Father Andrew K. Karoblis
The Rev. Andrew K. Karoblis,
81, former pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in
Wisconsin Rapids, died Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Arborwood Lodge
in Wisconsin Rapids.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Wisconsin Rapids.
The Rev. Brian D. Konopa will be the main celebrant. Burial will be
in Calvary Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Saints Peter
& Paul Catholic Church; and again from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on
Wednesday at the church. There will be a 4 p.m. Knights of
Columbus, Serra Club and Parish Rosary, and a 7 p.m. Evening Prayer,
all Tuesday, at the church.
The Rev. Andrew K. Karoblis was born March 13, 1928, in Chicago, to
Andrew and Irene (Lupenas) Karoblis. He graduated from Presentation
Elementary and Quigley High Preparatory Seminary, Chicago, in 1947,
and continued his priestly formation for the Archdiocese of Chicago
at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., until he
transferred to the Diocese of La Crosse in 1951. He completed his
theological studies at Catholic University of America in Washington,
D.C., and was ordained by Bishop John P. Treacy on May 22, 1954, in
Christ the King Chapel in La Crosse.
Father Karoblis’ first appointment was to teach religion at Aquinas
High School in La Crosse (1954 to 1959) with residence at Blessed
Sacrament Parish (1954 to 1958) and then the Cathedral of St. Joseph
the Workman (1958 to 1959). In 1959, he was appointed principal of
Madonna High School in Mauston. On Oct. 28, 1960, he was appointed
temporary Parochial Administrator of St. Mary’s Church at Lyndon
Station, while still retaining the duties of principal.
In the summer of 1961, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary of
Czestochowa Parish near Stanley. He served as pastor of St. John the
Baptist, Cooks Valley, from 1963 to 1968.
He was appointed associate pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Parish in
Wisconsin Rapids on April 2, 1968, and then pastor of the parish on
June 24, 1970, where he served for nearly 41 years before being
given the status of senior priest Feb. 22, 2009.
During his seminary training and early years in the priesthood,
Father attended summer school at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and
Rosary College in River Forest, Ill. He received a master’s degree
in education, majoring in school administration and guidance. He
also went to DePaul University in Chicago, taking courses in
business administration and accounting.
Father Karoblis at one time served as chaplain for the Knights of
Columbus, Council No. 1558, and for the Wisconsin Rapids Serra Club.
Father Karoblis is preceded in death by his parents; sister,
Gilberta “Gilli” Ciaglia; and brother-in-law, Michael Ciaglia; and
brother, Gilbert “Gil” Karoblis.
Father Karoblis is survived by his sister-in-law, Bernice Karoblis
of Schaumberg, Ill.; nephews, Gilbert of Pequenos, Colo., Peter
(Wanda) of Wausau, Andrew of Miami Shores, Fla., and Mark of
Pequenos, Colo.; and nieces, Gail (Ciaglia) Young of Marathon, Fla.,
Amy (Floyd) Sokolowski of Elk Grove, Ill., and Lucy Blis of
Schaumburg, Ill.; and grandnieces and grandnephews.
A memorial to benefit Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church will be
established at a later date.
A special thank you to Lisa and the staff at Arborwood Lodge for the
loving care they gave to Father Karoblis.
Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids is handling all
arrangements.