Father John P. Kastenholz, O. Praem., age 86, a Norbertine priest and member of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, passed into God's eternal kingdom on November 14, 2023.

Fr. Kastenholz was born to the late Lester and Evelyn (Wilmet) in Milwaukee, WI. His home parish was St. Sebastian Parish in Milwaukee.

Father Kastenholz received his undergraduate degree from St. Francis Major Seminary (Milwaukee) in January of 1960. Fr. John was vested into the Norbertine Order on August 28, 1960 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1965.

He went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in German from Roosevelt University in Chicago in June of 1971, and a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in accounting and finance from the University of Notre Dame in 1980.

Father Kastenholz was assigned to Premontre High School in a variety of capacities including Faculty and Staff from 1966 until 1984, Registrar and Vice Principal from 1975-1979, and Financial Manager from 1980-1984. Following his tenure at Premontre, Fr. John was appointed to the St. Norbert College business and finance staff as Assistant to the Controller from 1985-2002. He was then appointed to the St. Norbert Abbey business office staff in 2002 and appointed Secretary-Treasurer of St. Norbert Abbey in November of 2003. He retired from that position in 2023.

Fr. Kastenholz was also a member of the St. Norbert College Board of Trustees (2004–2023), the Notre Dame Academy Corporate Board (1998–2023), and a longtime member of the Catholic High School Foundation.

Along with his ministry in various business offices, Fr. Kastenholz also provided sacramental ministry to St. Denis Parish in Shiocton and St. Patrick Parish in Stephensville.

He enjoyed caring for his birds, tinkering with clocks, and traveling to Canada for the annual Shakespeare Festival.

Fr. Kastenholz is survived by the Norbertine Community; 1 brother, James Kastenholz; a niece and nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Kathleen Kastenholz; relatives and friends.

The Celebration of Vespers of the Dead (Evening Prayer) will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday November 17 with Visitation following until 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, November 18, Lauds of the Dead (Morning Prayer) will take place at 8:30 a.m. followed by Visitation in the Chapter Room of St. Norbert Abbey until the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 a.m. expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord's Resurrection. The Rt. Rev. Dane J. Radecki, O. Praem., Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, will be the principal celebrant and the Rev. Jay Fostner, O. Praem. will serve as the homilist.

Burial will be in the St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery at a later date. The Norbertine Community would like to thank the nurses at St. Norbert Abbey, and everyone at Unity Hospice who cared for Fr. Kastenholz.

Ryan Funeral Home, De Pere, is in charge of the arrangements.