August 4, 1973
Father Theo Van Tilbeurgh
Father Van Tilbeurgh was born on August 11, 1897 at Oud Vossemeer, Holland where he also completed his grade and high school education. He studied for the priesthood in the Belgian Congo and at the Salesian House in Louvain, Belgium where he was ordained a Salesian priest on January 31, 1937 by Cardinal Van Roey. Father Van Tilbeurgh came to the Diocese of Wichita in 1949 and served at St. John Hospital, Iola; Wichita Hospital, Wichita; St. Patrick Parish, Fulton; St. John Parish, Clonmel; St. Ignatius Parish, Neodesha; Holy Trinity Parish, Little River; St. Louis Parish, Waterloo and St. Agnes Parish, Castleton; and St. Mary Parish, Chase. Not wanting to retire after he was hospitalized for several months in 1970, he went to live in residence at Holy Name Parish, Coffeyville until his death on August 4, 1973. Bishop Maloney was principal celebrant and homilist at Fr. Van Tilbeurgh’s funeral at Holy Name Parish in Coffeyville where he was also buried.