Curt C. Lanzrath

Wherever he served, Franciscan Fr. Curt Lanzrath, OFM, was remembered for his boyish grin and optimistic attitude. Fr. Lanzrath, a former chaplain at St. Mary's and St. Francis Hospitals, died Aug. 4 at St. Margaret Hall in Cincinnati at the age of 90. A native of Greeley, Kansas, he was one of five children of Norbert and Rose (Rues) Lanzrath. He made solemn vows as a friar in St. John the Baptist Province Aug. 16, 1949, and following studies at Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich., and Holy Family Theologate in Oldenburg, Ind., was ordained June 8, 1954. Besides ministering as a chaplain, Fr. Lanzrath gave retreats and parish missions and served in parishes in Streator, Ill., Lafayette, Ind., Santa Fe, N.M., Peoria, Ill., Bloomington, Ill., Emporia, Kan., Roanoke, Ill., and Houma, La., before becoming chaplain to the Poor Clares in Brenham, Texas, in 1998. In Texas he also served as a confessor and spiritual advisor to students and faculty at Texas A&M University, calling it one of the best experiences of his life. Fr. Lanzrath retired to St. Clement Friary in 2007, later moving to St. Leonard retirement community in Centerville, Ohio, and most recently to St. Margaret Hall. He is survived by his brothers in community, his sister, Regina Leivian of Wichita, Kan., and nephew Mark Leivian, also of Wichita. A Reception of the Body will be held at St. Clement Church, 4536 Vine St., St. Bernard, 45217, Monday August 10, at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m with interment following at St. Mary Cemetery.