Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-04-26
REV. VIM. SASSEN
CALLED TO REWARD
PASTOR OF SIS. PETER AND
PAUL's CHURCH AT PETERS.
BURG FOR MANY YEARS.
UNIVERSALLY BELOVED BY his PEOPLE
Funeral Services Held In Petersburg
Church Tuesday Morning. Ac-
compIished Great Work.

Funeral Services Held In Petersburg
Church Tuesday Morning. Ac-
compIished Great Work.
ed pastor of IS. Peter and Paul's
church at Petersburg, passed away
last week, after an illness of sew
eral days. Funeral services We're
held at the church which Rev. Mr..
Sassen had built during his active
years, on Tuesday morning, the Ser
vices being attended by many
from various parishes in eastern
'owa, ana rrany prominent clergy
men Of the frrch took part in the
services.
The Dyersville Commercial Of last
week spoke in the following terms
of the life and work Of Rev. Father
Sassen:
Friends in this community, as We'll
as throughout the archdiocese Of Du-
buque, learned with keen regret the
news Of the death Of Rev. Father
Sassen, pastor of SIS. Peter and
Paul's church at Petersburg. His
death occurred at 1925 o'clock Tues
day evening, following an illness Of
but nine days duration. Father Sas-
sens health has not been the best
for some time, but his condition was
not such, that he was unable to at
tend to his priestly duties and he
continued to be able to be about
quite actively. Recently new COM
plications set in and his condition as
sumed a serious nature during the
past week. For several days prior
to his passing, all hopes Of bis re-
covery were despaired of. He was
81 years f age. Father Sassen
was ordain d a pr est about 81 years
ago and took up hts duties to con-
tinue the work of mans redemption,
as outlined by his Master.
Father Sassen was native OF
Haselume, Province, Hanover, Ger
many, where he was born, May 2Sth,
1859. He spent his boyhood days
there and received liberal education
in the schools of Andrup. In 1875,
he came to America and made his
home in the parish at Petersburg
Delaware county, Iowa, Of which he
was rector at the time nl his death.
EARLY In lie he heard tnc valI tn =
very special vocation, that Of priest
hood and he began preparation for
setting apart, from the World his
life Aid giving it in a special man
|ner> to God. Accordingly, one year
after his arrival in this country he
began his studies for Holy Priest
hood. He studied the classics at
st.. Francis college, Milwaukee and
made his course in philosophy at
Dubuque College. His theological
studies were made entirely at the
Grand Seminary, Montreal. After
many years Of study he reached the
first great triumph of his long hopes
when he was ordained priest, NO.
vember 20, 1886, enrolled in the list
OF Christ's followers. The ceremony
of the ordination, was performed by
Bishop Hennessy, at Dubuque.
Taking up his duties in the vine
yard of the Lord, Father Sassen was
assistant priest in st. Mary's par
ish, in Dubuque for about four years.
Later he received the appointment to
the pastorate at Browns Station and
st. Donatus, Iowa. He was located
at Browns about twelve years.
Rev. Father Sassen was appointed
to the parish at Petersburg in 1902.
He remained in charge Of the parish
I'M to the time of his death. HIS
success in that field is everywhere
in evidence. The congregation has
prospered. Soon after entering up
on his duties he realized the necessi'
ty of a large and more modern
church. True and faithful to their
pastor. Rev. Sassen was given laud-
ible support and assistance by his
parishoners, enabling the erection OF
one of the most costly and hand
some structures in the archdiocese,
work which will remain a monu-
ment to the memory of his zeal, am
bition and loyalty to his religious
cause.
The new ediffice has the distinc-
ton of being the first consecrated
church in the archdiocese CT Du-
buque. A requirement according to
the laws of the church, hat has to
be met before a church can be con-
secrated, is that it must be free
from debt. When the new SIS. Peter
and Paul's church was completed as
result Of the generosity Of the
parishoners it was entirely free
from debt and it was consecrated up
on its completion in 1906. The sup
port accorded Father Sassen by the
members Of the congregation IS
crowning evidence of their devotion
and good will for their pastor, be-
speaking their appreciative interest
in his labors. Aside from the tenn
poral betterment, Rev. Sassen's work
n a spiritual way has been very
fruitful. He labored indefatigat1y and
his efforts were not in vain.
Rev. Father Sassen is survived ty
one brother, Mr.. Herman Sassen OF
Adrian, Minnesota, and one sister,