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- [S5] Obituary.
Aged 84. A monk and priest at St. Bede Abbey.
Son of Anton and Josephine (Kukman) Horzen.
Brother of Frank Horzen and Josephine Foley.
The Rev. Bernard Horzen, O.S.B., 84, monk and priest of St. Bede Abbey, died at 5:20 a.m. Dec. 8, 2011, in St. Joseph Nursing Home, Lacon, where he had been a patient since September 2010.
His body will be returned at 4:30 p.m. Sunday to St. Bede Abbey Church. The wake service will continue after the reception of the body until 8 p.m., with a prayer vigil celebrated by the monastic community at 7:15 p.m. and again from 2-2:45 p.m. Monday.
A funeral Mass will be at 3 p.m. Monday in the abbey church. Abbot Philip Davey, O.S.B. of St. Bede will officiate. Burial will follow at the abbey cemetery.
Ptak Funeral Home, Peru, is in charge of arrangements.
Father Bernard was born Dec. 18, 1926, to Anton and Josephine (Kukman) Horzen.
After completing his elementary education at St. Roch's Grade School, he attended St. Bede Academy and Junior College from 1940-46, after which he entered the monastery's novitiate, then at St. John?s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn., in July 1946 and professed his first vows as a monk of St. Bede on July 11, 1947.
He completed his college studies with a bachelor of arts in philosophy from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. He subsequently spent four years in theological studies at St. Bede and was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1953, by Bishop William E. Cousins at St. Mary's Cathedral, Peoria. He celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination in 2003 at the abbey church at St. Bede.
Assigned to teach science at St. Bede Academy, he first returned to St. John's University for a science degree in 1955 and then earned a master's degree in chemistry at the University of Notre Dame in 1957. During his teaching career of more than 50 years he attended 17 summer sessions at 13 different universities in physics, chemistry and computer science.
At St. Bede Academy, in addition to physics and chemistry, he also taught mathematics, physical science, and radiation and computer science, and coached the scholastic bowl team for 21 years. He also served as prefect of boarding students, as kitchen manager for five years, as manager of the bookstore, snack bar and concessions for 12 years, as moderator of the science club for 12 years, and as head of the science department for 25 years.
He was active in a number of organizations, especially in Junior Academy of Sciences, serving on the board of directors for an extended period and occupying various offices over the years. He served as chaplain of Calvert Council Knights of Columbus 792 in La Salle for 20 years.
Father Bernard for many years preached in various parishes in Illinois and Wisconsin on behalf of Aid to International Monasticism in the third world both spiritually and financially. He also served on the AIM board of directors and was otherwise active in support of foreign missions.
In 2001, he became pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Dalzell and continued to minister there until ill health forced his retirement in 2009. He resided at the abbey infirmary until a medical crisis in August 2010 required his hospitalization, followed by residence at St. Joseph's Nursing Home.
In addition to the monastic community of St. Bede Abbey, survivors include a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Horzen; and one sister, Josephine Foley.
Despite his physical disability, he had preached at the funeral of Mrs. Foley, a former first lady of La Salle, in June 2011.
Source: News Tribune, La Salle, Illinois, December 9, 2011
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