Obituary: Rev. Wilbert L. Buhl

February 18, 1934 ~ March 6, 2023

Rev. Wilbert Buhl, 89, of Kaukauna, formerly of Door County died on March 6, 2023.

Father Buhl was born in Charlestown, Wisconsin, to Fred and Elizabeth (Woelfel) Buhl on Feb. 18, 1934. Father Buhl attended high school and junior college at the Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, WI, and then studied philosophy and theology at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona ordained him on June 11, 1960, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay. 

Father Buhl’s first priestly appointment was as Assistant Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Algoma where he was also briefly named temporary administrator. In 1970, he was appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Aurora, with a mission in Pembine. During his time there he also served as Regional Vicar for Vicariate I and served two terms as a member of the Board of Consultors. In 1984, his was appointed Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Maplewood, also known as Holy Name of Mary Parish. In addition, in 1993, he served as Temporary Administrator in St. Francis-St. Mary Parish in Brussels, and in 1999-2000 he served as Temporary Administrator at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Institute. Father Buhl then retired and received senior status in 2007.

Survivors include 3 sisters, Sylvia Dreikosen, Sheboygan; Verne (Leroy) Thiel, Appleton; and Dalpine Lourich, Chicago; nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Jerome Buhl and Alvin (Alice Buhl), 2 brothers-in-law, Sylvester Dreikosen and Charles Lourich. 

Visitation for Fr. Buhl will be Thursday, March 9, from 9:00-11:00 AM at St. Mary Parish in Maplewood, located at 7491 County Rd H, Sturgeon Bay. The Funeral Liturgy, expressing our faith and our hope in the promised glory of the Lord’s Resurrection, will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. also at St. Mary Parish. Most Rev. David Ricken will preside at the funeral and Reverend Tony Birdsall will be the homilist. Burial will be afterwards at St. Martin Cemetery in Charlestown, WI.   Forbes Funeral Home of Sturgeon Bay is assisting the family with arrangements.