Fr. Robert Wicht Sds

November 15, 1938 — July 13, 2025

Father Robert David Wicht SDS was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 15, 1938. He was one of two sons born to Henry and Isabelle (Szyfranski) Wicht. He attended St. Elizabeth Grade School in Milwaukee and St. Mary's Grace School in Oshkosh. Sensing a call to priesthood and religious life, he studied for two years at Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz where he became acquainted with the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians). He finished at Marquette High School back in Milwaukee, graduating in 1961. He entered the Society's Novitiate in Colfax, Iowa, and made his profession of vows there on September 8, 1962. (He had received the religious name "Boniface" but in the mid-1960s when it was allowed, he returned to his baptismal name.) He completed his seminary studies at Divine Savior Seminary in Lanham, Maryland, and Catholic University in Washington, DC. During that time, he also taught religious education classes at St. Matthias Parish in Lanham and Ascension Parish in Bowie. He was ordained a priest at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC on June 4, 1967. After teaching for two years at Francis Jordan High School in Milwaukee and serving as Adult Religious Education Coordinator at St. Philip Neri Parish in the city, Fr. Bob pursued further studies, eventually earning two Master's degrees, one in Religious Education (from Catholic University) and another in Special Education (from Loyola College in Baltimore). While earning these degrees, he also served as the Director of Religious Education for three parishes in the Bowie, Maryland, area and later taught at St. John the Baptist School in Silver Spring. In addition, he was the coordinator and supervisor for the Salvatorian seminarians in the DC area. During the summer months, he worked as a counselor and Camp Director at Camp St. Charles in Rock Point. From 1974 to 1983, while stepping away from community life and ministry for a while, he taught special education classes in Indian Head, Maryland, then in Ajo, Arizona, and later in Avondale, Arizona. Fr. Bob returned to community life and active ministry in 1984. After year of studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Oakland, California, he returned to Arizona to teach adult education classes in the Diocese of Phoenix's Kino Institute and he also served as diocese's Director of Special Services for Persons with Disabilities until 1988. For the next five years, Fr. Bob ministered in northern California, first as a teacher at Justin Siena High School in Napa and then as the Newman Chaplain at the University of California campus in Davis. From 1993 to 1996, he was the Formation Supervisor for the Society's seminarians who were studying in Oakland. He was then appointed pastor of the Shrine of St. Rita Parish in Vail, Arizona, just outside Tucson, where he remained until his retirement in 2008. Fr. Bob moved back to Napa, California, for the beginning of his retirement years. Prior to his retirement, back in Arizona in 2004, he had been diagnosed with a serious case of Valley Fever, a fungal infection that can occur in the dry desert areas of the southwest United States. This condition remained with him for the rest of his life, often causing difficulty in breathing, water in his lungs, and other severe respiratory issues that required treatments and sometimes surgery. In 2016, he moved to Milwaukee and lived with other retired members of the community at Alexian Village. His health remained somewhat fragile for the remainder of his years, and with help he was able to participate in most of the activities of the community. After just a few days of greatly increased weakness, Fr. Bob died peacefully in his sleep on July 13, 2025. During his years of teaching and pastoring, Fr. Bob was described as a gifted spiritual advisor and was known to have great passion for issues of justice, peace and equality for all people. He also ministered within the Society in numerous capacities, especially in local leadership and supervisory roles. He authored numerous articles and manuals for teachers in religious education and in special education, and for Catholic spirituality and counseling publications. Fr. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Isabelle Wicht. He is survived by his brother Dennis (Kathy) Wicht of East Troy, three nieces and their families: Karrin (Andy) Plotner, Denyce Wicht, and Cynthia (Chris) Schaller, as well as his brothers and sisters in the Salvatorian Family. Visitation Saturday, July 26, from 10-11 AM at St. Pius X Parish, 2506 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Interment Saturday, 3 PM at Salvatorian Cemetery on Loretto Hill in St. Nazianz, WI.

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