Rev. William L. Van De Kreeke's Obituary
Rev. William L. Van De Kreeke, age 83, passed into eternal life on March 15, 2021 after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.
Father Bill was born on April 10, 1937 in Sheboygan, WI to Martin and Catherine (Schultz) Van De Kreeke. He graduated from Holy Name grade school in Sheboygan, WI in 1951. He then attended and graduated from Salvatorian Seminary, St. Nazianz, WI in 1957. After two years at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, WI he studied for four years (1959-1963) at the American College, Louvain, Belgium where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1963 by John P. Cody, Archbishop of New Orleans (before he became Cardinal of Chicago).
He returned to the United Sates and was assigned to Corpus Christi Parish in Sturgeon Bay, WI for the months of July and August 1963. He was then assigned to and spent four years at Sacred Heart Parish in Oshkosh, WI. (1963-1967). In September 1967 he was assigned to St. Matthew Parish in Allouez, WI as well as secretary and notary of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal. After one year his appointment to the Marriage Tribunal became a full time assignment. From (1970-1972) he studied at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where he received a degree in Church law. He was appointed chief judge of the Marriage Tribunal in 1972, which position he held until 1974.
In 1975 he was appointed pastor to St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Maplewood, WI where he remained until 1984. He was named administrator and pastor at St. John Parish in Oshkosh, WI where he remained until his retirement in 2007. He also was appointed pastor of St. Vincent Parish in Oshkosh from (1996-2007), while remaining as pastor of St. John.
Additional positions he held were Chaplain at St. Francis Convent, Bay Settlement (1970-1984), teacher of Latin at Abbott Pennings High School, DePere, WI (1972-1975 and 1977-1984), teacher of Latin at St. Joseph Academy, Green Bay, WI (1981-1985), reappointed to the Marriage Tribunal in a lesser capacity (1984-2015), teacher of Latin at Lourdes Academy, Oshkosh, WI (1984-1994), Priestly Ministry at Winnebago Mental Health Institute (1984-2018), at Wisconsin Resource Center (1992-2018), at Mercy Hospital, Oshkosh (1992-2018) and at Drug Abuse Correctional Center (2007-2018).
He is survived by a brother-in-law, Larry Vanness and a sister-in-law, Joyce Van De Kreeke of Green Bay, WI, many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Jim and a sister Janet Vanness.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 11 am at St. Jude Parish (Sacred Heart Church on the corner of 6th & Knapp). Visitation will be held at the church on Sunday, March 21, 2021 from 2-4 pm with a prayer service to follow. Visitation will also be held at the church on Monday from 9 am until the time of Mass.
His burial will be at Allouez Catholic cemetery in Green Bay with his parents, brother and sister.
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