In Memoriam
We give thanks for the following Jesuits who have gone home to God.
Fr. Patrick J. Burns, SJ
March 2, 1933 – April 13, 2026
“Pat was a devoted Jesuit priest who was available to be missioned where the need was the greatest, whether that be university teaching, internal governance or international ministries. He had a great sense of humor and was able to bring joy to others with a smile, a joke, or a clever witticism. He was a great listener, and he had remarkable administrative skills, which he used to foster and improve the day-to-day workings of the apostolate to which he was missioned.”
Latin and Greek teacher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee; theology professor at Marquette University and Saint Louis University, where he also taught philosophy; vice president of Marquette University; formation assistant, socius, provincial, director of planning and implementation for province reconfiguration, province liaison for Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu, Uganda, and executive assistant for special projects, all at the Wisconsin Province; president of the Jesuit Conference of the USA; theology professor at Hekima College in Nairobi, Kenya; vice president of finance, associate vice president for development and finance and superior of the Jesuit community at Red Cloud Indian School (now Mahvpíya Lúta) in Pine Ridge, South Dakota; superior of the St. Camillus Jesuit Community, treasurer of the Arrupe House Community in Milwaukee, and treasurer of St. Camillus Jesuit Community; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. Carl A. Bonk, SJ
October 27, 1941 – May 19, 2026
“Carl was a devoted priest and Jesuit. He enjoyed talking with others and wanted everyone to deepen their relationship with Jesus. Carl was pastoral with others and provided wonderful cura personalis to everyone he encountered. He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of baseball facts and loved to share these statics with others.”
Served as registrar, assistant treasurer and secretary at Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Ill.; community treasurer at University of Detroit Mercy; social studies and theology teacher and treasurer, at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; theology teacher and campus minister at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland; member of the Cleveland-area Spirituality Team; pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church in Detroit; provincial assistant for pastoral ministry in the Detroit Province; pastoral minister at Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, Ohio; missioned to Colombiere Center.
Fr. George R. Sullivan, SJ
May 24, 1944 – May 31, 2026
“George was truly an amazing Jesuit. I am convinced that he knew, or knew of, every family in Omaha and could trace their marriages and lives off the top of his head. Wherever he served, people were completely fond of him. May he now rest in the fullness of life in God’s presence.”
English and political science teacher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee; theology and history teacher, assistant to the president, and president of Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Neb.; vice president and acting president of the Gregorian University Foundation; missioned to St. Camillus.
Fr. Patrick F. Peppard, SJ
February 14, 1942 – July 14, 2026
“Pat was gregarious and welcoming. He was loquacious and would talk on a variety of topics. He had a theatrical presence and often over-embellished his stories to keep his audience entertained. He truly cared about everyone he encountered. Pat was a wonderful, animated teacher who spent over four decades teaching high school students. In addition to the classroom, Pat directed many high school plays and was able to get a wide range of personalities involved in his productions. Pat was an incredibly generous person — both with his time and stories!”
English, Latin, religion, theology and speech teacher at St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio; theology and English teacher, and chaplain, at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, where he also served as superior of the Jesuit community; theology teacher at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he was also superior of the Jesuit community; missioned to Colombiere Center.
To read the full obituaries of Jesuits who have gone home to God, visit us at www.jesuitsmidwest.org/In-Memoriam
IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
The 2026 ordinands at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee.
Photo: Steve Donisch