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March 23, 1924 - March 23, 2008
Rt. Rev. John E. Neitzel, O. Praem., Abbot Emeritus of Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pa. died following a prolonged illness on Sunday, March 23rd at the age of eighty-four. In addition to the members of his community he is survived by a brother, George, of Green Bay, Wisconsin as well as many nieces and nephews. Abbot Neitzel had held the position of leadership in his community throughout the course of twenty-six years guiding his community through the difficult and challenging years following Vatican II.
Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on March 23, 1924. He attended Messmer High School in Milwaukee and joined the Norbertine Order in Wisconsin in 1943. Ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949, he was sent the following year to Southeast Catholic High School (now St. John Neumann/St. Maria Goretti H.S.) where he taught Latin and English and also was the moderator of the “Rocket”, the school newspaper. In 1954 he acquired a M.A. degree in the Classics from the University of Wisconsin and was assigned to teach at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. For several years he was in charge of the seminarians at the abbey until his appointment in 1961 as Principal of St. John Neumann High School in Philadelphia and superior of the local community.
In 1963 the eastern foundation of the Norbertines became an independent foundation from St. Norbert Abbey in Wisconsin and Fr. Neitzel was appointed the first Prior. In 1971 Daylesford Priory was raised to the status of an abbey and Fr. Neitzel was elected the first abbot of the newly established foundation. He continued to guide the community until the completion of his final term in 1989. For several years he was pastor of St. Matthew Church in Dauphin, Pa. where he built the parish activity center for the people of the parish. One of his confreres has described his years of leadership “not as one in which he was ten steps ahead of the community. Rather his leadership was such that he led by centering himself within the community and reflecting upon the Spirit’s movement within us all.” His motto as Abbot was taken from the words of the Gospel of St. John “That all may be one.”
Throughout these years Abbot Neitzel also served the worldwide Order in various functions as a Definitor of the Order as well as Vicar of the Abbot General in Rome for the English-speaking abbeys of the Order. He was responsible for the building of Daylesford Abbey in 1966 and again an additional residence wing in 1985. He was well known in the archdiocese of Philadelphia and together with Cardinal Krol was a main concelebrant at the Mass for Religious on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Philadelphia in 1979.
Underneath all his achievements Abbot Neitzel remained a simple and humble man. During his retirement years he never hesitated to help out with pastoral ministry and serve on the weekends in various parishes of the archdiocese. Even during the week he could be found donning his black coat and hat to go out for an early morning Mass at a neighboring parish. He liked to work on crossword puzzles and never shied away from a good argument dealing with politics or theology. And he always enjoyed a good game of bridge or cribbage.
Funeral arrangements for Abbot Neitzel are as follows:
Reception of the Body will be held at Daylesford Abbey on Friday, March 28th. Vespers will be held at 3:30 p.m. with visitation following and conclude with Night Prayer at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday morning following Morning Prayer at 8:30 a. m. visitation will continue until 10:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Abbot Ronald Rossi at 10:30 a.m.
Final interment will be in the abbey cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Abbot Neitzel’s memory can be made to John E. Neitzel Endowment Fund for Support of Ministries at Daylesford Abbey, 220 S. Valley Road, Paoli, Pa. 19301.
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