Reverend John Lawrence Bostwick, O. Praem., age 72, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God's eternal kingdom on 21 October 2018. Father Bostwick was born on 14 August 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, to John and Ann (Mihlan) Bostwick. His home parish was St. Richard's Parish, North Olmsted, OH.
Graduating in November of 1968 from St. Norbert College, De Pere he received a B.A. Degree in Theology. In May of 1979 he received an M.A. in Counseling from St. Mary's College, Winona, MN and a Th.M. in Spirituality from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, CA in October 1990. Upon entering St. Norbert Abbey, he was vested as a novice on 28 August 1964. He professed Solemn Vows on 28 August 1974, and was ordained to the Priesthood on 11 September 1976.
Father Bostwick was a member of the faculty at Premontre High School, Green Bay; Abbot Pennings High School, De Pere; and St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. He served as a counselor at Premontre High School and Notre Dame de la Baie Academy.
In addition, he was House Superior of St. Michael Priory, Green Bay and St. Joseph Priory, De Pere; Master of Novices and Juniors, St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere; Director of the Norbertine Center for Spirituality at St. Norbert Abbey. Father Bostwick was an adjunct faculty member at St. Norbert College. He resided at St. Norbert Abbey, working in internal ministry.
Father Bostwick is survived by the Norbertine Community; his brother, James Bostwick and two step-brothers, Larry White and Robert White. He is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Lawrence White and his brother, Daniel Bostwick.
Visitation will be held at the Church of St. Norbert Abbey beginning at 7:00 PM on Thursday, 25 October, 2018 with Vespers of the Dead - Reception of the Body and concluding at 9:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Friday, 26 October, 2018 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial, expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord's Resurrection, will be held in the Abbey Church on Friday, 26 October, 2018 at 4:30 PM. Rt. Rev. Dane J. Radecki, O. Praem., Abbot of St. Norbert Abbey, will preside at the funeral liturgy. Rev. Timothy D. Shillcox, O. Praem. will serve as homilist.
Burial will follow immediately in the St. Norbert Abbey Cemetery.