July 12, 1931
Father Rudolph Stollenwerk
Father Stollenwerk was born on April 18, 1873 in Simmerath, Eifel, Germany. After studying at the American College in Belgium, he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 29, 1898. His first year’s assignment was as assistant to Bishop Henry Tihen, the retired bishop of Denver living in Wichita. As pastor he was assigned to Liebenthal where he remained until his death thirty-two years later. In 1917 a fire destroyed the church and rectory so he had the challenge of rebuilding them. He was also a diocesan consultor for eight years. Father Stollenwerk’s hobby was stamp collecting and he had a national reputation collection. Following an operation he was sick for five weeks and died from the complications of pneumonia on July 12, 1931 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Hays, Kansas. Bishop Schwertner celebrated his funeral at St. Joseph’s Parish in Liebenthal with an estimated 3,000 people present. Fr. Stollenwerk was buried in the parish cemetery in Liebenthal.