A 1964 newspaper article illustrates the qualities Father John Siebenaler brought to his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He died July 9 at the age of 88.

The Minneapolis Star published an article by Abe Altrowitz in its March 4, 1964, edition about the murder of Susan Lawson. A janitor assaulted and stabbed Lawson several times while she worked an evening shift, then she was brought a few blocks to General Hospital (now Hennepin County Medical Center) in downtown Minneapolis. One of Lawson’s coworkers, who was with her and helped her after the stabbing, testified in court that Lawson said, “I am dying. Call the priest.”

The call went out to St. Olaf, just blocks away from the hospital, and Father Siebenaler responded. His brother, Father Martin Siebenaler, recalled that Father John drove his Volkswagon Beetle hastily to the hospital.

“He drove down the sidewalk to get close to the front door of the hospital,” Father Martin, 90, said, noting that his brother was “a very conscientious priest. If that was his duty, in the middle of the night, he was going to do it.”

Later, Father John told his family — his parents, Mathias and Christine, and his eight siblings, including Father Martin, the oldest. Altrowitz’s article described his search for the priest who responded to the call. He wrote that the call was made to St. Olaf at 9:23 p.m., and he later learned that Father John arrived at around 9:30. Lawson died just a few hours later.

“We were very impressed” with Father John’s quick actions, Father Martin said. “That’s why my mother saved that article. … It’s been in our scrapbook all these years.”

Father Martin was able to be by his brother’s side when he died after battling health issues and dementia in his later years. He said Father John’s virtues were formed while growing up on the family farm two miles north of New Trier. Father Martin and the second oldest brother, Father Leonard, went off to Nazareth Hall together and both were ordained to the priesthood in 1959 (Father Leonard died Jan. 16), making Father John the oldest male sibling. That made him an important part of the farming operation.

“He was always a hard worker,” Father Martin recalled. “He had to be Dad’s primary helper after the older boys left the farm for seminary. He was very faithful in his barn duties. He had that work ethic about him, and (was) very conscientious about doing what he was expected to do — and that’s the way he was as a priest.”

In 1949, he followed in his older brothers’ footsteps and came to Nazareth Hall. He was ordained in 1961 and served at the following parishes until his retirement in 1997: Christ the King in Minneapolis (1961-1962), St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony (1962-1963), St. Olaf (1963-1968), Corpus Christi in St. Paul (1968-1970) and St. Augustine in South St. Paul (1970-1974), all as assistant pastor; St. Thomas in St. Thomas (later merged with St. Anne in LeSueur; 1974-1977) and St. Nicholas in Elko New Market (1977-1987), both as pastor; and St. John the Baptist in Dayton, first as parochial administrator (1989-1994), then as pastor (1994-1997). He also served as chaplain at two hospitals in the archdiocese.

Father Martin noted that his brother was a good athlete, fast on his feet and fast on skates. He once ran to catch a team of horses that had run away pulling a wagon with no rider after they were startled by the sound of a threshing machine. Father John jumped to his feet and took just the right angle to catch up to the wagon. He then hopped into the wagon and went to the front and grabbed the reins, bringing the horses back under control.

“We were all amazed, that’s for sure,” Father Martin said.

The youngest sibling in the family, Bernie, was born when Father John was 14. He watched and admired his older brother’s “discipline and focus.” But there was another side to Father John that Bernie also deeply admired.

“I thought he was very kind … how he cared for the sick — very empathetic and helpful, a good listener, polite to a fault,” said Bernie, 73. “After a big Thanksgiving dinner, everybody else would go in a room and play poker. He would help my mother (wash the dishes).”

Father John also enjoyed humor, Bernie noted. “He had an infectious laugh. When he giggled, his whole face would shake. If Father Leonard would tell a good story, he would really giggle and carry on. I remember him almost having to cover up (his mouth) because he’d get into it so much.”

The funeral Mass for Father John will be 11 a.m. July 15 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, with a visitation from 9:30-11 a.m. Archbishop Bernard Hebda will be the celebrant, and Father Martin will be the homilist. Father Martin noted that the archbishop will use the chalice Father John received at his ordination. Interment will be at the parish cemetery.

“My sister Donna and I were with him at 1:22 a.m. Sunday morning when he breathed his last, and it was a very powerful moment,” Father Martin said. “It was a moment of peace and joy to me that he was now gone and gone home. That brought joy to Donna and me. He’s at peace and with his Lord.”