May 24, 1935
Father George Sittenauer
Father Sittenauer was born on April 28, 1882 in Schwgindkirchen, Bavaria. When he was nineteen years old he came to the United States and entered St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, KS. He did his philosophical and theological studies at St. Meinrad’s Seminary, St. Meinrad, IN and was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita by Bishop Ward in Leavenworth on May 13, 1911. In the early years of his priesthood he was chaplain of St. Francis Hospital, Wichita and assistant pastor in St. Mary’s Parish, Newton and St. Mary’s Parish, Garden City. His only pastoral assignment was to St. Peter’s Parish in Willowdale for eighteen years. “He was utterly honest, frank, and always cheerful, capable, zealous, and hospitable, he was the ideal priest."” (The Catholic Advance, June 1, 1935) He died suddenly at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita following a throat infection. The celebrant of his funeral in St. Peter’s Parish, Willowdale, was Father Garmann of Waterloo and Msgr. Farrell gave the final absolution. Father Sittenauer was buried in the parish cemetery in Willowdale.