Florida Catholic | Obituary :: Father Joseph Ganssle

OBITUARY

Father Joseph Ganssle, 76

Published: 04.18.08

Father Joseph F. Ganssle, a Franciscan Friar and priest who assisted in the diocese after retiring to St. Petersburg three years ago, died March 31 at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg. He had been in failing health for several months, suffering from leukemia. He was 76.

Father Ganssle was born May 15, 1931, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended Catholic primary school there. He entered St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., in 1945. He was received into the Franciscan Order of Holy Name Province at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 11, 1951, and was given the religious name of Louis Augustine.

He made first profession with the Franciscans Aug. 13, 1952, and began serving as a member of the Our Lady of the Angels Byzantine Franciscan Custody Friary in New Canaan, Conn. After studying three years at St. Mary’s Seminary, Ferndale, Conn., he made his solemn profession Sept. 17, 1955, and was ordained to the priesthood April 25, 1958.

He served in many ministries during his almost 50 years in the priesthood. He was a member of the faculty of Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y.

In 1962, he volunteered for the province’s mission in the state of Goias, Brazil, and he worked in Denver as a hospital chaplain and assistant Army chaplain. He founded and was the president of Narc-Anon Inc., a drug rehabilitation group.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 5 at St. Anthony Parish in Butler, N.J., and burial followed in the friars’ plot of Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler.

Father Ganssle is survived by three sisters: Geraldine Ryan of Rio Rancho, N.M.; Cecilia Friend of Clinton, N.Y.; and Margaret Slattery to whom condolences may be addressed at 3957 Hidden Glen Drive, Sarasota, FL 34241.

Return to Diocese of St. Petersburg Front Page

OBITUARY

Father Joseph Ganssle, 76

Other Stories