July 22: Msgr. Alex Stremel


July 22, 1981

Msgr. Alex Stremel

Msgr. Stremel was born on January 9, 1905 in St. Peter, KS and prepared for ordination to the priesthood at Hays Catholic College, Hays, KS; Conception Seminary, Conception, MO; and Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO. He was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 2, 1928 by Bishop Schwertner. As an assistant he served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsburg and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita. He became the first resident pastor of Conway Springs with Perth as a mission in 1935. Other pastoral assignments were to Fowler with Meade as a mission, Windthorst, Odin, Pittsburg, and St. Mark. While in Windthorst he wrote a passion play that he presented for many years. He was Dean of the Pittsburg Deanery, a diocesan consultor, a member of the Wichita Priests’ Council and named a monsignor in 1956. After his retirement in 1971 he moved to Eureka Springs, AR and died at Rogers, AR on July 22,1981. Bishop Maloney celebrated Msgr. Stremel’s funeral Mass at St. Mark Church, St. Mark, KS where he was also interred.