Obituary
Father Jerome Rykowski, a priest of the diocese, died on May 4 at a nursing home in Hastings, Minnesota.
Jerome Anthony Rykowski was born in West Allis, Wisconsin on March 26, 1923. For health reasons, he was accepted as a seminary student for the Diocese of Pueblo in June, 1949, by Bishop Joseph Clement Willging. After studying at St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, he was ordained for the Diocese of Pueblo May 14, 1955 by Milwaukee Archbishop (later Cardinal) Albert Meyer.
Fluent in English and Polish, Father Rykowski served as parochial vicar for St. Patrick’s, Pueblo (1955-1958), and was on the faculty of Pueblo Catholic High and the staff of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in 1958. He was parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Cathedral (1959, 1960-61) and St. Francis Xavier, Pueblo (1959). He served as administrator and later pastor of St. Rita, Mancos (1961-1965); St. Rose of Lima, Buena Vista (1967-1977); and Sacred Heart, Fruita (1977-1988). He was also Vocations Director (1963) and CCD Deanery Moderator (1961). He retired from Sacred Heart, Fruita, in 1988.
Father Rykowski’s funeral was held on May 10 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Milwaukee and was buried next to his brother, who was a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. A memorial Mass was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction on May 18.
Jerome Anthony Rykowski was born in West Allis, Wisconsin on March 26, 1923. For health reasons, he was accepted as a seminary student for the Diocese of Pueblo in June, 1949, by Bishop Joseph Clement Willging. After studying at St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, he was ordained for the Diocese of Pueblo May 14, 1955 by Milwaukee Archbishop (later Cardinal) Albert Meyer.
Fluent in English and Polish, Father Rykowski served as parochial vicar for St. Patrick’s, Pueblo (1955-1958), and was on the faculty of Pueblo Catholic High and the staff of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in 1958. He was parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Cathedral (1959, 1960-61) and St. Francis Xavier, Pueblo (1959). He served as administrator and later pastor of St. Rita, Mancos (1961-1965); St. Rose of Lima, Buena Vista (1967-1977); and Sacred Heart, Fruita (1977-1988). He was also Vocations Director (1963) and CCD Deanery Moderator (1961). He retired from Sacred Heart, Fruita, in 1988.
Father Rykowski’s funeral was held on May 10 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Milwaukee and was buried next to his brother, who was a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. A memorial Mass was held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction on May 18.