January 7, 1962

Father Esser was born near Augsburg, Germany on February 8, 1893. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Fidelis Preparatory Seminary in Hermann, PA and Capuchin House in Cumberland, MD and was ordained on September 22, 1918. After serving as a Capuchin Priest in Pennsylvania and Kansas for seven years, he joined the Diocese of Wichita “so that he could support his poverty-stricken mother who was living alone in Germany.” (The Advance Register, Jan. 19, 1962) In the diocese he served at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Plains, North Kinsley, Beaver, Bushton and Colwich. He was assigned to his last parish of St. Mark’s, St. Mark, on November 9, 1955 and died of a heart attack on January 7, 1962. During his priesthood he was censor librorum and an examiner of the junior clergy. The study of sacred scripture was of great interest to Father Esser and he translated the Psalms into German poetical form. Bishop Carroll celebrated his funeral at St. Mark’s Church where he was also buried in the parish cemetery.