December 22, 1945
Father Joseph Manz
Father Manz was born in Ellwangen, Wuerttenburg, Germany, on July 8, 1872. His studies for the priesthood were at the major seminary at Eichstatt and in Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained for the Diocese of Leavenworth at Louvain on July 29, 1895. After brief assignments in Kansas City and Cherryvale, he was transferred to Florence in 1896. While at Florence he became a member of the clergy of the Diocese of Wichita because of the 1897 re-division of the dioceses of Kansas. His assignments were Strong City, Ellinwood, Neodesha, Colwich and Aleppo (for twenty years). In 1924 he was assigned to Olmitz until he retired in 1938 due to poor health. After he recovered his health, he became pastor of Schulte and Clonmel. Father Manz died in his sleep in the rectory in Schulte on December 22, 1945. “(He) pioneered with the founders of the Kansas dioceses…and knew the privations of the pioneering age.” (The Advance Register, Dec. 28, 1945) Bishop Winkelmann celebrated Father Manz’s funeral in St. Peter’s Parish, Schulte, and his burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Wichita.