnowski: Born Nov. 7, 1938; ordained May 22, 1965; died May 18, 2015.

Photographer: FILE PHOTO

Father Kenneth Wolnowski: Born Nov. 7, 1938; ordained May 22, 1965; died May 18, 2015.

Father Wolnowski, 76, died unexpectedly May 18 at his Fort Lauderdale apartment. He was days shy of marking the 50th anniversary of his ordination, and had been recognized among this year’s group of silver and golden jubilarians at the annual chrism Mass in March.

“Father Ken has made us of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish his own and we certainly have welcomed him as our own,” wrote Father Robert Tywoniak, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, in the parish bulletin. “All recognize the peaceful presence of God Father Ken brought to all who were near him.”

A native of Cleveland, Father Wolnowski was born Nov. 7, 1938 and entered the seminary at age 14. He was ordained May 22, 1965 for the Diocese of Cleveland. He served in various parishes there, including as pastor of St. Josephat in Cleveland from 1980 to 1986 and pastor of St. Peter in Lorain from 1986 until his retirement in 2009.

His other assignments in Cleveland included: director of the Clergy Personnel Office and secretary for Parish Life and Development. In the early ‘70s he also served on the faculty of Elyria Catholic High School, and as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Church in Avon Lake and St. Mary’s Church in Elyria.

His obituary said “he enjoyed warm, sunny climates and he loved traveling and spending quality time by the sea.”

His remains will be taken back to Cleveland. Vespers will take place at 3 p.m. Monday, June 8, at his former parish of St. Peter in Lorain, followed by a viewing until 8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s on Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. with Bishop Roger Gries, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Cleveland, as primary celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.

Father Wolnowski is survived by a brother and sister, Casimir J. Jr. and Frances Yustick, and a nephew and niece, Casimir J. III and Cindi Yustick. 

Comments from readers

Kathy Rom Burant - 05/25/2015 11:45 AM
Thank you for the wonderful tribute to a most special priest. He was my parish priest at St Joseph's in Avon Lake, Ohio, and was considered part of our family having presided over the marriage of many any of my siblings, baptizing so many of our children, and even burying my brother. He allowed us to experience the human side of the priesthood. May I also add he was on the faculty of Lorain Catholic High School in the 70's where he served as a mentor and inspiration to so many grateful students. He will be missed. Thank you Fr Ken and rest in peace.

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