| Family History Researcher |
- Mailing address: The Guestmaster
Abbey of the Holy Trinity
1250 South 9500 East
Huntsville, Utah 84317
Telephone: (801) 745-3784
Fax: (801) 745-6430
E-mail: hta@xmission.com.
In answer to your query about Fr. Ivo Kilawee, I have found only the facts listed below in his file. I do not have the date of his ordination or even the certificate of his death to indicate the cause of death. There is no photo of him in the archives. One of the Brothers has a small photo of the group that came from Gethsemani in 1947. Fr. Ivo appears on it, but it is not a very good picture of him. If you wish, I can have a copy made and sent to you. I would think his family would have a better photo of him.
The following are the facts I was able to locate:
The marriage of the parents of John Patrick Kilawee took place at Holy Cross Church in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, on Octobr 15, 1919. The groom, Patrick Kilawee, 39, is listed as of Irish nationality with occupation as papermaker. His parents were John Kilawee and Bridget Finnegan. The bride, Theresa Schwin, 26, is listed as of German nationality with occupation as bag worker. Her parents were Nicholas Schwin and Victoria Klein.
Regarding his own life, we have this letter of John Patrick Kilawee written to Abbot Frederic Dunne on April 1, 1946:
"John Kilawee was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on the 2nd of January, 1922, and baptised about a week later at St. Michael's Church in Brooklyn.
"In 1936 he lived in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madawaska, Maine, in the Diocese of Portland. The pastor at that time was Father Ouellette.
"From 1937 to 1942, he lived in St. Joseph's Parish in Lewiston, Maine, also in the Diocese of Portland. The pastor was Father Nelligan who was transferred to Bangor, Maine, and replaced by Msgr. Johnson.
"In November, 1942, he was inducted into the Army Air Forces, being released in February, 1946. He held the Army Serial Number 31216144. The chaplain with whom he was best acquainted is now also released from service. He is Father Charles H. Logue of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.
"The Kilawee family now lives in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, the birthplace of both parents. They are members of Holy Cross Parish, which is in the Diocese of Green Bay. The pastor is Father Grosnik."
John Kilawee was given honorable discharge from the army with rank of corporal on February 11, 1946. Almost as soon as he was discharged he applied to enter the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where he was given the name Ivo. He came with the group of monks who founded the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah, in July 1947. Father Ivo was later ordained to the priesthood and died on April 18, 1964.
Fr. Leander Dosch, OCSO
Abbey of the Holy Trinity
1250 South 9500 East
Huntsville, Utah 84317
E-mail: ldosch@xmission.com
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1922 - 1964 (42 years)
Military Service
