Fr. Bruce H. Riski, OFM Cap.

Fr. Bruce Riski, OFM Cap.
Kaukauna

Fr. Bruce Riski, Capuchin, died on November 24, 2002 at St. Paul Home, Kaukauna. Brother Capuchins and friends are invited to a prayer service at 7:30 pm on Monday, November 25, 2002 at ST. FIDELIS FRIARY, 1100 North Ballard Road, Appleton. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 am on Tuesday, November 26 at the Friary. A special word of thanks goes to all the Staff and volunteers at St. Paul Home. Their dedication to caring for the sick and dying is a great source of blessing for our community. Herman Anthony Ignatowski, son of Wladyslaw Ignatowski and Frances Thomas, was born in Milwaukee, WI on September 25, 1924. With his baptism at S.S. Cyril & Methodius Church on October 12, 1924, Herman began his journey back to the Father. He attended the Milwaukee Public School System and graduated from Pulaski High in June of 1943. Shortly after graduation he entered the Navy. He was given the rank of Radioman, 2nd class and served on the USS Alaska (CB-1) until March of 1946, when he was honorably discharged. During the years he served his country, his brother Ralph was captured by the Japanese on Iwo Jima and killed. He was proud of his brother and considered him to be a hero. Upon his return home, Herman entered religious life. He lived with the Friar Minor Conventuals of the Conception Province, taking his major seminary training with them at St.-Anthony-on-Hudson, N.Y. and earning a degree from Catholic University of America in June of 1953. In the same year he was ordained to the priesthood. The style of Capuchin Franciscanism captured the heart of Fr. Bruce. He transferred from the Conventuals to the Capuchins in 1956 and was solemnly professed in 1957. This marked the beginning of a series of ministries, the first being in Baraga, Michigan. Fr. Bruce also served in Milwaukee at St. Elizabeth and St. Francis Parishes. He was stationed at the retreat center in Saginaw, Michigan and then in Huntington, Indiana. Around 1966 he moved to Texas, where he helped out with various ministries until 1974. It was during this time that Fr. Bruce Ignatowski changed his surname to Riski. His petition claimed that a change would make for greater ease in pronouncing and remembering his name. Fr. Bruce continued his ministry by serving as chaplain for several nursing homes in the Detroit and Milwaukee areas. His by-pass surgery finally resulted in a move to the Marian Catholic Home, where he stayed until 1999. At the beginning of that year he was transferred a final time to St. Fidelis Friary in Appleton, where he lived until health reasons necessitated a move to St. Paul Home. He did very well while living at St. Paul, but a fall and a broken hip put him in a wheel chair, and his health soon began to decline. Fr. Bruce is survived by his many Franciscan Brothers, his two sisters, Julia Heyer of Thiensville and Theresa Gaura of Milwaukee, and his two brothers Edward Ignatowski of Milwaukee and Al Ignatowski of Tucson Arizona. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ralph who died on Iwo Jima Fr. Bruce will be remembered for his sense of humor. He had pages of corny humor he passed around to friends and any one whose path he crossed. Fr. Bruce loved to share holy cards with everyone. Bags of candy slipped through his fingers into unsuspecting hands. Fr. Bruce was an ambassador of gifts. He was so grateful for the gift of his faith, his vocation to the religious life and above all the blessed honor of being a priest. May the Divine Source of all gifts grant Fr. Bruce his final and most precious gift, the gift of eternal life.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231