Father Mark William Willenbring

Father Mark Willenbring, 92 year old resident of St. Cloud, passed away at the St. Benedict Center in St. Cloud. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 12 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz.  A visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 11 at St. Mary's Cathedral in St. Cloud and from 9:30 A.M. until the hour of the service on Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz.  The burial will be held in the Pierz Parish Cemetery.

Father Mark Willenbring was born October 13, 1931 in Farming, MN to parents Charles and Anna Willenbring. He attended St Joseph’s elementary school in Pierz, high school in Little Falls, St. John’s Preparatory School, and St. John’s University. He received his seminary training at St. John’s Seminary in Collegeville. He was ordained June 1, 1957 and celebrated his First Mass June 2 at St. Joseph’s Church in Pierz.

He was a Diocesan priest in a number of St Cloud area parishes including St. Paul’s, St. Anthony’s, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Princeton, Long Prairie and other parishes. Additionally, he served as a Missionary Priest for the Diocese of St. Cloud in Maracay, Venezuela, where he facilitated the building of two churches. He served as the Rector of St. John’s Seminary. He was a Chaplain and tour guide for many pilgrimages. He was also very involved with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Organization and at one time served as the director. More recently he continued with his pastoral duties at St. Benedict’s Community in St. Cloud where he resided and presided at Mass four times a week. His favorite saying was “whenever you have a moment to spare, say a prayer”.

In his final month he had transferred to St. Benedict Court and passed away August 3. He lived a long happy life and will be missed by his sister, Sister Joyce Willenbring, OSB, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Mary Ann Stein, Julia Langer, Gordan Willenbring, and Theodore Willenbring.

 Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Father Mark.