November 3, 1949

Father Norbert Staab

Father Staab was born on July 12, 1988 at Catherine, Kansas, where he also attended the parish grade school. He studied for the priesthood at St. Fidelis College, Herman, Pa.; St. Fidelis Seminary, Victoria, Kansas; and Sts. Peter and Paul Seminary, Cumberland, Md. On May 28, 1914 he was ordained a Capuchin priest at the old cathedral in Baltimore, Md. After teaching at St. Joseph’s College in Hays, Kansas, for six years, he petitioned release from his religious vows and was accepted as a member of the clergy of the Diocese of Wichita. In 1920 he was appointed to Yates Center for six years and then to Kinsley for 14 years. Father Staab was named pastor of Larned and chaplain of the Larned Mental Hospital in 1940. “Father Staab proved himself a real father to the unfortunate inmates there.” (The Advance Register, Jan. 14, 1949) He died in the rectory of a heart attack on Nov. 3, 1949. Father Frances Staab, a brother of Fr. Norbert, was celebrant of the funeral Mass and Bishop Carroll preached the sermon and gave the absolution in Sacred Heart Church, Larned.