Father Jerome Spenner, 83, passed away on March 10, 2023 at Providence Place in Fremont, Nebraska. Funeral services for Father Spenner will be held at St.
Bernard’s parish at 10am in Omaha, Nebraska on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 5-7 PM with service at 7:00 PM.
Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Father Jerome Ignatius Spenner was born on June 30, 1939 to Henry and Eleanor (Stieren) Spenner on a farm two miles north of Beemer, Nebraska. He grew up on
the farm helping with the chores and helped to harvest numerous bales of hay as the family did custom baling.
He attended a one room school house north of the farm and later finished his grade school at Guardian Angels School in West Point. He attended Conception Seminary in Maryville, MO. As time progressed he was ordained on May 23, 1964.
He was assistant pastor at: Holy Cross, Omaha, St. Francis Cabrini, Omaha; Holy Family, Lindsay; and St. Isidore, Columbus. He served as pastor at St. Mary, Laurel;
St. Ann, Dixon; St. John the Baptist, Fordyce; SS. Peter and Paul, Bow Valley; St. Ludger, Creighton; and St. Bernard, Omaha.
As an active priest, Father Spenner said some of his favorite things were teaching and celebrating liturgies with the children. Known for his homilies, he often used props to help get his point across; an alligator to talk about the seven deadly sins and a squealing toy pig to talk about surrender and abandonment.
Father also enjoyed biking, reading, woodworking, photography and studying the stars. He moved to St. John Vianney Residence in Omaha upon retiring in 2009.
Following an illness in February of 2020, he moved to St. Joseph Retirement Home in West Point and in his final move was to Providence Place in Fremont, Nebraska.
He is survived by his brothers, Eugene Spenner(Marilyn)from British Columbia, Canada, Daniel (Karen) from Beemer, NE and sister, Mary Beth (Jan) from West Point, NE, 12 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.
Proceeded in death by: parents, Henry and Eleanor Spenner, brother Father Wilfred Spenner, Nephew James Schuetze