November 4, 1988

Father Herbert “Pop” Mohr

Father Mohr was born on November 24, 1901 in Davenport, IA where he attended St. Ambrose High School. After studying at St. Bede’s College in Peru, IN and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, MO he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, IA on May 14, 1939. He was an assistant at the cathedral for three years and was pastor at Chicopee with Cherokee and Fleming as missions; Greenbush; Danville; and Conway Springs. In 1982 he retired to the Catholic Care Center in Wichita where he died on Nov. 4, 1988 as the oldest priest in the diocese. He loved playing baseball and once was under contract with the Chicago Cubs. In the diocese Father Mohr served two terms on the Priests’ Council and was Diocesan Director of the Catholic Rural Life Conference during which time he began the “Heifer Project” which raised thousands of dollars for charity for two decades. Bishop Gerber was the main celebrant of his funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral and, following a Mass in his home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Betterdorf, IA; he was buried at Holy Family Cemetery in Davenport, IA.