Edward Joseph Hunkeler

Edward Joseph Hunkeler (January 1, 1894 – October 1, 1970) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska (1945–1951), and Bishop and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas (1951–1969).

Biography

Edward Hunkeler was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, to Anton and Philomena (née Durst) Hunkeler.^[1] He and his parents later moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he attended the parochial school of Holy Trinity Church before enrolling at the University of Dayton.^[2] He completed his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington.^[1] He was ordained by Bishop James Joseph Hartley on June 14, 1919, for the Diocese of Omaha, Nebraska.^[3]

Hunkeler then served as pastor of SS. Philip & James Church in Wynot until 1927, when he was transferred to Blessed Sacrament Church in Omaha.^[1] From 1936 to 1945, he was rector of St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha.^[1] He was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XI in 1937, and became vicar general of the Diocese of Omaha in 1944.^[2]

On March 10, 1945, Hunkeler was appointed the third Bishop of Grand Island by Pope Pius XII.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 1 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops James Hugh Ryan and Stanislaus Vincent Bona serving as co-consecrators, at St. Cecilia Cathedral.^[3] During his tenure in Grand Island, he ordained 16 priests and established one of the largest parishes in the diocese.^[2] He also oversaw a large increase in the construction of new churches and other religious institutions in the post-World War II era.^[2]

He was named the seventh Bishop of Kansas City, Kansas, on March 31, 1951.^[3] When the Diocese of Kansas City was elevated to the rank of an archdiocese on August 9, 1952, Hunkeler became its first Archbishop.^[3] He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965. After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, he resigned as Archbishop on September 10, 1969; he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Selsea by Pope Paul VI on the same date.^[3]

While returning from the installation of Bishop Kenneth Joseph Povish, Hunkeler was involved in an automobile accident near Crookston, Minnesota, on September 30, 1970.^[2] He died two days later from a cardiovascular respiratory condition, aged 76.^[2]

References

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Ordinaries	Vicars John Baptiste Miège Louis Mary Fink Bishops Louis Mary Fink Thomas Francis Lillis John Chamberlain Ward Francis Johannes Paul Clarence Schulte George Joseph Donnelly Edward Joseph Hunkeler Archbishops Edward Joseph Hunkeler Ignatius Jerome Strecker James Patrick Keleher Joseph Fred Naumann
Auxiliary Bishop	Marion Francis Forst
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Peter Parishes St. Patrick's Church, Atchison St. Benedict's Church, Bendena St. Mary's Church, Purcell Church of the Assumption, Topeka St. Joseph's Church, Topeka Former St. Bridget Church, Axtell St. Mary's Mission, St. Marys
Education	Higher Education Benedictine College Donnelly College St. Mary's College, St. Marys University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth High Schools Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City Hayden High School, Topeka Immaculata High School, Leavenworth Maur Hill – Mount Academy, Atchison St. James Academy, Lenexa St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park
Priests	John Francis Cunningham
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Diocese of Grand Island
Bishops	James Albert Duffy Stanislaus Vincent Bona Edward Joseph Hunkeler John Linus Paschang John Joseph Sullivan Lawrence James McNamara William Joseph Dendinger Joseph G. Hanefeldt
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parishes St. Anselm's Church, Anselmo Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, O'Connor St. Michael's Church, Spalding
Education	High Schools Central Catholic High School, Grand Island Kearney Catholic High School, Kearney St. Patrick High School, North Platte Spalding Academy, Spalding
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Archdiocese of Omaha
Ordinaries	Bishops James O'Connor Richard Scannell Jeremiah James Harty Joseph Francis Rummel Archbishops James Hugh Ryan Gerald Thomas Bergan Daniel E. Sheehan Elden Francis Curtiss George Joseph Lucas
Auxiliary Bishops	Daniel E. Sheehan Anthony Michael Milone
Churches	Cathedral St. Cecilia Cathedral Parishes St. Anthony's Church, Cedar Rapids St. Leonard Church, Madison Holy Family Church, Omaha Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha Sacred Heart Church, Omaha St. Frances Cabrini Church, Omaha St. John's Church, Omaha St. Joseph Church, Omaha St. Bonaventure Church, Raeville
Education	Higher Education Creighton University College of Saint Mary High Schools Archbishop Bergan High School, Fremont Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington Central Catholic High School, West Point Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Bellevue Duchesne Academy, Omaha Holy Family High School, Lindsay Marian High School, Omaha Mercy High School, Omaha Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey and High School, Omaha Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School, Elgin Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha St. Francis High School, Humphrey St. Mary's High School, O'Neill St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Omaha Scotus Central Catholic High School, Columbus V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Priests	Blase J. Cupich William Joseph Dendinger Edward J. Flanagan Joseph G. Hanefeldt Edward Joseph Hunkeler Patrick Aloysius Alphonsus McGovern John Linus Paschang
Other	Boys Town Notre Dame Academy and Convent
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