November 23, 1995

Father Joseph Tockert

Father Tockert was born on March 19, 1917 in Odin, KS. His preparation for the priesthood was at St. Laurence Seminary, Mt. Calvary, WI; St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, KS; Conception Seminary, Conception, MO; and St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO. Bishop Winkelmann ordained him at Holy Family Church, Odin, KS on December 12, 1943. He was an assistant at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wichita before serving as a U. S. Army chaplain in the Philippines during World War II. Upon his return from the service he was an assistant in Great Bend and the administrator at St. John’s Parish in Hoisington before becoming pastor at Ashland and Sitka. Other assignments for Fr. Tockert were to Sacred Heart Parish, Cunningham; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the State Reformatory in Hutchinson; St. Anthony, Strong City; Immaculate Conception, Danville; and St. Barbara, Chicopee and St. Anastasia, Cherokee. His last assignment was to St. Joseph Parish, Yates Center. Fr. Tockert is remembered for his love of flying all types and styles of kites…even a lighted one over Yates Center on Halloween night which caused quite a stir in the town. He died on November 23, 1995 and his funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Martin Parish in Piqua. His burial was at Resurrection Cemetery in Wichita.