February 16, 1937
Father Stephan Hermanns
Father Hermanns was born on April 30, 1874 in Aachen, Germany. He studied for the priesthood at the American University at Louvain, Belgium, where he was ordained for the Leavenworth Diocese on September 8, 1896. In the Diocese of Leavenworth he served as an assistant at St. Mary’s Parish in Kansas City, Kansas. In the Diocese of Wichita he served in Neodesha where he attended missions in the Flint Hills and in Indian Territory, Coffeyville, Dubuque, Chase, Great Bend, Kinsley, Sharon and Ellinwood as his last assignment. Father Hermanns was a diocesan consultor and the Dean of the Great Bend Deanery. Although he suffered greatly from diabetes he died of pneumonia on February 16, 1937. Bishop Schwertner celebrated his funeral Mass in Ellinwood and Father John Dambach of Hoisington preached the sermon. Father Hermanns was buried in the parish cemetery in Ellinwood.