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Rev. Louis Joseph Vande Castle, O. Praem. (1919-1998)
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Parents: Mary Amelia Vande Walle (1887-1961)
Siblings: Paul Vande Castle (1912-1980)
Edward Joseph Vande Castle (1915-1974) Patricia Vande Castle (1917-2006) Jerome Vande Castle (1923- ) Mary Vande Castle (1926- )
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Louis Vande Castle was born on February 9, 1919 in De Pere, Wisconsin, the fifth child of Ray Vande Castle and Mary Vande Walle. In 1920 the family was living on Oneida Street in De Pere where his father worked as a printer. Louis attended St. Boniface Elementary school. By 1930 the family had moved to 69 Reid Street, which was also in De Pere. When Louis was 13 years old in 1932 his father passed away from arterio-sclerosis.
Louis attended St. Norbert High School and then St. Norbert College, both in De Pere. Louis entered the U.S. Army in 1940 where he served in World War II until 1946. Louie joined the Norbertines of Saint Norbert Abbey in DePere (also known as the Canons Regular of Prémontré, or Premonstratensians) on August 28, 1946, following his brother, Bede, who was ordained in the order in 1938. Louis professed solemn vows on April 10, 1950 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 3, 1950.
In 1951 Father Louis was appointed to Southeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to teach U.S. History & English. From 1956 to 1958 he was on the faculty of Premontre High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin teaching the same subjects. During the summers Louis assisted at St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay, St. Margaret in Cut Bank, Montana, St. Mary Cathedral in Saginaw, Michigan and St. John the Evangelist in Essexville, Michigan.
In 1963 Father Louis re-entered the Army as chaplain and was sent to France & Vietnam as well as assignments at various U.S. bases until 1976. During his Army service, Father Louis received 43 military awards and decorations.
From 1976 to 1985 Father Louis lived at the Sunshine Priory in Clearwater, Florida where his brother, Father Bede, had moved to in 1973. Father Louis served as a pastoral minister in Clearwater and Seminole while residing in the priory. He also used his culinary talents while there and was chief chef and bottle washer.
In 1985 Father Louis and his brother Father Bede retired to the Saint Joseph Priory in De Pere, Wisconsin. Father Louis equipped his room with three television sets, so he wouldn't miss anything, as well as a microwave so he could continue cooking. His brother, Father Bede, was called home in 1987.
On May 6, 1998 at the age of 79, Father Louis passed into his eternal reward. He was found sitting in his chair, with his three televisions on that morning. He is buried in the Saint Norbert Abbey Cemetery in De Pere.
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Gravesite at St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery |
Green Bay Press-Gazette May 10, 1998
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My thanks to Father Stephen J. Rossey, O. Praem. for his assistance in providing the photograph of Father Louis as well as the necrology on which the majority of the text was based.