February 6, 1951
Father Theophil Hard
Father Hard was born on May 10, 1885 at Boscoil, Aargan, Switzerland. He completed all of his education in Switzerland, finishing his theological studies at the University of Fribourg. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada on April 8, 1916 but after a few years he transferred to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and then to the Diocese of Wichita in 1928. Assignments in the diocese for Father Hard were: St. Catherine’s Parish, Dubuque; Sacred Heart Parish, Cordia; St. Michael’s Parish, La Crosse; St. Mary, Hope of Christians, Loretto; Immaculate Conception Parish, Burns; and St. Joseph’s Parish, Humboldt. In September of 1950 he retired to Chanute and died early the following year on February 6, 1951. Bishop Carroll celebrated the funeral Mass in La Crosse where Father Hard was buried. Father M. J. Gorges of Chanute delivered the sermon and said, “For many years Father Hard was an energetic pastor who did not hesitate to undertake tasks because they were difficult.” (The Advance Register, Feb. 16, 1951)