Frank Henry Greteman (December 25, 1907 – March 21, 1987) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City in Iowa from 1970 to 1983. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the same diocese from 1965 to 1970,


Frank H. Greteman

STL, JCL, DD
Bishop of Sioux City
titular bishop of Vissalsa
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Sioux City
In officeOctober 15, 1970 –
June 15, 1983
PredecessorJoseph Maximilian Mueller
SuccessorLawrence Donald Soens
Orders
OrdinationDecember 8, 1932
by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
ConsecrationMay 26, 1965
by Egidio Vagnozzi
Personal details
Born(1907-12-25)December 25, 1907
DiedMarch 21, 1987(1987-03-21) (aged 79)
Palm Beach, Florida, US
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Sioux City
1965 to 1970
EducationLoras College
Pontifical North American College
Catholic University of America
Styles of
Frank Henry Greteman
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Posthumous stylenone

Biography edit

Early life edit

Frank Greteman was born on December 25, 1907, in Willey, Iowa, to Bernard and Mary (née Meissner) Greteman.[1] He graduated from Loras College in 1929 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Greteman then attended the Pontifical North American College in Rome, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1933.[1]

Priesthood edit

Greteman was ordained a priest by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani for the Diocese of Sioux City in Rome on December 8, 1932. After his ordination, he served as a curate at St. Augustine Parish in Spokane, Washington, until 1935.[2]

Greteman earned a Licentiate of Canon Law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1937.[1] Returning to Iowa, Greteman served as pastor in the following Iowa parishes:

  • Assumption Parish in Merrill (1937–1941)
  • St. Michael Parish in Sioux City (1941–1950)
  • SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Carroll (1950–1964)
  • Holy Spirit Parish in Carroll (1964–65).[1]

Greteman was named a domestic prelate in 1953, and vicar general of the diocese in 1965.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Sioux City edit

On April 14, 1965, Greteman was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City and titular bishop of Vissalsa by Pope Paul VI.[2] Greteman received his episcopal consecration on May 26, 1965, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Archbishop James Byrne and Bishop Joseph Mueller serving as co-consecrators.[2]

Following the resignation of Bishop Mueller, Paul VI named Greteman as the fourth bishop of Sioux City on October 15, 1970.[2] The main focus of his episcopate was Catholic education.[3] He ordained Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati as a bishop.

Retirement and legacy edit

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Greteman submitted his letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II on December 1982. The pope accepted his resignation on August 17, 1983, and named Reverend Lawrence Soens as his successor.[2]

Frank Greteman died in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 21, 1987, at age 79.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Frank Henry Greteman". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  3. ^ "Diocese Info". Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. Archived from the original on 2009-05-29.